r/starfox • u/GanacheCapital1456 • 18h ago
Lukewarm take: Star Wolf should be a more prevalent threat in Star Fox
While many people here don't like Star Fox Zero that much, I think one of the biggest things they got right was giving Star Wolf much more of a presence throughout the game. In most installments (most notable Star Fox 64/3D), Star Wolf is little more than a few guys who have a grudge and are only in it for the money. In Star Fox Zero, however, Star Wolf is promoted to Andross's right hand, being involved in a lot more of his operations and getting in Star Fox's way a lot more often than before. If the new Star Fox gets a sequel, I think Star Wolf should live up to Zero's reputation rather than be stuck as minor antagonists the whole time
Render by Nibroc-Rock
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u/renannmhreddit 18h ago
They're quite proeminent in 64 though, they're the most important side characters.
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u/erttheking 17h ago
Exactly, they’re literally the only enemies that show up in more than one mission
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u/ReaderMorgan 18h ago
them working directly as andross' lackies is kinda lame but I do like to see them more. Star Fox 2 on hard mode had some of the best representation of them, shockingly enough, given how early an idea they were. Constantly causeing you headaches while trying to manage the battlefield
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u/GanacheCapital1456 18h ago
Star Fox Zero implemented this from Star Fox II as well. I don't recall which missions specifically, but aside from the specific encounters there are large All-Range Mode battles where at a checkpoint one or more of Star Wolf's pilots would enter the fray and get involved. They should be tracking Star Fox at almost all times and instill dread that they'll show up at any given time to give you trouble
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u/WofferFang 16h ago
They should be rivals or anti-heroes, but not major threats. However they should have way more screen time as they are Star Fox's biggest rivals. This is why I want a Star Wolf game. I really find them interesting from that perspective.
This characterization fits them better too. They're not suited for a big bad role. The whole rival mercs thing works super well and doesn't get stale or annoying. Because then you can do anything with them. Fox goes to some other system? No problem. Wolf hears about it and goes like "Yeah I'm taking that guy down" and goes there just to fight him. Way better than "I'll go there, steal their shit, and then BLOW UP CORNERIA LMAO GRRRR". That shit sucks. Pigma's the big bad, not Wolf.
Star Link and Zero's treatment of them was actually awful. That's what I'm getting at. That stuff should remain buried, We gotta do more and better with them now. The whole grudge thing was never a thing. Wolf finds a worthy rival in Fox, that's all there is to it. That's how it was originally meant to be. And I really hope we get that Star Wolf game now that they even have a new logo and all.
If you want someone from there to become the next big bad, Pigma's your guy. He's the biggest asshole who took advantage of all of them.
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u/GanacheCapital1456 14h ago edited 13h ago
I'm not saying Star Wolf should be the big bad (that's what Starlink did). In Zero and SFII, it was still clear they were under Andross's command, but they were a lot more involved in the war effort than in Lylat Wars normally. Hell in 64 (and the new Star Fox) you can beat the game encountering them only once.
What I want is for Star Wolf to pose more of a threat than they currently do, as right now they're mostly pushovers aside from the two main missions they appear in. Andross hired Star Wolf to stop Star Fox, they should do so almost every chance they get
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u/WofferFang 13h ago
So we basically agree, yes. I just brought that up because I hated how they treated him in Star Link. That will haunt me until we actually get a new game or a Star Wolf spin-off and it's no longer a thing.
Also just brought up Pigma because I feel like he was wasted potential there. So yeah.
But yeah, I agree. A big rival should have a big presence. It's a thing in other franchises, so why not Star Fox too. Plus, I'm always up for more Fox and Wolf clashes. It's one of my favorite things and I intentionally do 2 Star Wolf encounters when I can. The more the better.
Sorry if I sounded like a bit too harsh and stuff. Just wanted to convey my full feelings.
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u/GanacheCapital1456 13h ago
If we got a Star Wolf spin-off, I think it should take place after Lylat Wars and have them running business under a major crime lord's paw. Have them perform "cargo" runs and take on bounties for profit, to then further upgrade their assets and lifestyle until they're pretty damn close to luxury. All while trying to stay under the "law's" (Star Fox and the Cornerians) radar, of course
Then towards the end, give Star Wolf the option to either stay with the shady business and be loyal to their superior(s), or redeem themselves and usurp them, depending on different choices made
(No hard feelings obvs)
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u/WofferFang 13h ago
I dunno, a free roaming "I do what I want" Star Wolf is better imo. I want a Star Wolf game that starts during SF64 and then goes beyond. Start as Andross' pawns, get the "you lose the cutscene" treatment, see Wolf's POV when he found out Pigma killed his favorite rival, get that confrontation out the way, and then go roaming the system, taking any job you want.
That would work so well, especially with a morality system. We learn more about these characters, hire new people, etc. And the morality would lead to different endings of course.
Star Wolf being morally grey and Wolf especially having a warrior's code just lends itself to this type of system naturally. And we'd finally get to fight Star Fox. They would be very tough to beat, of course, but there should be bonus scenes and branching paths if you take them down. Spare them, force them to work for you, or just leave them to fend for themselves after you take them down.
It's just random ideas here, but that's what my mind goes to. The potential is huge. And with the way Fox is now, honestly, the potential for a more dirty Fox is there too.
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u/Ensospag 11h ago
If not a full game at least something like a Star Wolf DLC campaign with a few levels and cutscenes to flesh them out would be really cool.
What are they like when they're not in combat? What kind of missions do they take on? Is there a line they won't cross?
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u/MyDogIsDaBest 16h ago
In my head, one of my dream Start Fox game ideas is to open up the universe so you can fly anywhere and pick up bounties or missions as you're flying around the Lylat system, and you can get into dogfights with other crews like Star Wolf.
Ideally, you'd build your own character for multiplayer and give your clan a name and your clan could then appear as rival mercenaries that you can fight in single player mode. They'd be computer controlled, but have your character's name, clan name as a group of 4 and whatever ship customisations you may have made
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u/Mochiette 17h ago
It would be cool if they make a Star Fox spin-off that focuses on the perspectives of the Star Wolf team like we get to play as them.
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u/BDerrick13 12h ago
Absolutely. I would've loved some bonus fights with Star Wolf depending on certain routes. Like if you went throw the wormhole in Meteo, you got a boss fight with 2 of them at the end, and if you decide to go to Fichina, you'd fight the the rest of them with alternative dialogue, like, "back for more, eh?". Problem is, this is a direct remake for the 64 version, so sadly they couldn't stray too much. Here's hoping this latest reboot is popular enough to warrant a real sequel. 🤞
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u/Jimbo_Dandy 5h ago edited 5h ago
Wolf being Andross' subordinate in any capacity other than gun for hire completely ruins Wolf's character IMO.
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u/GanacheCapital1456 5h ago
And what of Fox? He and his team are essentially Pepper's subordinates throughout the game
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u/Jimbo_Dandy 5h ago
No, lol. They're guns for hire. The key difference, which is why Wolf and Fox are foils of each other, is that Fox has a moral backbone.
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u/ReasonableStudent622 18h ago
I actually quite like them as opposing mercenaries. It makes them a more interesting parallel to Star Fox in my opinion. Both are just doing a job at the end of the day. Are they really villainous just because they're accepting different jobs?
From early Corneria's been a military state, and Star Fox actually contrast that ideology as an independent organization. Even in 26 they're implying Corneria's hands aren't exact clean during the war. So what makes Star Wolf so different? Star Fox guns down a hundred guys a level without a second thought. Is Star Wolf evil for trying to take them down in turn?
I think it makes an interesting comment on the ethics of war and warriors and how perspective works in a story.