Star Fox Review

There are some games that immediately take you back to a certain point in your life, and for me, Star Fox 64 is one of them. It was one of those Nintendo 64 games that I could pick up whenever I had friends over to show off the new ‘cutting edge’ hardware and to take turns with the power of the Rumble Pack. I vividly remember playing endlessly just to see if I could improve my score or unlock a different route. Thirty years later, Nintendo has brought Fox McCloud and the team back for the Switch 2, and while I was excited, I was also a little nervous. Some games are better left as memories, but after spending time with this remake I can happily say Nintendo and Velan Studios have done this classic justice.

What impressed me most is that it never felt like Velen Studios was trying to reinvent a beloved game. Instead, it feels like a celebration of everything that made the original so memorable. The heart of Star Fox is still here, from the fast-paced arcade gameplay to the unforgettable cast of characters, but everything around it has been modernised in a way that feels respectful rather than unnecessary. It captures that feeling of sitting in front of a Nintendo 64 all those years ago while making it look and play like the game I always imagined it could be.

The story itself remains fairly simple, but I don’t see that as a huge negative. Put simply, your mission is to stop Andross before he attempts to take over the Lylat System, and that simple objective is what keeps the adventure moving at a great pace. What has improved is how the story is presented. Nintendo has added new cinematic scenes throughout the campaign which help connect each mission and make the journey feel much grander than before. These moments never overstay their welcome, but they do enough to make the world and its characters feel more alive. If anything, I wanted more of them.

Fox, Falco, Peppy, and Slippy have always been memorable characters, but this remake gives them much more personality. Their conversations feel more natural, the additional dialogue makes them feel like an actual squadron rather than voices over a radio, and each character gets more opportunities to shine. Fox especially stands out this time around. He carries himself with a quiet confidence that reminded me a little of Han Solo, and it made me realise just how much potential this series still has should Nintendo decide to continue it beyond this remake. Which I want to heavily add: they absolutely should.

Visually, this is a massive leap forward, although it is quite obvious it would be considering how much time has passed. Every planet has been rebuilt with incredible attention to detail, and each mission feels far more alive than it ever did on the Nintendo 64. Flying through asteroid fields, weaving between enemy battleships and soaring across alien landscapes never gets old because there is always something happening around you. Explosions fill the screen with colour, laser fire lights up every battle, and the improved environmental effects make each location feel unique.

The art direction deserves special mention because it completely transforms the atmosphere. Flying through clouds with sunlight breaking across your Arwing or diving into darker areas of space where enemy ships suddenly emerge creates some genuinely awesome moments. It’s the kind of visual upgrade that enhances the experience. Whether I was playing docked on the television or in handheld mode, the game looked fantastic.

The Switch 2 really gets a chance to show what it is capable of here. Everything is crisp, colourful and incredibly vibrant, with handheld mode especially standing out. There were several moments where I found myself simply appreciating how far Nintendo hardware has come since the days of the Nintendo 64. Performance is every bit as impressive as the visuals. Throughout my time with the game, I never experienced any slowdown, technical hiccups or noticeable bugs.

The game runs at a rock-solid 60 frames per second, and that consistency makes a huge difference in a game where quick reactions and precise movement are so important. Star Fox has always relied on responsive controls, and thankfully this remake absolutely nails that feeling. The Arwing has never controlled better. Every roll, boost, and sharp turn feels smooth and responsive. Even after several hours, I never grew tired of jumping back into another mission because the gameplay loop remains just as addictive today as it was decades ago. There is something timeless about the simplicity of blasting through waves of enemies while chasing high scores and hidden objectives.

That classic arcade design is what makes Star Fox feel so unique in today’s gaming landscape. So many modern games are built around massive open worlds, endless progression systems and maps filled with icons. Star Fox does the complete opposite. It gives you a focused mission, asking you to master it and then encourages you to come back and do even better next time. 

As I mentioned, certain objectives can completely change where your adventure goes next, opening new planets, different bosses and entirely new encounters. Once it grabs you, you will find yourself replaying missions not because I had to, but because I genuinely wanted to see what I had missed. It gives the campaign so much replay value and makes every decision feel meaningful.

