Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard Barrel Roll Onto the Wii U Today

Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard came out today! Nintendo Canada sent out a press release about it. I’ll take a look at that and give you my impressions of the recent animated short and Treehouse Live footage.

Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard are currently available in retail and via the Wii U eshop. Here’s what Nintendo’s press release had to say about the release:

” Barrel roll into this unforgettable adventure by purchasing the game in stores at a suggested retail price of $74.99. Star Fox Guard is included in every physical version ofStar Fox Zero. Both Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard can also by purchased digitally in Nintendo eShop on Wii U or at Nintendo.com for $64.99 and $19.99, respectively. If you purchase the digital version of either game separately, you will receive an automatic discount of $9.99 through Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop upon purchase of the other game.”

In the United States, the two games will only cost you $59.99. You do get a discount on the other game on the eshop like in Canada, making sure that both games will only cost you $59.99!

” Every retail version of Star Fox Zero also comes with the Star Fox Guard game on a second disc. This fun and frantic game finds you defending a mining facility owned by Grippy Toad (Slippy’s uncle) from waves of enemy robots using the second screen on the Wii U GamePad controller. A full-fledged Star Fox experience in its own right,Star Fox Guard features 100 stages for players to take on, and also allows players to create and share their own challenges with other players online. “

On Treehouse Live, I have to admit I was impressed by the Star Fox Guard footage. It looks better than I thought it would. The gameplay looks like it could be challenging, but also fun. And being able to create your own challenges and share them on-line is fantastic. But what about Star Fox Zero?

“Star Fox Zero is a game that’s only possible through the second-screen experience of the Wii U GamePad,” said Pierre-Paul Trepanier, Nintendo of Canada’s General Manager and Senior Director. “Many video game fans have experienced the Star Fox series through the years, but never with this level of full-throttle action.”

Treehouse Live showed off the new control scheme for Star Fox Zero. It looked a bit complicated and it might take some getting use to. The mode that really impressed me and looked fun was the Co-op mode!

” You can even have another player sync up a Wii U Pro controller or Wii Remote controller and Nunchuk (sold separately) and assist in missions by flying the Arwing while you aim and shoot using the motion controls of the GamePad to take out even more enemies.”

It looks like it would be a lot easier to have one person flying and one person using the motion controls to take out enemies. I’m not sure how easy it’ll be to play AND shoot enemies with the motion controls. Of course, if someone else is flying, will you always be able to shoot at the target you want to? I suppose both modes have their pluses and minuses. I will say that I thought that Star Fox Zero’s graphics looked really good! I especially like the outer space levels. Though, my favorite thing about the recent Star Fox event on Wednesday was the animated short!

” To learn more about the characters and story of Star Fox Zero, you can view the Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins animated short here. Created in partnership with Shigeru Miyamoto, Production I.G and WIT STUDIO, the short explores the backstory behind the game and its first level, Corneria. “

The animation in Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins was amazing. The short was not very long overall and it made me wish that Nintendo and this production company would do more shorts or maybe even a Star Fox animated movie or series. The Battle Begins was just perfect!

Are you planning to get Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard today? Did you like the Star Fox animated short? Let us know in the comments!