Here it is: likely the final roundup of Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard news prior to the game launch. Enjoy!

Motion Controls Learning Curve

Many different people who have access to early editions of Star Fox Zero have stated that they fear players will be turned off by the motion controls. Not because they are bad. Indeed, the motion controls, and specifically the ability to aim in a different direction from your flying direction, is required to actually beat many of the bosses. To put it simply: Star Fox Zero controls must be learned.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. We all had to learn how to use 3D controls when games started shifting from 2D to 3D. We had to learn dual analog controls for first-person gamepad games. People expressed similar problems with having to learn the use of the new Steam controller with its non-tactile tactile feedback. No doubt there will be a learning curve on VR games as they start to discover different visual mechanics in those types of games.

In this age of instant gratification, Star Fox Zero actually requires some patience and time to master. If you find yourself frustrated with the controls, please take heart. Everyone else had to struggle through it too. Once it clicks, you'll be more powerful than you could ever be if you were only able to aim where you were flying.

Summary of discussions by Rawmeatcowboy from GoNintendo, Nintendo Life, and GameXplain.

Star Fox Puppets on Display

The puppets from the E3 2015 Star Fox reveal are currently on display with other Star Fox memorabilia at the Nintendo Store in New York City. (source)

Star Fox Zero Site Updated

The Star Fox Zero website has been updated with the final changes we're likely to see before the game launches. There are wallpapers and full-size profile images of the Star Wolf team. There is more information on the different stages, though these are not all of the stages in the game.

Star Fox Zero Themes

10 tracks of music from Star Fox Zero. Some are direct-source! Epic. Uploaded by Crunchii.

LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW! You have been warned.

They play through a whole mission with one player flying and the other aiming and shooting.

The intro is stuff we've seen before, but stick it out to the end, there's a bunch of new content!

Available NOW.
Watch AbdallahSmash026's walkthrough of Star Fox Zero, featuring every mission and route, by making a choice at the end of each mission. Or, watch every mission in order using the playlist.

Enter the Star Fox Zero contest!

• Star Fox Zero Showcase of Fox and Falco Amiibo
• Star Fox Zero All Bosses with Black Arwing
• Star Fox Zero All Star Wolf Encounters with Black Arwing
• Star Fox Guard Walkthrough

Update
Now that the game has been out for a bit, I'm unpinning this post.

The hype just keeps escalating! Nintendo has made a Star Fox short film (using cell-shaded graphics) to promote the coming launch of Star Fox Zero. They will show off the full film April 20th at 6PM Eastern (3PM Pacific). Right after, there will be a live Nintendo Treehouse event where Nintendo staffers will talk about Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard.

Watch here on April 20th!

Sadly, I might not be able to catch the livestream as it happens. Otherwise I would have loved to do a watch-chat with you all. But I hope all of you will watch and enjoy.

Abdallah, Nintendo Brand Ambassador and avid fan, contacted the Krystal Archive for a collaboration that I think you will all enjoy. He gets access to Nintendo's games early to provide reviews and walkthrough game videos. He also does special classic videos including this Choose Your Own Adventure for Star Fox 64.

As you can probably guess, he already has his copy of Star Fox Zero and has put more than 20 hours into the game, discovering all of the secret paths and missions, and recording videos for each route and sector. You can start watching from the first sector and then, using YouTube links, jump to different videos for the different routes to see every branching path, choose-your-own-adventure-style. Along the way, Abdallah will provide commentary and tips for how to complete each mission successfully.

Beginning on April 22nd at 12AM EST (April 21st at 9PM PST), Abdallah's videos will go live! I will make another post shortly before to provide the video embed, though the video will be private until he flips the switch. He can't post them earlier (nor can anyone else) due to press embargoes.

He is also running a Star Fox contest. By entering, and optionally doing other stuff, you can get one or more chances to win a copy of Star Fox Zero, Prima strategy guides for the game, and Star Fox Amiibo figures. We're working on a way for you guys to get an extra entry or two by visiting the Krystal Archive or tweeting about it (still working on those details, stay tuned). If you want to enter right away, here's the Gleam contest.

Lots of news and videos are popping up now that some of the press embargoes have been lifted for Star Fox Zero. I know you guys have seen some of it, but I'm posting it here for completeness. Also, there's tons more that I haven't had a chance to post yet. Be on the lookout for new stuff. Until then, check this stuff out!

Star Fox Zero American Ad

Nintendo's super cheesy Star Fox Zero ad! "He's Foxy! Fox McCloud! It's his sky, you're just flying in it!" Love it! (reported by ChickyBoy37)

Star Fox Zero Framerate Test

DigitalFoundary shows off a bunch of Star Fox Zero footage with a framerate indicator. Except for some explosions and areas with high particle counts, the game runs at a very stable 60fps with v-sync, and never dips below 30. The screen view is running at 720p, while the gamepad is running at 480p, at the same time, at 60fps. Very impressive. (source)

GameStop Star Fox Zero Sweepstakes

You could win a Star Fox Zero prize pack including real dogfighting training, a Star Fox Zero flight jacket, the game and a Wii U, and a bunch of other stuff. There's only one winner, but you don't have to be a PowerUp Rewards member to enter, and apparently you can enter up to 510 times (I checked the official rules). Anyway, I plan to enter tomorrow just for fun. (reported by dragonstar731)

LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW! You have been warned.

Brian managed to find Ayano Krystal cosplay footage in a cosplayer montage from the Tokyo Game Show 2015! She appears right at the beginning at 0:23. Video by cOs Plaza.

Nintendo has started up a Star Fox art contest on the Miiverse to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Fox Zero. There will be 40 winners of $10 of eShop credit. For those of you artistically inclined, you could post some awesome Star Fox art (and/or some of our favorite blue vixen). Check out the latest art here. Be warned, though. Some people are expressing ... joy ... that Krystal is 'gone'. As Wolf would say, "NO WAY! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!"

Thanks to GoNintendo and AngelFoxDreamer for the heads up.

The UK Trailer

Japanese Star Fox Zero Trailer

Japanese Star Fox Guard Trailer

Two new Japanese trailers and a UK trailer show off multiple new levels, bosses, and gameplay mechanics for Star Fox Zero and Star Fox Guard. They also reveal (officially) the Black Arwing when scanning a Falco Amiibo, and that Star Fox Guard will use the Fox Amiibo to call in an airstrike.

The Japanese Star Fox Guard trailer is particularly funny because Falco is asked to run the cameras and defenses. He quickly gets overwhelmed and fails as he freaks out.