I try not to have a knee-jerk reaction to iOS/Android, but the fact is the control scheme is not adequate for a lot of gamers. It's the same problem I have with Kinect. They had an opportunity to expand the available types of control schemes, but rather than add to the strengths of existing, established controls, they have completely replaced them. Why not have a controller standard for iOS that works with touchscreen controls? Why not have Kinect games that also use the controller? Why throw the baby out with the bathwater?
With Shinobi 3DS it's a different story, because they kept the traditional control scheme. I have no problem considering that game (although it's hard to justify getting another system for one or only a few games).
As far as a new Zaxxon goes, it seems to me something essential about Zaxxon has to do with its unique three-quarters perspective. If they're going to build on the series, I think they should still work with that. Maybe they could expand by making the camera rotatable or something. But to completely stray from its original look, it will be hard to make it feel like Zaxxon. I'm aware that Zaxxon 3-D already did that, but it's not really a high point of the series. Zaxxon's Motherbase 2000 seems like more of a continuation of the series. Still, I'll hold off on judging it too harshly until I see some gameplay footage.