Star Fox Assault, released February 14, 2005 in North America for the Nintendo GameCube, is the only Star Fox game developed by Namco and the only entry to attempt a full hybrid of on-rails flight, all-range mode, and on-foot infantry combat. After the polarizing Star Fox Adventures, Assault is Nintendo's attempt to return the series to its space-combat roots while keeping some of the on-foot flexibility fans had asked for.
One year after Star Fox Adventures, peace in the Lylat system is shattered by the Aparoid invasion — a hive-mind insectoid race that infects planets, ships, and even people. Fox, Falco, Slippy, Krystal, and the Star Wolf team must work together to push the Aparoids back to their home world. The Aparoid arc is one of the more memorable storylines in the series and gave Krystal her first proper combat role.
Star Fox Assault rotates through three play styles, often within a single mission:
The on-foot sections are Star Fox Assault's most divisive feature. Some players find them a welcome change of pace; others find that Namco's third-person shooter chops weren't quite up to standard.
Star Fox Assault's local 4-player multiplayer is its hidden gem. The deathmatch mode features Arwing, Landmaster, and on-foot loadouts in shared arenas, and a dedicated fanbase kept LAN-style Assault parties going for years. It remains one of the most-played Star Fox games at retro multiplayer events, second only to Star Fox 64.
Star Fox Assault scored in the mid-70s at launch — a step up from Adventures in critical reception, but well short of Star Fox 64. Most contemporary reviewers liked the campaign but flagged the on-foot sections. Twenty years later, Assault has aged into a cult favorite, especially for fans who never had the social setup to enjoy SF64 multiplayer in the 90s.