Switch 2 Is The Perfect Opportunity To Revive One Dormant Franchise

As players wait in anticipation of the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal, there will surely be lots of discussion on the huge game releases that could be heading to the new console. With the Switch having achieved an incredible line-up of critically-acclaimed and groundbreaking titles, Nintendo will surely be looking to keep up that momentum with the Switch 2 to ensure its success. As such, players can come to expect some major releases from Nintendo's most popular franchises, from Super Mario to The Legend of Zelda.

It would be no surprise for Nintendo to prioritize games based on these franchises to ensure the success of their new console moving forward. That being said, the Switch 2 also proves to be the perfect opportunity for Nintendo to revive one beloved franchise that has remained dormant for many years. A revival that, if done correctly, could allow the franchise to return to its former glory.

Star Fox Has Been Dormant For Years

The Series Hasn't Had A New Game In Almost 9 Years

Despite being one of Nintendo's most beloved franchises, Star Fox has a fairly rocky history. Following the initial success of the original Star Fox and Star Fox 64, the series continuously struggled to find its footing, resulting in a range of underwhelming and confusing titles. Developer Rare's ambitious action-adventure game Star Fox Adventures strayed too far from the series' signature elements to a point where the title felt alien. While its follow-up, Star Fox Assault, directed focus back to the traditional on-rails shooting gameplay, it failed to offer anything new that separated the title from the classics.

This all culminated with Star Fox Zero, Nintendo's last attempt at revitalizing the franchise. Zero was admittedly doomed from the start, with its release on the failing Wii U console – and no subsequent port of Zero to the Switch – which made it extremely difficult for the game to have a big enough impact. This initial setback was only built upon by Zero's negative reception upon release, with criticism largely pointing towards the game's difficult control scheme and lackluster campaign, which has resulted in the Star Fox series' nearly 9-year absence.

It's hard not to be too shocked at Star Fox's unfortunate fate. The string of subpar entries released for the series were all emblematic of this struggle by Nintendo to push the series forward in a meaningful way. Either the game would stray too far from the beaten path and lose sight of the series' identity, or the classic Star Fox experience was continuously replicated to a point where it had become redundant. Star Fox found itself at a stalemate, and Nintendo's inability to free the franchise from this resulted in the series' current dormancy.

Star Fox Could Return For Switch 2

The Series Will Already Have A Presence On The New Console

Luckily, the Star Fox series could have another chance of a revival with the Switch 2. The arrival of a new console will naturally stir up high levels of excitement among players, putting a huge number of eyes on the Switch 2. This immediately gives a possible new Star Fox game an edge over its predecessor with increased attention surrounding Nintendo's upcoming console compared to what the Wii U had when Zero was released, giving another revival a greater chance of success.

Moreover, the chances of success for a Star Fox revival are already boosted by the series' presence on the new console. The Switch 2's compatibility with Nintendo Switch Online means the new console will include both Star Fox and Star Fox 64, allowing players to discover what made the series so beloved to begin with. As more players become invested in the Star Fox series, a new game would create far more excitement and interest, making the Switch 2 an ideal platform for the sci-fi series to attempt another revival.

As exciting as a new entry may be, there would still be concern over the developers repeating the same mistakes that were made with Star Fox's last attempted revival. Beyond the game's awkward controls and short campaign, one of Zero's biggest flaws, like Assault before it, was its over-reliance on previous entries, resulting in a lack of originality and ambition. While a potential new Star Fox game wouldn't be tied down to a failing console like Zero was, its development would be a hopeless endeavor if the title fails to push the series forward in a meaningful way.

How Star Fox Could Learn From Metroid

Metroid Shows How A Revival Is Done Right

In order for a new Star Fox game to avoid the same mistakes made with Zero, lessons could be taken from the revival of Nintendo's other signature sci-fi series, Metroid. Similar to Star Fox, the Metroid series suffered multiple long hiatuses between games before making a triumphant return on Switch. Metroid Dread, the first original 2D entry in 19 years, catapulted the series back into the limelight, quickly becoming the series' most successful game to date.

One reason for Dread's enormous success was the game's balance of traditional Metroid gameplay and brand-new elements. Metroid's signature labyrinthine world design and consistent item progression was mixed with entirely new abilities that shook up the gameplay, alongside the terrifying E.M.M.I. chase sections that elevated the game's tension. Developer MercurySteam was able to prove the wealth of untapped potential in the Metroid series, showing an understanding of the series' core tenants while crafting an ambitious path forward for future games to follow.

It's that balance of old and new that the Star Fox series should adapt for a potential new entry. Like Metroid, a new Star Fox game should utilize the series' strongest aspects while challenging it to evolve at the same time. If a potential new game could strike that balance, then its appearance on the Nintendo Switch 2 could be the perfect opportunity for the Star Fox series to receive the revival it deserves.