Star Fox: Assault is a 2005 third-person shooter game developed by Namco and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the fourth released title in the Star Fox series. The game was released on 15 February 2005 in North America, on 24 February 2005 in Japan, on 29 April 2005 in Europe, and on 16 June 2005 in Australia.

The game is set one year after the events of Star Fox Adventures, and follows Fox McCloud and his crew attempting to save the Lylat System from cybernetic insectoid race known as the Aparoid. It contains orchestral arrangements of music from Star Fox 64 as well as original tracks created specifically for the game.

When Assault was initially announced by Nintendo and Namco, it was also rumored that an arcade game was under development, but it was never officially revealed to the public.^{[citation needed]}

Star Fox: Assault received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its atmosphere, soundtrack and the ability to use both the Arwing and Landmaster at will during ground missions, but criticized its on-foot controls, short length and low lasting impact of the multiplayer mode.

The gameplay of Star Fox: Assault is divided into three distinctive types. The player can either fly an Arwing spacecraft, drive a Landmaster tank or perform certain tasks on foot. All three play types are available for use in the game's multiplayer mode, though the available gameplay types are restricted based on the chosen map.

Arwing missions are similar to those of the first two games in the series. The player flies in space or close to the ground and shoots down enemies. Some levels are on rails, while others allow full freedom of movement in a relatively small area. As in previous games, main character Fox's wing mates Falco, Slippy and Krystal occasionally call for help when chased by enemies, requiring the player to save them. If their shield gauge is depleted, they will retreat. Against bosses, Slippy can show their health bar by analyzing them, while Krystal can spot their weak points. In Arwing-only missions, if Fox has rescued his teammates, they will return the favour later on. Slippy and Krystal will grant him silver rings to replenish his shield gauge, while Falco will pass him Smart Bombs. Completing a mission without any teammate retreating will grant an ally medal. Additionally, in some levels, the player has the ability to hop in and out of the Arwing at will.

While in the Landmaster, the player has complete freedom to move about the level. They are free to shoot or run over enemies and assist their wing mates when necessary. Playing on foot essentially turns the game into a 3D third-person run 'n' gun shooter; the player starts armed with a standard blaster gun and can acquire a variety of other weapons scattered throughout each stage. In two shooting gallery levels, the player rides on the wing of an Arwing or a Wolfen fighter, shooting enemies on the ground and in the air with a plasma cannon.

The game features a number of weapons, such as the blaster, machine gun, Homing Launcher, sniper rifle and the hand grenade. The game has a number of special items, including personal barriers which deflect enemy attacks. The usual rings seen in other Star Fox games that restore a vehicle's shield are also present.