Star Fox (2026) Review

The Nintendo 64 is something of a blind spot in my gaming history. Sure, I’ve played Super Mario 64 and the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time, but lots of classic N64 games have been sitting on my proverbial list for a little too long. 1997’s Star Fox 64 was one of those games until Nintendo surprised everyone with a full announcement direct for Star Fox (2026) back in May. I fully expected to like the game, but I was caught off-guard by just how much I liked it. Classics though they may be, many of the N64 games I’ve played felt like rougher and more primitive test drives for later iterations I prefer. Star Fox 64’s infinitely replayable levels and exciting piloting gameplay, however, are nothing short of timeless. It’s not the sort of game that needs a remake at first glance, especially since it already retold the original 1993 Star Fox’s story and has been remade as 2011’s Star Fox 64 3D before.

In truth, it’s not Star Fox 64 that needed the remake; it was the Star Fox franchise as a whole. Where Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda have many classic titles, Star Fox 64 is the only game in the series that ever reached that status. Between bizarre genre shifts and control gimmicks, Nintendo just seemed incapable of locking on to what made Star Fox fun in the first place. Now, with the help of third-party Velan Studios, they just might fix that. Star Fox (2026) isn’t here because Star Fox 64 needs a facelift; it’s here to remind everyone that it hasn’t aged a day, and hopefully even to be a north star for the future of the series to follow.

To that end, we’ll start with what was always the best about Star Fox 64: the gameplay. Star Fox (2026) doesn’t try to fix what isn’t broken, remaining staunchly faithful to the original game’s tight controls and exceptional level design. The Arwing is a dream to pilot. Techniques like boosting, braking, somersaulting, and even just banking into turns make the Arwing live up to its reputation as the nimblest fighter craft around. The tension between knocking down shots, lining up locked-on charged shots for extra points against groups, and carefully maneuvering between every obstacle is the core of Star Fox. Despite how much of the game is on rails, you feel a great sense of control over how you fly through each level. On occasion, you’ll even shift into all-range mode. These levels feature dogfighting on wide-open maps with a full range of control, making Star Fox feel even more like a piloting game than just a rail shooter. If it’s anything I’d like for a new Star Fox game to do, it’s expand on all-range mode with larger and more varied areas and objectives.

Just about my only gripe with the controls is the lack of button rebinding. It would be nice to put boost and brake on the bumpers and leave the triggers for tilting and rolling, but the only way to do that is through the Switch 2’s controller profile options, which are a hassle. There’s also a new mouse aiming control scheme with the Joy-Con 2s, but this is unfortunately restricted to first-person piloting, which I don’t prefer. New first-person settings that make it so barrel-rolling doesn’t literally spin the entire screen certainly help, at least. Luckily, there’s really nothing wrong with the original controls, so you don’t have to feel like you’re falling behind the curve without mouse aiming.

Star Fox (2026) effortlessly darts from one awesome setpiece to the next across each of its sixteen levels, keeping the gameplay just as fresh with unique enemies and objectives. Though you can blast through the Lylat System and take down the evil Dr. Andross in an hour or two, your first playthrough of Star Fox is just the beginning. Each playthrough consists of seven of the sixteen levels in one of 25 possible routes. Sharp piloting lets you chase down unique side objectives and chart a course for tougher levels. You’ll really want to play over and over, too, because these levels have that timeless Nintendo polish. Highlights include the hectic battle over Katina, skimming above the rough seas of Zoness as you destroy searchlights to evade detection, and flying over the surface of a star as you struggle to keep your shields intact. Corneria may be the start of every playthrough, but it’s such a flawless introduction that I never get tired of it. Of course, nothing beats the bombastic Area 6, a daring charge through Andross’ armada that throws everything and then some at you.

It’s easy to top an N64 game, but I still think it’s worth noting just how much of a facelift these stages have received in Star Fox (2026). N64 visuals were a huge leap at the time, but many of the finer details are still muddled under layers of abstraction. Velan has done a very faithful job pulling detail out of simple designs, and every level feels so much more alive for the effort. It’s no surprise that levels like Corneria or Zoness look great, but more visually-sparse levels like Katina and Sector X received such huge makeovers that even the exact same layouts might be hard to recognize at first glance. It really feels like Velan has landed on a definitive look for the series going forward. I know the characters’ more realistic designs rubbed some people the wrong way, but I think they call back to the series’ roots quite effectively. There’s also some great new details, like the bird wings painted on the wings of Falco’s Arwing. Of course, gameplay matters more than graphics, but you already know they didn’t drop the ball there.

