One of Nintendo's Most Unpopular Games is 10 Years Old

Star Fox is a relic of the 1990s when it comes to talking about popular Nintendo characters. The science-fiction on-rails shooter series hit a high with Star Fox 64, but the ensuing games in the franchise hindered its standing in the company's hierarchy. A cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie introduced the character to new audiences and propelled Fox back into the pop culture discussion.

The fact remains, though, that the most recent game in the series did more damage to its standing than any other: Star Fox Zero. The Wii U game came out on April 21, 2016. A decade later, the series is still trying to escape from the death knell that was this disappointing retread.

Star Fox Zero had something in common with so many other Wii U games: it didn't sell well at all. It was the worst-selling Star Fox game in Japan, and it only sold about 440,000 copies worldwide.

Unlike other low-selling Wii U games, Star Fox Zero was not a strong title. Several other games on the console got a re-release on the Switch because they were great games that needed a better console to be played on. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury are just three of the best examples of this.

Star Fox Zero was dead weight that never got off the ground. It was a shoddy remake of Star Fox 64 and a last-ditch effort to keep the series alive at a time when it was already losing momentum. Nintendo didn't understand that fans wanted the series to evolve into something for the modern gamer, not stay stuck in the 1990s.

Fox's appearance in film and the rabid fan reaction to him are proof enough that Nintendo fans still want Star Fox games in their lives. Rumors are swirling that there will be a new game in the series for the first time in 10 years, and it might arrive just around the corner.

Star Fox Zero is a reminder of what could happen to the series if the unannounced game is just as stale as the last one. There may be no coming back this time.