Even for those intimately familiar with the series, Star Fox Zero is immediately confusing. On the surface, it appears to be a modern extension of Star Fox 64, the space combat classic that took off in 1997. It certainly looks the part with its Wii U facelift, but after finishing a single level, the message is clear: Zero plays by its own rules. It relies on the GamePad’s display and motion-sensing capabilities, demanding that you divide your attention between two screens–one for flight and one for shooting–which fundamentally alters your approach.
It’s not surprising to see Star Fox’s mechanics change in light of the GamePad, but where Nintendo strives to give you more control over your weapons, it simultaneously neglects the chance to create a proper Star Fox sequel,…