Jump to content

Falco Lombardi: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
No edit summary
 
(21 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
⚫
#REDIRECT [[List of Star Fox characters#Falco Lombardi]]
{{Short description|Fictional character from the Star Fox series}}
{{Rcat shell|
{{Infobox character
{{R to section}}
| name = Falco Lombardi
{{R from fictional character|Star Fox}}
| image = Falco Lombardi (character).png
{{R with possibilities}}
| caption = Falco Lombardi, as he appears in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''.
| series = [[Star Fox]]
| first = ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'' (1993)
| firstgame =
| creator = [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
| designer = [[Takaya Imamura]]
| voice = {{plainlist|
* '''English'''
* Bill Johns (''Star Fox 64'')<ref name="Geek Melee">{{cite web |title=Star Fox Voice Cast Interviews |url=http://geekmelee.com/2016/04/star-fox-64-the-voices-that-echo-through-the-lylat-system/ |website=Geek Melee |access-date=27 November 2020|postscript=. Interviews with the English voice cast of Star Fox 64 & Zero}}</ref>
* Ben Cullum (''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' dialogue, ''Star Fox Adventures'')<ref>{{cite video game | developer=[[HAL Laboratory]] | title=Super Smash Bros. Melee | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | scene=Ending credits, 0:32 in, Voice | year=2001}}</ref><!-- url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXeHwKjkeuU --><ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Falco Lombardi Voices (Star Fox) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Star-Fox/Falco-Lombardi/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=8 January 2021|postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of the title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref>
* Mike Madeoy (''Star Fox: Assault'')<ref name="btva"/>
* [[Dex Manley]] (''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'')
* Mark Lund (''Star Fox 64 3D'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'', ''Star Fox Zero'', ''Starlink: Battle for Atlas'', ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'')<ref name="Geek Melee"/>
* '''Japanese'''
* [[Hisao Egawa]] (''Star Fox 64'', ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'', ''Star Fox Assault'', ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'')<ref>{{cite video game | developer=[[HAL Laboratory]] | title=Super Smash Bros. Melee | publisher=[[Nintendo]] | scene=Ending credits, 0:31 in, Voice | year=2001}}</ref><!-- url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXeHwKjkeuU --><ref name="btva"/>
* Kōsuke Takaguchi (''Star Fox 64 3D'', ''Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins'', ''Star Fox Zero'', ''Starlink: Battle for Atlas'', ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'')<ref name="btva"/>
}}
}}
| motion_actor =
| franchise =
| alt =
| first_major =
| first_minor =
| first_issue =
| first_date =
| last_major =
| last_minor =
| last_issue =
| last_date =
| last =
| based_on =
| adapted_by =
| portrayer =
| full_name =
| origin =
| home =
}}

{{nihongo|'''Falco Lombardi'''|ファルコ・ランバルディ|Faruko Ranbarudi|lead=yes}} is a fictional [[anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] [[bird]] from the ''[[Star Fox]]'' series of [[video game]]s. He was created by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and designed by [[Takaya Imamura]]. Falco acts as the wingman and best friend of the titular [[Fox McCloud]] for the majority of the series.

Falco first appeared in the 1993 video game ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]''. Since then, he has appeared in multiple ''Star Fox'' games. A variety of voice actors have lent their voice to the character in English language releases, whereas [[Hisao Egawa]] portrayed Falco in the majority of the Japanese language releases. He was, however, replaced by Kōsuke Takaguchi, starting with ''[[Star Fox 64 3D]]''. Hisao briefly reprised his role in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U]]''. Besides the ''Star Fox'' games, Falco has starred in his own [[manga]], and also appears as a playable character in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' games beginning with ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]''.

Falco was based on the model designer of the original ''Star Fox'' game. Reception to the character has been mixed, with popularity among fans. He has been mainly criticized for his appearance and contentious attitude, but praised for being far less annoying than other characters in the series. The reaction to his appearance in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series was also been similarly mixed, with some reviewers objecting to his moves being cloned from Fox, citing it as an example of low effort on the part of the developers.

