LEAVE MY DISCOUNT LEGEND OF ZELDA ALONE
A Love Letter to Star Fox Adventures: The Zelda Clone I Chose
0Ah, Star Fox Adventures. The game that dared to venture where no Star Fox game had gone before: directly into the territory of The Legend of Zelda. Now I had no clue when I was a kid. I was so excited one Christmas way back in the early 2000s. My sister and I got a Nintendo game cube with a stack of games! Inside that stack was Star Fox Adventures. I played the heck out of that game by myself, with my sister, and with my cul de sac friends I grew up with. There are so many fond memories I have of the game like trying to beat the dumb racer part of the game while eating tostito chips and cheese. It is the special kind of experience where you internalize not just the feelings and sights but also the tastes, feel, sound of it all.
But my happy story comes to a road bump as I grew up. The internet absolutely hated the game for many valid reasons. It strayed from the original Star Fox, that makes total sense to me. I never played the 1st so I didn’t have that issue. People complained that it was clunky and done better before, well I never experienced anything like this game before. Then many MANY years later, I am in my last year of college and my roommate gets me to play Ocarina of time on the N64. Within 10 minutes of playing it, I go “Oh shit.” All the hate totally made sense to me. I couldn’t help but laugh, Star Fox was a weaker Zelda clone trying to cash in on the popularity of the time.
So you know what? I still love it. Yes, even now, with the clarity of hindsight, I can see it for what it is—a less-polished, fox-covered version of The Legend of Zelda. Yet, my heart clings to it with a nostalgia-soaked grip that I happily defend.
When Dinosaurs and Space Foxes Collide
Let’s set the scene: it’s 2002, and Rare decides to take our favorite space-faring fox, strip away his spaceship, and plop him onto a prehistoric planet filled with dinosaurs. The result? Star Fox Adventures. Think! It is Rare at their prime, it is Zelda WITH DINOSAURS, and Krazoa Palace is the coolest temple I have ever experienced in video games. Are there tons of annoying parts? Yes, but the lows and highs click for me. It is like Mario Super Star baseball, it has a ton of issues but is the best Mario baseball game ever. The sequel fixed all the bugs, but I dropped that game within the first day of playing it to go back to Super Star Baseball. Sometimes those highs and lows hit right to keep you hooked.
Fox McCloud, Meet Link
The game borrows heavily from The Legend of Zelda, particularly Ocarina of Time. From the item collection to the puzzle-solving, the influence is undeniable. But instead of wielding the Master Sword, you’re swinging a magical staff. And rather than exploring Hyrule, you’re navigating the planet Sauria. Sure, Fox’s staff might be a less iconic weapon, and Sauria isn’t exactly Hyrule, but it worked for me. Cloud Runner Fortress! The Sun and Moon Stones! The locations kick started my love for the fantasy genre.
Nostalgia is a Powerful Thing
Part of my love for Star Fox Adventures is undoubtedly tied to nostalgia. Like I said at the start, I remember popping the game into my GameCube and being captivated by the lush environments and the thrill of a new adventure. At the time, I didn’t care that it wasn’t a traditional Star Fox game or that it was trying to be something it wasn’t. I was just along for the ride. That ride gave me joy, excitement, and wonder that has lasted to this day. I will forever love Star Fox Adventures.
Embracing the Imperfections
In the end, Star Fox Adventures is like that quirky friend who never quite fits in pop culture but is endearing in their uniqueness. It’s a game that dared to be different and the same, even if it stumbled along the way. So, here’s to you, Star Fox Adventures. You may be a worse version of The Legend of Zelda, but you’re my worse version, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
-Reed
