Star Fox 64

Star Fox 64 is a 3D rail shooter game in which the player controls one of the vehicles piloted by Fox McCloud, usually an Arwing. Most of the game takes place in "Corridor Mode", which forces Fox's vehicle down an on-rails path straight forward through the environment. In Corridor Mode, the player's vehicle can be maneuvered around the screen to dodge obstacles and can also perform a somersault to get behind enemies or dodge projectiles. The Arwing is also capable of deflecting enemy fire while performing a spinning maneuver called a "barrel roll" (actually an aileron roll in real-life aviation terms). The Arwing and Landmaster can charge up their laser cannons to unleash a powerful lock-on laser.

In addition to Corridor Mode, some stages, including multiplayer and most boss fights, take place in "All-Range Mode". In this variant, the player can move freely in a three-dimensional space within the confines of a large arena. The Arwing can also perform one new maneuver in All-Range Mode: a U-Turn to change direction.

The Star Fox team is a group of mercenaries who are enlisted by General Pepper to defend the Lylat System. The team consists of:

Fox McCloud: A red fox who took over leadership of the mercenary team after his father, James McCloud, was captured and killed by Andross in a prior assault on Venom. Fox is the main protagonist and only playable character in Story Mode.

After the release of Star Fox in 1993, Nintendo began developing Star Fox 2 for the SNES in 1993, with Shigeru Miyamoto returning as the producer. However, 3D technology was advancing quickly, with competition from the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Concerned that the 16-bit graphics would compare poorly against newer games, Nintendo canceled Star Fox 2 to prioritize its upcoming Nintendo 64 console.

Star Fox 64's development began with a series of experiments by the character designer Takaya Imamura and the programmer Kazuaki Morita. As Morita was new to 3D programming, creating something entirely new was difficult. They also had no final Nintendo 64 hardware, instead having to use a bulky development computer and a modified Super Nintendo controller without analog sticks; the actual system hardware was being used by the team working on Super Mario 64, which was considered to be a higher priority game. The pair decided to begin development by porting the original Star Fox, which they thought would be better for easing into 3D.

Star Fox 64 received acclaim and was one of the top-selling games of 1997, second to Mario Kart 64. Reviews hailed the level branching system, particularly its use of player performance and secret in-level triggers rather than simple path selection. Many reviewers also praised the multiplayer modes as an ample source of replay value. However, Crispin Boyer of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) considered them a waste, contending that the split screen display made targets too small to pinpoint.

The game's voice clips were widely complimented, not for the quality of the acting, but for the unprecedented quantity of audio clips for a cartridge-based game. Critics also applauded the precise analog control, boss designs, Rumble Pak implementation, and cinematic cutscenes. GamePro gave it five out of five in all four categories, praising the gameplay, graphics, controls, and fun factor.