==Characteristics==
Falco's name and hooked [[beak]] suggests that he is a [[falcon]] of some kind, with some official material referring to him as a falcon.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ign64.ign.com/articles/060/060767p1.html|title=StarFox 64 Manual Translation: Pt.1|date=13 May 1997|access-date=7 August 2011|agency=[[IGN]]. [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]}}</ref> On the contrary, the color of his [[feather]]s and the shape of his tail feathers resembles that of a [[pheasant]], more specifically the [[Mikado pheasant]] and [[Edwards's pheasant]]. Interviews with the original developers reveal that Falco was originally intended to be a pheasant.<ref name="NGamer" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Iwata Asks|url=http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/starfox/0/2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120709152827/http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/%23/3ds/starfox/0/2|archive-date=2012-07-09|access-date=2019-03-11|website=iwataasks.nintendo.com}}</ref> ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'' and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' make reference to this in the [[List of Kid Icarus characters|Palutena's]] guidance [[Easter egg (media)|easter egg]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssbwiki.com/Palutena%27s_Guidance#Falco|title=Palutena's Guidance|website=SmashWiki|language=en|access-date=2019-06-03}}</ref>

Falco's body feathers are blue, with red [[Caruncle (bird anatomy)|caruncles]] around his eyes. His beak is large, yellow and hook-shaped. His build has varied from being somewhat stocky in ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'' to more of a slim build in ''[[Star Fox Assault]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.starfox-online.net/characters/falco.html |title=Falco Lombardi - StarFox-Online |access-date=2015-04-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520011203/http://www.starfox-online.net/characters/falco.html |archive-date=2015-05-20}}</ref>

Falco originally wore a [[jumpsuit]] with a [[flight jacket]] and gray [[tanker boot]]s in ''Star Fox'', like the other characters. His jumpsuit was orange in color, which he retained in ''[[Star Fox 64]]''. In ''[[Star Fox Adventures]]'', he wore a leather vest over a white shirt, leather pants, a white headband, and sunglasses. In ''Star Fox Assault'', he wore a flashy red and silver long-sleeve jumpsuit with exaggerated shoulder guards. In ''[[Star Fox Command]]'', he returned to his ''Star Fox'' and ''Star Fox 64'' attire, although his jumpsuit is red instead of orange.

"Lombardi" is the only surname for the original Star Fox team that Dylan Cuthbert of [[Q-Games]] did not come up with. Instead, it came from 2D artist and scenario designer Takaya Imamura.<ref name=NGamer>{{cite news|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=154567&site=ngm|title=Star Fox Command interview|last=Cuthbert|first=Dylan|author2=NGamer staff|date=11 January 2007|work=[[NGamer]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|access-date=20 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208150744/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=154567&site=ngm|archive-date=8 December 2008}}</ref> While the character's first name, "Falco", is the genus for raptors that includes [[falcons]] and [[kestrels]], Falco's surname in the Japanese versions, "Rambaldi", was taken from [[Carlo Rambaldi]], an Italian special effects artist who worked on films such as ''[[Close Encounters of the Third Kind]]'' and ''[[E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |title=Pak Watch E3 Report&nbsp;– The Game Masters |issue=99 |page=104 |date=August 1997 |publisher=[[Nintendo of America, Inc.]]}}</ref> The original four members of the Star Fox Team are based on the team for the first game. Falco in particular is based on the model designer, Watanabe.<ref name=NGamer/> During the events of ''Star Fox 64'', Falco is 19 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arwinglanding.net/images/cards/falco1.jpg |title=Falco Lombardi card |year=1997 |publisher=[[Nintendo Power]] |access-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081729/http://arwinglanding.net/images/cards/falco1.jpg |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref>

Falco started as the head of a galactic gang, and possesses an uncooperative attitude, though he is devoted to the pilots he flies with.<ref>{{cite video game| title = [[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]| developer = [[HAL Laboratory]]| publisher = [[Nintendo]]| date = 2008| platform = [[Wii]]| level = Trophies| quote = He once roamed the starways as the head of a galactic gang, and his piloting skills are superb. He affects an air of cool disdain and is sometimes uncooperative, but in reality his passion for the Star Fox team is second to none}}</ref>
Falco is one of the most respected and skilled pilots of the [[Star Fox Team]].<ref name=characters>{{cite news|url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/748545/page_14.html|title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Characters|year=2008|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009}}</ref> His personality in general is brash and cocky.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/584/584493p1.html|title=Star Fox Assault Impressions|last=Castro|first=Juan|author2=[[Matt Casamassina]] |date=1 February 2005|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Kohler|first=Chris|author-link=Chris Kohler|title=Power-up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life|publisher=[[BradyGames]]|year=2004|pages=172|isbn=0-7440-0424-1}}</ref> Falco has incredible nerves and is able to accurately predict the tide of battle on most occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arwinglanding.net/images/cards/falco2b.jpg |title=Falco Lombardi card back |year=1997 |publisher=[[Nintendo Power]] |access-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716094518/http://www.arwinglanding.net/images/cards/falco2b.jpg |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref>