Beyond the main campaign, Nintendo has done a great job expanding the package with extra content. The original Star Fox 64 was already a game built around replayability, and this remake understands that players today expect more ways to enjoy an experience. Challenge Mode, Battle Mode and the additional viewing features all help make this feel like more than just a simple upgrade.

The cooperative mode was another interesting addition. At first, I expected Nintendo to simply include traditional split-screen multiplayer, but instead they went with a different approach. One player takes control of the Arwing while another player handles aiming and targeting. It sounds unusual on paper, but surprisingly it works really well. It creates a genuine sense of teamwork because both players need to communicate and work together rather than simply competing for the highest score. It’s fun, albeit a bit short-lived.

The Battle Mode ended up being one of the biggest surprises for me. Taking the Star Fox team into competitive battles against friends or Bot opponents. Whether you are chasing down opponents in intense dogfights in arenas or playing objective-based matches like capture the flag, it continues to have the same arcade energy that made the original so enjoyable. The rivalry between Fox’s team and Star Wolf is especially fun because it feels like a proper clash between two legendary groups.

It’s moments like these where nostalgia hits the hardest. Not because it’s a simple recreation, but they understood that this is a game loved by many kids who are now adults, trying to feel like they are kids once more. The gameplay still feels fantastic, the pacing is excellent, and there is an energy to every mission that very few modern games manage to capture. Rather than relying on nostalgia alone, this remake proves that the original design still holds up remarkably well today.

Nintendo has also included some new features. The amiibo functionality and character customisation options available only if you have a Nintendo Switch 2 camera aren’t revolutionary additions, but they help make the overall package feel more complete. These are the kinds of small details that Nintendo fans appreciate because they reward players who want to spend more time with the world and characters beyond the main adventure. The inclusion of GameShare functionality is also a nice addition, even though I was unable to test it myself, the more people get to play this game, the better.

One area where this remake truly shines is the audio. The soundtrack has always been one of Star Fox 64’s greatest strengths, but hearing these classic themes reimagined by a full orchestra is incredible. The music feels bigger, more dramatic and far more cinematic than before. There were moments where I found myself turning it up just to appreciate how much the updated soundtrack adds to each mission.

The sound design is equally impressive. The roar of the Arwing engines, the explosions during intense battles, the laser fire and the constant communication between the team all combine to make every mission feel more immersive. Star Fox has always had a strong sense of personality, and the audio presentation plays a huge role in bringing that personality to life.

What surprised me most about this remake is how relevant the formula still feels. Star Fox represents a style of game design that we don’t see nearly enough anymore. It is focused, replayable, and built around this simple mantra, unlike most rogue games. Instead of giving players hundreds of hours of content, it gives you a shorter experience that encourages mastery. Every missed objective, every hidden pathway and every high score becomes a reason to return.

At the same time, I do think there were opportunities to push this remake further. As great as the final product is, this is still very much Star Fox 64 with modern visuals, improved presentation and additional features. That is not necessarily a bad thing because the foundation remains excellent, but there were moments where I found myself wondering what a completely new Star Fox adventure could look like using this remake as a starting point.

The improved character development especially made me want more. Spending more time with Fox and the team reminded me that this universe has so much potential. The personalities are there, the gameplay is there, and the foundation for something bigger is already established. Nintendo does not need to turn Star Fox into an open-world adventure or completely change what makes it special. In fact, I think the focused mission structure is one of the biggest strengths of the franchise.

What I would love to see is a brand-new Star Fox game that takes everything this remake does well and builds upon it. Give us new planets, new enemies, a fresh story and more reasons to spend time with this incredible cast of characters. This remake proves that Star Fox still works, and after thirty years it is exciting to think about what the future could hold. I would also love some sections similar in the cartoon style from the Super Mario Galaxy film; the opportunity is there, we just need Nintendo to take it and make something great.

Walking away from Star Fox, my biggest feeling was appreciation. Nintendo has not only brought back a classic, but reminded players why this franchise became so beloved in the first place. It is a reminder that great gameplay never really ages. The graphics can improve, the presentation can evolve, and new features can be added, but at the centre of it all is a game that is simply fun to play.