Star Fox 2

Star Fox 2
Developers: Argonaut Software, Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Platform: SNES Released in JP: October 5, 2017 Released in US: September 29, 2017 Released in EU: September 29, 2017 Released in AU: September 30, 2017 This game has unused code. This game has hidden developer credits. This game has hidden development-related text. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences. This game has a prototype article This game has a prerelease article

Star Fox 2 is the once-cancelled sequel to Star Fox that was originally scheduled for release in 1996. Although the game was completed, it was cancelled due to the impending release of the Nintendo 64, as well as Nintendo fearing that the 3D produced by the Super FX 2 chip would look obsolete in comparison to its competition from the Saturn and PlayStation. Elements from the game were later incorporated into Star Fox 64, Star Fox Command, and Star Fox Zero.

The game finally saw the light of day as part of the SNES Classic Edition, with the ROM dumped and leaked on the same day as its release. It was also released for the Nintendo Switch as part of the console's online subscription service on December 12, 2019.

Test Menus

On the main menu, use Pro Action Replay code 03F0B603 to access the Test menu or 03F0B604 to access Training mode. Both of these options were present in the June 22, 1995 build, but were disabled for the final build.

To restore the Test menu's functionality, use 7FFA2502 7ED7F402 7E1BC802.

These codes also re-enable the Expert Mode menu option by default (as was the case in the June 22, 1995 build), though selecting it redirects the player to the Test menu instead.

One noteworthy detail is the top-left corner of the menu, which lists the game's build date as September 12, 1995 despite the 1996 copyright present on the title screen.

(Source: Nensondubois, Darkchaosblast)

Early Secret Base

By promptly turning off the cheats after accessing the test menu, selecting Venom level 06 sends the player to the earlier secret base that was seen in the June 22, 1995 prototype. This version appears to have been worked on since then, as the Homing upgrade is now present. However, due to there being no target to destroy, a stage clear message will display immediately upon entering, and will send the player back to the Test menu.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Leftover Build Date

Present at 0xE07 is a build string from an early prototype from Argonaut that predated Star Fox, when it was intended to be a new entry in Argonaut's Star Glider series rather than an original Nintendo IP.

STAR GLIDER 01 NOV 1991

This is even stranger considering this string doesn't appear in any version of Star Fox.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

ASCII Art Developer Credit

Present at 0x6BA76 is an ASCII art credit for programmer Dylan Cuthbert, at spacing of 64 characters per line:

00  0   0 0     00  0  0     00 0  0 000 0  0 000  000 000  000 
0 0  0 0  0    0  0 00 0    0   0  0  0  0  0 0  0 0   0  0  0  
0  0  0   0    0000 0 00    0   0  0  0  0000 000  00  000   0  
0 0   0   0    0  0 0  0    0   0  0  0  0  0 0  0 0   0 0   0  
00    0   0000 0  0 0  0     00  00   0  0  0 000  000 0  0  0  

(Source: BMF98567)

Graphical Oddities

The graphic of the six playable characters displayed on the title screen has a few coloring discrepancies when compared to other character artwork seen throughout the game:

• Slippy's necklace is blue on the title screen, but red in both his dialogue and Pilot Select portraits.
• Peppy's scarf is red on the title screen, but green in both his dialogue and Pilot Select portraits.

(Source: McAleeCh)

Regional Differences

In the Japanese version of the prototype and the completed 2017 version shipped with the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Famicom, Falco's voice shouts "Adiós, Andorf!" after the player defeats the final boss.

In the 2017 US version that comes with the SNES Classic Edition, the sound file was changed to say "Adiós, Andross!" instead.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Hidden Music

To do: Rip the song. See if it can be accessed in the sound test (does the sound test still exist in the final game?).

Waiting ten minutes at the ending screen after clearing the game on Expert mode will play a song heard nowhere else in the game. It consists of an intro section, a short pause, and a second section that loops until the player presses Start.

(Source: zallard1, Patrick Gilland)