Star Fox Zero: Arwing amiibo, PlatinumGames collabo, Project Guard & Giant Robo’s fate & more

Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto fired off a barrage of info bits about Star Fox Zero during various interviews and two Treehouse Live segments today. Star Fox Zero is a collaboration between Nintendo EAD and PlatinumGames, with Bayonetta 2 director Yusuke Hashimoto helming the project on the PG side and Nintendo EAD’s Yugo Hayashi directing on the Nintendo side and Shigeru Miyamoto in the producer’s chair. The game design foundation was laid by Nintendo EAD and PlatinumGames contributes art and additional design like boss fights overseen by Hashimoto himself. Miyamoto told Eurogamer that the partnership came about when Platinum asked to put the Arwing into Bayonetta 2 while they were finishing up that game about this time last year.

The game features a mix of classic Star Fox gameplay and a lot of brand new elements. The game’s levels are designed for replayability with different vehicles. Miyamoto confirmed that there will be an asymmetric co-op mode in the game (which he hinted at last E3 already) in which one player controls the ship and the other player takes over the gunner’s seat. Both players will have to communicate and collaborate to make it through the levels intact. For extra precision, the game displays on both the TV and GamePad screen at 60 frames-per-second and you can switch between them at any point by pressing the select button. Platinum’s Hashimoto explained to Kotaku that the emphasis on 60fps for both screens is also the reason why the graphics aren’t as complex as they otherwise could have been but the responsive controls simply had a higher priority.

Additionally, some information on Project Guard (the security camera game) and Project Giant Robo (the motion-controlled 1v1 robot brawler) came out of the Eurogamer and Kotaku interviews. Project Guard is currently also being developed into a full title at PlatinumGames and is directly tied to Star Fox. However, when and how it will be released is still unclear. Development on Project Giant Robo has apparently been put on hold.

IGN got some more details about Star Fox Zero out of Miyamoto during an interview that took place before the Digital Event. First, the topic of amiibo was brought up, which Miyamoto had already confirmed would be supported in some form last December when he visited various YouTube channels and spilled the beans to iJustine. The team is currently considering various options and testing out different Arwing amiibo prototypes, including a version that can actually transform like the Arwing in the game. Manufacturing costs and the current shortages are a major factor, Miyamoto says so details have yet to be finalized. Read the full quote below.

Next, the topic of multiplayer was broached. Heated 4v4 dogfights were a big part of Star Fox 64 and Star Fox 64’s multiplayer modes previously but Miyamoto says that the team is focused on creating a great single-player experience. They’re not ruling out the chance of adding competitive multiplayer, however. Keep those dreams alive. For the full quote, check below.

Shigeru Miyamoto on amiibo usage in Star Fox Zero:

“You saw a Falco amiibo during the [Super Smash Bros.] presentation, and that will be out by the time Star Fox comes out. If you use those amiibo, you’ll get an in-game present.”

“We’re creating lots of different types of prototypes of Arwing amiibo, but we’re not sure when it will be ready to be announced for sale. I’m sure you’re aware of the amiibo shortage situation, even with the back orders and repeat orders. We kind of have our hands full. Earlier, we talked about how the 3D model of the Arwing will actually transform [into a two-legged Walker] in the game. We have an actual model and we’re thinking how much it would actually cost to make when it’s transformable Can we actually do that? We’re thinking about a lot of different things right now.”

Shigeru Miyamoto on prospects of competitive multiplayer in Star Fox Zero:

“So, we’re really prioritizing getting this new game playing at 60 frames-per-second. In previous Star Fox games we had focused a lot on dogfighting, but here we’re really focused more the single-player experience.”

“Of course, as we continue on and once people get a feeling for the game… as the process continues if we find that we do think it’d be really good we’ll definitely consider it, but right now we’re not.”

Sources: Treehouse Live @ E3 2015 / IGN (1 / 2) / Kotaku / Eurogamer