Star Fox is a video game series created by Nintendo. The games follow an independent mercenary unit of anthropomorphic animals called Star Fox, led by chief protagonist Fox McCloud, and their adventures around the Lylat system. The original Star Fox (1993) was a forward-scrolling 3D rail shooter, though later titles added more directional freedom. The game's concept was inspired by a shrine to the fox deity Inari Ōkami, which Shigeru Miyamoto visited regularly. The shrine was accessible through a series of arches, influencing the gameplay.