When legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto asked former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida for his thoughts on Star Fox Zero for the Wii U, he probably wasn’t expecting an awkward moment. But as Yoshida recalled in a recent discussion, he found himself in the classic dilemma of whether to give an honest opinion or a polite one.
Star Fox Zero launched in 2016 with a mixed reception. It attempted to bring back the classic Star Fox gameplay with a motion control twist, using the Wii U GamePad’s gyroscopic aiming. While Miyamoto saw this as an innovation, many players found the controls cumbersome, leading to frustration rather than immersion. The game holds a Metacritic score of 69, reflecting its divisive nature.
Yoshida, who had a professional admiration for Miyamoto, faced a moment of hesitation when asked about the game. “Should I say my honest reaction?” he recalled thinking. While he didn’t reveal exactly what he said, the implication was clear: even among industry veterans, Star Fox Zero had issues that were hard to ignore.
At E3 2015, PlayStation's Shuhei Yoshida was invited by Nintendo to play Star Fox Zero with Shigeru Miyamoto. He didn't have the heart to tell him his real opinions on the game…
— MinnMax (@MinnMaxShow) February 3, 2025
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This interaction highlights a key issue in game design—innovation versus accessibility. Nintendo often priorities creative control schemes, but Star Fox Zero showed that not every experiment works out. The game’s failure to gain traction contributed to the Wii U’s struggles, and it remains one of the more polarizing entries in the Star Fox series.
Would a Switch or Switch 2 re-release with traditional controls redeem Star Fox Zero? Fans remain divided. One thing’s for sure—when Miyamoto asks for feedback, you better have a diplomatic answer ready.
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