Star Fox Secrets: Nintendo Staff as Game Icons

In a recent interview with Edge, Takaya Imamura, the designer behind Star Fox, revealed that the game’s iconic characters were inspired by key Nintendo staff members. Fox McCloud, the protagonist, embodies the “essence” of Shigeru Miyamoto. Imamura explained, “Fox is based on Miyamoto-san… I think, if you look closely, you can see the similarities.”

Other characters also have real-life counterparts:

• Peppy Hare: Modeled after the game’s director, Katsuya Eguchi.

• Falco Lombardi: Inspired by graphics team member Tsuyoshi Watanabe, noted for his prominent “Roman nose.”

• Slippy Toad: Based on assistant director Yoichi Yamada, who had an affinity for frogs.

Credit: Teechu.com

Imamura noted that these designs captured the “essence” of his colleagues rather than being direct caricatures. Interestingly, during development, the team members didn’t have strong reactions to their in-game representations, possibly due to the intense focus on the project.

This behind-the-scenes insight adds a personal touch to the Star Fox series, highlighting the creative inspirations that shaped its beloved characters.

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