Star Fox 2

About Star Fox 2 (SNES)

Star Fox 2 is a space shooter developed by Nintendo and Argonaut Software for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It was completed in 1995 using the Super FX 2 chip, but Nintendo cancelled its release as the Nintendo 64 approached. The finished game finally reached players officially in 2017 on the Super NES Classic Edition, on September 29 in North America and Europe and October 5 in Japan.

Andross has returned to the Lylat system and is attacking Corneria with battleships and giant missiles launched from hidden bases. General Pepper calls on the Star Fox team once more, now joined by two new pilots, Miyu the lynx and Fay the dog, alongside Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Peppy Hare and Slippy Toad. The game became a classic because it swapped the first game’s fixed routes for a free-roaming war, a bold idea that later Star Fox games would borrow.

Detailed Gameplay

Star Fox 2 plays as a mix of real-time strategy and 3D shooting: you choose where to fight on a map of the Lylat system, then dive into combat.

The Lylat system map

• Enemies, battleships and missiles move across the map in real time while you plan your next move.
• Missiles that reach Corneria damage the planet, and letting its damage reach 100 percent ends the game.
• You send two pilots into battle, a leader and a wingmate, and the wingmate takes over if the leader is shot down.

Arwing combat and the Walker

• Space battles are fought in open 3D arenas, with barrel rolls, boosts and charged shots as your main tools.
• The Arwing can transform into a bipedal Walker for ground missions and for fighting inside enemy ships.
• Walker sections are slower and more deliberate, letting you hunt switches, security systems and power cores.

Pilots, rivals and bosses

• Each pilot flies a distinct Arwing, with different speed, shielding and charge-shot timing to suit your style.
• Members of the rival Star Wolf team can ambush you without warning, forcing fast, close-range dogfights.
• Enemy bases end in boss encounters, and the campaign builds toward a final confrontation with Andross.

Game Highlights

• A game rescued after 22 years: Completed in 1995 and officially released in 2017, it is one of gaming’s great lost sequels.
• Free-roaming space war: The real-time map turns every mission choice into a strategic decision about defending Corneria.
• The transforming Arwing: Switching between fighter and Walker mid-mission was years ahead of its time on SNES.
• New pilots and rivals: Miyu and Fay join the team, while Star Wolf debuts as a recurring threat.

Controls

On the SNES controller, the D-Pad flies your ship and the face buttons handle shooting and transformation. - D-Pad: Steer the Arwing, move the Walker and navigate the system map. - B Button: Fire lasers, and hold it to charge a more powerful shot. - A Button: Boost forward in flight for a burst of speed. - X Button: Transform between Arwing and Walker forms where the mission allows it. - Y Button: Perform a barrel roll to deflect enemy fire in flight. - L and R Buttons: Brake and steer sharply, and swivel the Walker in ground sections.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Star Fox 2 rewards map awareness as much as sharp shooting, so think before every move. - Intercept missiles first, since a single hit on Corneria costs far more than a delayed base attack. - Keep your wingmate safe by clearing nearby patrols before tackling a long base mission. - Charge shots against large targets, but use rapid fire for fast fighters that keep changing direction. - In Walker sections, move slowly, clear turrets from cover and watch for switches before rushing the core.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why was Star Fox 2 not released in 1995? A: Nintendo cancelled the nearly finished game as the Nintendo 64 approached, judging that a new 3D console made a Super FX 2 sequel a poor fit. The completed game stayed unreleased until the Super NES Classic Edition in 2017.

Q: How is Star Fox 2 different from the first Star Fox? A: Instead of fixed on-rails routes, it gives you a real-time map of the Lylat system, lets you choose missions, adds the transforming Walker and introduces Miyu, Fay and the Star Wolf team.

Q: Can I play Star Fox 2 online for free? A: Yes, you can play Star Fox 2 online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed.