Review - Star Fox

Star Fox

Nintendo, Velan Studios

Nintendo Switch 2

Story & Lore

This is a nearly 1:1 remake of the original Nintendo 64 classic, so if you know the story, nothing’s changed here. Fox and the Star Fox team have been hired to stop Andross, an evil genius gone rogue who seeks to take control of the galaxy. As you explore the galaxy, one side leads to new characters and interactions that are different from your original playthrough. The story is basic, but when you look at the holoviewer, there’s some deep lore to go through that lets you know more about the team and their enemies. It’s simple, but it’s that Nintendo simple story that you accept because of the gameplay and the memorability of characters.

Characters & Writing

The Star Fox crew has the same characters you know and love. Fox is the young, confident new leader, taking over after his father’s disappearance, thought to be dead, from the betrayal of Pigma. Peppy is the longtime veteran and friend of Fox’s father; he’s the smart and reasonable one of the group. Falco is Fox’s rival - cocky and brash, sometimes a bit harsh, but reliable. Slippy is the brains of most of the operations, probably not the best fighter, but comes up with interesting ideas and new vehicles. Star Wolf doesn’t show up much, but they make an impression the two times we find them. Andross is a by-the-books, simple villain, but leave as much of an impression as Bowser or Ganon could when we fight him.

In terms of character arcs, there’s not much here, even as we do see them interact during mission briefings and decisions. I would have liked to see some more tension between Fox and Falco, and maybe some rough moments before the team gets it together for the final battle, but Nintendo and Velan Studios played it safe. That doesn’t make the scenes bad; it’s nice to get more talking between these guys, but it’s nothing that evolves anyone’s arcs or stories beyond what we already know. Again, these characters are memorable because they’re unique, not necessarily their arcs.

Gameplay & Mechanics

Now we get to the meat and potatoes of the game, the actual gameplay and combat. You’ll pilot the Arwing or mission-exclusive vehicles in a third-person railshooter. It’s essentially a shoot ‘ em up in 3D space. You’ll want to avoid obstacles and objects as well. It’s that pick-up-and-play perfection that Nintendo nails and can get anyone to play and have fun. You’ll have abilities and bombs you can acquire to help dispatch enemies and bosses more easily, but it’s not a robust modern system, as this stays true to the 1997 release all the way.

The game requires you to go through multiple times if you want to see everything. At first, this took me aback as someone who never completed the original, but after my second playthrough, it clicked with me. I’m sure the development team saw this as revolutionary at the time, where no single playthrough is the same. It’s very much a classic arcade shooter, where the story takes a back seat to straight-up shoot and dodge mayhem. It comes together during boss fights, as you’ll not just shoot but also avoid obstacles and attacks from them, putting your skills to the test.

The part I was polarized by was the few free-range levels and moments in the game. It took me until the second playthrough to start to understand the best ways to deal with these, but during my first time, I found them a bit annoying, especially as the Star Wolf team during battle loves to just chase you, making it hard to get a good shot on them. This is one of the areas I wish they had broken away from being a faithful remake and made it more modern.

World & Level Design

If you’re going to do a classic arcade-style on-rail shooter, you have to make sure everything clicks and fits as you progress through the level, with the matching sights and sounds of the land/sky you’re in. I can say Velan did a great job ensuring it all lines up. The planets and cityscapes look great and match the action on screen. When enemies and obstacles appear, they make sense and don’t feel like they are there just to add things for the player to shoot and dodge. Yes, it’s a remake that Velan could work with, but they deserve credit for having the level designs match. As for this world, it’s perfect for the Star Fox franchise, and I thought all the planets felt like different areas in this solar system they were dealing with.

Audio & Sound Design

If you are going into this game with memories of Star Fox 64, or even know the music from listening to it in crossovers, get ready for incredible nostalgia. The audio and soundtrack are exactly from the original 64 game, with the added 3D audio Switch 2 can provide. The sound effects don’t get in the way of the communication between Fox and his allies, and the music is pitch-perfect. This is pure Star Fox music perfection, with the typical space shooter audio effects you expect and want from this type of genre.

Art Direction & Graphics

The reveal of the game took many Star Fox fans aback, as Nintendo and Velan went with a direction closer to the original SNES Star Fox release, with realistic-looking talking animals. While I understand why some prefer the more cartoony look, I enjoyed this, and it felt like we were getting the vision that the original game was always trying to convey. The game looks beautiful, and I think this is the first true Switch 2 first-party game in terms of graphics. You still see that Star Fox 64 art style in there regarding several environmental and enemy assets, but there’s also a mix of realism that shows Nintendo is open to it for the first time in several systems.

Direction & Performances

While Star Fox’s voice cast does a good job playing their characters and sounding like them, you’re not getting award-contending performances here. That’s not their fault; it’s just the material they work with, as the scenes we see them in are as simple as you can get. Not a performance that’s going to blow your socks off, but memorable and well done enough for the many new Star Fox players who will make this their first dip into the franchise.

User Experience

This is a fairly simple game to understand, and Nintendo did add some valuable options to make it the best possible experience for players. We have an easy mode for people who have issues with the difficulty, even though it only makes the harder path in the game slightly more bearable. They also have options for aim assist and first-person modes if you prefer. As someone who remembers struggling with the 1997 release, I welcome these, even though I am a better player now.

Replay Value

I was surprised to see how short the main campaign for this game is, but it clicked when I started playing it again. The game is made to be played multiple times, with a focus on different paths, and the addition of objectives and medals that keep you coming back. It’s replayability done right, and despite its short campaign, you’ll come back over and over again, without getting bored, and even get better at playing.

Recommendation

If you are a massive fan of Star Fox 64 and you grew up with it and the N64 system, I cannot emphasize how much I recommend this game. It’s a perfect trip down nostalgia lane in times when we need escapism. If you’re new to the series and need to pick something up for your Switch 2, I think you’ll still have fun, and even though it’s not a huge epic game, you might walk away as a new fan of the franchise. There will be lots of kids who grow up playing this, giving Nintendo a chance to expand the franchise and its fan base.

B - Good

In reality, there are two ways to look at this game. From a pure nostalgic standpoint, this is a trip down memory lane that’s going to make you feel like a kid again and only makes me that much more excited for the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake. The characters, music, sound effects, and gameplay still feel like Star Fox 64, just looking much prettier. However, from a standpoint of today, the decision to make it a 1:1 remake does leave it feeling simple and a product still stuck in the mid to late ‘90s. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, just that it feels more like a nostalgia trip than a modern step up, which for many is exactly what they want, and that’s okay.
I thought Star Fox was a fun game, which I’m sure I’ll replay several more times considering how easy it is to pick up and play through it in just one day. I do wish they had done more than just make it a faithful remake, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do and is a hopeful sign that Fox McCloud and friends are here to stay.

Share