Exactly Starlink failed as it was repetitive, and buggy form memory at the start.
Wen I think of a modern Starfox, you take the elements of Freelancer (i.e, the space hub as 160rmf brought up) and you combine it with elements of a Mario/Zelda open world for each place visited, they don't have to each be that huge but vary the sizes based on the planet size / asteroid belt / nebula etc to give it a bit more depth). The reason you have the space hub is to make the lading seamless between the different vast environment of each new area. The missions should also be a mix of flying, and on foot and vehicle missions. Starlink for boring because it was all the same)
Now yes I agree Starfox is small, but like I mentioned before this is where Nintendo's new discovered avenue of media making (i.e. the Mario movie) comes into play. Create a TV series for kids that will help shape the story of a hub/open world game and they will get onboard the game and hep he franchise grow.