==Appearances==
Falco initially appeared in the first ''Star Fox'' game for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. He subsequently appeared in the sequel, ''[[Star Fox 64]]'' for the [[Nintendo 64]]. In both games, he served as a member of the Star Fox Team, but a minor character nonetheless.<ref name=melee/> Falco often acts as backup for Fox in the games, spinning in to take up Fox's flank. After the defeat of [[Andross]] at the end of ''Star Fox 64'', Falco disappears, and is not seen for a significant time.<ref name=melee/> Falco does not appear during the majority of ''[[Star Fox Adventures]]'', as he could not be properly integrated into the plot in time for the game's release.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://gc.kombo.com/article.php?artid=4209&pg=4&comments=&preview= |title=Tech Demo Gone Franchise - The Life of Star Fox |last=DeWoody |first=Lucas |date=31 January 2005 |work=Kombo |access-date=20 October 2009}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He also appeared in ''[[Star Fox: Assault]]'', and ''[[Star Fox Command]]''.

=== In other media===
Outside in the ''Star Fox'' series. Falco Lombardi made his first appearance in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series in its second installment, ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', with a similar set of moves to that of Fox. In ''Melee'', Falco is the fourth-most viable character in competitive play.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://smashboards.com/tiers/#Melee|title=Smashboards Tier Lists}}</ref> Falco returned for ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', [[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'']] and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' as a playable character, trophies, and spirits.<ref name=characters/> Falco is one of the game's fastest characters, and performs his moves very quickly.<ref name=melee>{{cite news|url=http://guides.ign.com/guides/16387/page_13.html|title=Falco Lombardi|year=2001|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009}}</ref> He jumps higher than Fox<ref>{{cite video game| title = [[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]| developer = [[HAL Laboratory]]| publisher = [[Nintendo]]| date = 2001| platform = [[Nintendo GameCube]]| level = Trophies| quote = He has both a higher jump and a longer reach than Fox}}</ref> and uses a similar reflecting shield, blaster, and Landmaster tank. In ''Melee'', Falco's appearance is based on his design in ''Star Fox 64'', his design in ''Brawl'' and ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS'' is based on his appearance in ''Star Fox: Assault'' and ''Star Fox Command'', while his design in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' combines elements from his appearance in ''[[Star Fox Zero]]'' and the previous two ''Super Smash Bros.'' games. In the ''[[Nintendo Switch]]'' version of ''[[Starlink: Battle for Atlas]]'', Falco makes an appearance along with the other members of the Star Fox team. They join forces with the Starlink team to save Atlas from the Forgotten Legion. ''Farewell, Beloved Falco'' is a [[manga]] series that detailed the eight-year gap between ''Star Fox 64'' and ''Star Fox Adventures''. In the manga, Falco receives a request for help from [[Katt Monroe]], leaving the Star Fox Team. At the end of the manga, he stays with Katt Monroe, while Fox returns to the team, and stays away for a long absence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/mario-nintendo-characters-with-manga-adaptations/|title=Mario & 9 Other Nintendo Characters You Didn't Know Had Manga Adaptations|date=3 February 2021}}</ref>

