Star Fox, released as Starwing in Europe and Australia due to a game of the same name and subsequent trademark issues in those regions, is the first game in the Star Fox series of video games.

Known for introducing Nintendo's Super FX chip technology, Star Fox is a 3D space shooter with polygonal graphics (a rarity for the time), standout voice effects, and a grand musical score. Players portray Fox McCloud as he pilots his Airwing fighter through both space and planetary areas, gunning down enemy ships (with lasers and nova bombs), dodging lasers, flying through narrow gaps, firing at tough bosses, and more. Your three wingmen, Slippy Toad, Falco Lombardi, and Peppy Hare, are on hand to lend a helping hand, but you must cover their backs as well. There are two hidden levels to find, power-ups to collect, and warps to discover. Gameplay is smooth, though there is some slowdown, and players can select three different pathways (easy, medium and hard), making for a title that is fun for gamers of varying skills.

Plot:
After his defeat in the original Star Fox, the game's antagonist, Andross, returns to the Lylat system and launches an all-out attack against Corneria, using his new fleet of battleships and giant missiles launched from hidden bases to destroy the planet. General Pepper again calls upon the Star Fox team for help. Armed with new custom Arwings, a Mothership, and two new recruits (Miyu, a lynx, and Fay, a dog), the Star Fox team sets out to defend Corneria by destroying Andross's forces before they can inflict critical damage on the planet. Along the way, Star Fox must also combat giant boss enemies, bases on planets throughout the Lylat system, user of the Star Wolf team and finally Andross himself.



Gameplay:
The premise of Star Fox 2 was very different from the original Star Fox: Instead of following mostly linear paths inside predefined missions, the player moves a team of two ships freely around a map screen that represents the Lylat system. When the player's ships make contact with enemy forces, the game went into an action perspective, piloting the Arwing ship directly with controls and game play similar to the first Star Fox. When the player cleared the specified objectives in that encounter (destroying all fighters in the vicinity, for example), the game went back into the main map screen, where the player could select a new destination for his craft.

A promotional cartridge, Star Fox: Super Weekend (Official Competition) (titled Star Wing: Official Competition (Official Competition) in Europe), was released as part of the game's marketing campaign in Europe and the US. It featured time-limited single player mode on modified stages, as well as an exclusive bonus level.