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But Star Fox did actually use 3D hardware. It was one of only a couple games to use the Super FX chip. Basically, the cart had a GPU in it.

I remember the FX chip now that you mention it. Thanks for correcting me.

I didn't get to play the title on the N64, but I did for a long time on the SNES, it was great to see the masterful ingenuity with which they performed feats like these with so few resources and squeezing the most out of what they had available.