==Reception==
Falco is a favorite among ''Star Fox'' fans, and among [[Nintendo]] fans in general.<ref name=characters/> Though he could be described as "cranky", Falco gained esteem as a counterpoint to the seemingly annoying [[Slippy Toad]] and the older [[Peppy Hare]].<ref name=melee/> [[UGO Networks]] listed Falco as one of the top twenty-three second in commands in entertainment, characterizing him as a "dick", but the most reliable character in the ''Star Fox'' series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ugo.com/movies/second-in-command-falco |title=Second in Command: Our Favorite Number Twos |work=[[UGO Entertainment]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |access-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519023656/http://www.ugo.com/movies/second-in-command-falco |archive-date=19 May 2014 }}</ref> They also ranked him fifth on its "25 Most Memorable Italians in Video Games" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/top-25-italians-in-video-games?page=5 |title=The 25 Most Memorable Italians in Video Games |author=Meli, Melissa |date=August 25, 2010 |publisher=[[UGO Networks]] |access-date=July 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519023332/http://www.ugo.com/games/top-25-italians-in-video-games?page=5 |archive-date=May 19, 2014 }}</ref> [[CraveOnline]] ranked Falco as the tenth "Greatest Nintendo Characters" describing him as the [[Han Solo]] to Fox McCloud's [[Luke Skywalker]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/gaming/articles/200307-top-10-greatest-nintendo-characters|title=Top 10 Greatest Nintendo Characters|date=21 November 2012|author=Tamburro, Paul|publisher=[[CraveOnline]]|access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> Falco was also placed among by [[GamesRadar]] in a list of 10 sidekicks that deserve their own games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/10-sidekicks-deserve-their-own-game/|title=10 sidekicks that deserve their own game|date=5 December 2012|author=Henry, GR|publisher=[[GamesRadar]]|access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> On other hand, he has been labeled as a "[[Douche#Slang uses|douchebag]]"; ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' listed him on their list of 25 "douchiest" video game characters, as "Falco's ego was too big for the team",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2012/04/the-25-douchiest-video-game-characters#17|title=The 25 Douchiest Video Game Characters|date=18 April 2012|author=Anyanwu, Obi|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|access-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> and he was ranked sixth on [[Joystick Division]]'s "The Top Ten Biggest Douchebags in Video Game History" for the same reason.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystickdivision.com/2010/08/the_top_ten_biggest_douchebags.php|title=The Top Ten Biggest Douchebags in Video Game History|author=Hawkins, James|date=August 12, 2010|publisher=[[Joystick Division]]|access-date=20 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519023924/http://www.joystickdivision.com/2010/08/the_top_ten_biggest_douchebags.php|archive-date=2014-05-19|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The portrayal of Falco in the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series has been both praised and criticized. While [[IGN]] noted that Falco operated a bit differently than Fox in the game, and did so in a "cool black jacket" (in reference to one of his [[Palette swap|alternate costumes]]), he was essentially a simple clone of the controllable Fox McCloud.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/835/835988p2.html|title=Smash It Up! - Veterans Day|last=Thomas|first=Lucas|date=16 November 2007|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517095012/http://wii.ign.com/articles/835/835988p2.html|archive-date=2009-05-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> IGN also cited Falco as proof that [[Masahiro Sakurai]] did not appear to care about producing original characters with unique move sets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/849/849120p2.html|title=Smash It Up! - The Final Roster|last=Thomas|first=Lucas|date=1 February 2008|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705012752/http://wii.ign.com/articles/849/849120p2.html|archive-date=2009-07-05|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://supersmashbros.ign.com/articles/features/15/Super-Smash-Brothers-Brawl-FAQ/p6/c1|title=Super Smash Brothers Brawl FAQ|last=Thomas|first=Lucas|author2=[[Matt Casamassina]] |date=5 March 2008|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=20 October 2009}}</ref> UGO Networks called Falco a lame "purple-feathered bird who wears a white jacket and silver boots", but still recognizes the effectiveness of his fighting style.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/super-smash-bros-characters/?cur=falco |title=Falco - Smash Bros. Characters |year=2009 |work=[[UGO Networks]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |access-date=20 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731070346/http://www.ugo.com/games/super-smash-bros-characters/?cur=falco |archive-date=31 July 2009 }}</ref> Jeremy Parish of [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] ranked 73 fighters from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' "from garbage to glorious", listing Falco as 27th and stated that "You get the impression Falco ended up in Smash against his own better judgment, and you can’t help but respect such a well-developed sense of duty even as you sympathize with his frustrations."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|date=2018-12-03|title=We rank the Smash Bros. (and friends)|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2018/12/3/18120401/super-smash-bros-ultimate-character-rankings|access-date=2020-11-05|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref> Gavin Jasper of ''[[Den of Geek]]'' ranked Falco as 55th of ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'' characters, criticizing and stating that "Falco does the same as Fox moves", and claiming the character design was a "waste."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-smash-bros-characters-ranked/|title=Super Smash Bros. Characters Ranked|date=March 7, 2019|website=Den of Geek}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Star Fox series}}
{{Super Smash Bros.}}
{{Portal bar|Japan|Video games}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Lombardi, Falco}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lombardi, Falco}}
[[Category:Animal characters in video games]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic birds]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic video game characters]]
[[Category:Extraterrestrial characters in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional birds of prey]]
[[Category:Fictional mercenaries in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional military personnel in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional space pilots]]
[[Category:Male characters in video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo protagonists]]
⚫
[[Category:Star Fox characters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. fighters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. fighters]]
[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 1993]]
[[Category:Video game characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]

Latest revision as of 17:43, 2 August 2024

Redirect to:

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Falco_Lombardi&oldid=1238208251"