Star Fox 64 is often one of the games considered synonymous with the N64. For one reason or another, Nintendo goes back to it whenever they want to reintroduce the franchise. Thankfully, unlike Star Fox Zero which was a reimagining held back by an uncomfortable control scheme, Star Fox on the Switch 2 just goes back to what made the game such a killer app for the N64 in the first place.

Veterans of the franchise should love the nostalgia trip and it’s a great introduction for newcomers not only of Star Fox but of this arcade style action with virtually endless replay value.

Story

Andross, a once-renowned scientist, was eventually banished to the hostile planet Venom for conducting brutal experiments. After suspicious activity was detected, James McCloud and the Star Fox team consisting of Peppy and Pigma were sent to investigate. After Pigma backstabs the team, James sacrifices himself to let Peppy escape. Five years later, Andross launches an all out war on the Lylat system. A new Star Fox team consisting of Fox McCloud, Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad and Peppy Hare are called in to not only repel the war but avenge James McCloud as well.

Pros

So I can start by saying that Fox and the gang have never looked this good. I was initially unsure about the realistic designs but after playing through multiple times and watching all of the cutscenes as well, I grew to like them. Especially characters like Andrew who looks like a snobbish prince in this game.  Visually, Star Fox is just an impressive game overall. Never has the fact that you’re in a full scale war been so clear as when you fly through Corneria as it looks completely ravaged with darkened skies and everything on fire.

The locales will be familiar to veteran players but, at the same time they might not seem that way due to the visual overhaul. Aquas is even more eerie than before and the asteroid belt feels even bigger in scope due to its great use of dark colors throughout which makes it feel like you’re truly in deep space.

The levels and visuals are all accompanied by the classic soundtrack. The sounds will be familiar but, more epic in scope due to sounding like a big band orchestra with tribal chants sprinkled in here and there as well. Velan Studios really outdid themselves with the presentation in Star Fox. This extends to one part I was worried about, the dialogue. Star Fox 64 was known for its campy and over the top dialogue. While part of me does still prefer that in some areas, the more cinematic approach they took with the dialogue also does work well.

This is shown in the extended cutscenes between levels, which not only adds more story but also adds more context to the different routes Star Fox will take throughout the game and why that route may be chosen over another. For example, doing Sector Y before Katina or Fachina as opposed to the asteroid belt will get different responses from General Pepper where he may prefer you go for one over the other. The added story isn’t crazy deep or hours long but it’s fun and a nice addition. This also extends to the enemy dialogue. While again I do miss some of the over the top dialogue, I do like the personality of some of the bosses. For example, the Shogun Commander is actually like a noble warrior this time and sort of reminded me of Battle Beast from Invincible with his personality.

While the presentation is fantastic, none of that would matter if the gameplay wasn’t up to snuff. Thankfully, it’s the classic Star Fox everyone knows and loves and it feels great to control on the Switch 2. The game gives you the option to map classic commands for the somersault and u-turn if you so choose. While the game is largely the same, it also feels faster than the N64 and I was surprised that some missions actually do feel more difficult, most notably the infamous sector Z which had me clutching a few times. Some levels were also polished better, such as being able to track the Shogun robots easier due to far better lighting than the 64.

While Star Fox isn’t a long game, as runs can easily take under an hour, those who only play to see the credits roll will be doing themselves a disservice. It’s classic arcade style action at its best and the gameplay loop is extremely relatable even years later. I  did 5-6 runs during my first hours with the game. And even after you get all the medals on for each level, there’s still more. Expert mode is unlockable much like in the N64 for an  even greater challenge where you not only have to be accurate, but also maneuver well as enemies deal far more damage and collisions cause instant wing damage, making you lose any laser upgrades you have. Fighting some bosses without the laser upgrades, especially the Star Wolf team who fight even smarter this time around is not something you want to be stuck doing.

After beating expert mode, there are also additional challenges to do per level. There’s over 190 challenges in total and many of them are quite hard to do. This greatly adds to the game’s already stellar replay value and is the perfect shake up for veterans of the game who can do runs or Star Fox 64 with their eyes closed.

The game’s new multiplayer mode is also a good deal of fun as it sees you control either members of Star Fox or Star Wolf for 4v4 dogfighting action. The rules change based on which locale you pick, such as vying for zones in the Corneria map. There’s also a co-op multiplayer where you and a friend team up where one flies and the other shoots.

Cons

So while the gameplay mostly controls exceptionally, there is one exception in Aquas. Visually, the level is better than ever, but the submarine isn’t as fun to control as either the Arwing or the Landmaster tank. It is one thing I hoped would’ve been addressed from the older game as many didn’t like Aquas either.

Also, while multiplayer is fun, I feel the game doesn’t go far enough with it. More gameplay modes such as free for all or 2v2 would be welcome. And unfortunately, if each team doesn’t get 4 players, matches can feel unbalanced as the bots simply won’t be able to stand well against human controlled players.

Final Thoughts

Star Fox overall is a fantastic remake of one of the best games of all time. Its gameplay loop remains highly replayable, it’s a great entry for those who’ve never played while the additional challenge modes are sure to keep veterans busy as well. While it could use a bit more on its multiplayer and revisiting aquas may not be fun, those are small complaints to say the least.

Star Fox was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2.