Though Star Fox (2026)’s stages are loosely sorted into easy, medium, and hard paths, each of these routes has unique appeal. They all have at least one level with a different vehicle, namely the Landmaster tank and the Blue Marine submarine. The remake’s gameplay changes are largely subtle, but there are some noticeable differences with these vehicles. The Landmaster feels much heavier to control than it did in Star Fox 64, and its aiming radius also feels more restrictive (though this may be a byproduct of the remake being in widescreen rather than 4:3). It took some adjusting to meet my old performance on the new Landmaster levels, but I think the changes ultimately make it feel less like it’s just an Arwing with its wings clipped. Although you only use the Blue Marine on Aquas, it’s definitely improved. The aiming reticle no longer arbitrarily disappears when you have a torpedo lock, and barrel rolling now results in quick turns that help the sub feel a lot more maneuverable.

Of course, different routes will also change Star Fox (2026)’s story in interesting ways. This is where we start to get into things you really can’t find in Star Fox 64; Velan has greatly fleshed out the narrative content in the game with new cutscenes and a vastly revamped script. Fox has a lot more to say in this remake, giving us a clearer picture of someone who has a chip on his shoulder about his father’s legacy and is eager to prove himself as a leader. Slippy’s charming enthusiasm comes across so much better in this version, and Peppy fills the role of the team’s veteran mentor more convincingly. Falco is the standout of the main crew this time around, coming across not only as the cocky ace pilot but as someone who uses his too-cool-for-school act to obfuscate how much he really cares about his friends. Hearing their chatter as you flew alongside them through the levels always breathed a lot of life into Star Fox 64, and giving that dynamic more time to shine in new cutscenes was a no-brainer. Sometimes the performances could use a little more energy, but on the whole, it’s an improvement.

Star Fox (2026) also injects a well-defined narrative thread to the proceedings regardless of whether you get the good or bad ending. We understand from early on that Fox is trying to make a name for himself now that he’s inherited the Star Fox team from his late father. Your ability to clear tougher stages now informs his ability to grow into his role, fully earning the respect of his whole team - even that competitive Falco. Extra scenes provide more of a dramatic arc, and that heartwarming moment from the true ending (which I won’t spoil here for the new players) feels so much better at the end of a real arc. This moment also benefits from one of Stephen Barton’s additions to the score. Barton is extremely experienced in mimicking John Williams’ style with games like Jedi: Fallen Order and Titanfall 2, and Williams was definitely an inspiration for Star Fox 64’s score. He was the perfect choice to bring this soundtrack to fully-orchestrated life and contribute some excellent new tunes in key places. All of these changes hone in on and enhance the simple and satisfying themes of the original story, even if it’s nothing groundbreaking.

These improvements make landing on the bad ending, either out of inexperience or in search of high score medals, even less satisfying. Thankfully, the story has great moments no matter where you go. One of the best moments even locks you into the bad ending; after Slippy gets stranded on Titania, Fox, Falco, and Peppy all blow off General Pepper’s orders to save him. Without Slippy around, Falco drops his usual tough guy act and desperately urges Fox to find the poor toad. On other routes, Slippy gets to prove his worth with the vehicles he invented; he definitely ends up coming across as the heart of the group.

Other routes also include neat encounters with new allies or enemies. Katt, a member of Falco’s old gang and the game’s sole female character (it was the ‘90s), is much improved in Star Fox (2026). Her whole personality in her few appearances in Star Fox 64 basically boiled down to being a girl, but here she’s much more of a wild card who gives Falco a hard time like old friends do. Fox and Slippy’s old flight school friend Bill is a reliable, loyal guy. Encountering either of them is a great addition to any run, especially since they show up to give you a hand in the level after you first encounter them as well. There’s also three different points to encounter the rival Star Wolf mercenary group, a dastardly bunch consisting of the amoral ace pilot Wolf, the bloodthirsty Leon, the traitorous Pigma, and Andross’ privileged, talentless nephew Andrew. Dogfights with Star Wolf are always fun, and they act as an effective foil to the noble mercenary band that is Star Fox. These encounters flesh the world out as a place beyond what’s right in front of you, providing even more reasons to experiment with all kinds of routes.

Alright, so Velan nailed the original Star Fox 64 experience; that was the easy part. Star Fox (2026) needs to bring more than nice graphics and cutscenes to the table for a $50 remake of a 29-year-old game on expensive new hardware. Fortunately, we have challenge mode and the holoviewer. Challenge mode not only offers an easy way to play any stage you want anytime, but it includes a number of challenges for both normal and expert difficulty that encourage you to experience everything a level has to offer. Challenges range from approaching objectives with new limitations to interacting with some minor details and easter eggs straight from the original game. Did you know you can fly into the Great Fox’s repair bay to fix your wings and refill your shields on Sector Z? Challenge mode tells you that you can! Clearing stages, getting medals, and doing challenges unlocks holoviewer entries that give you tons of backstory about the characters and this world. The holoviewer includes a lot of longstanding lore that previously only existed in obscure supplementary material plus some new details to fill in the gaps; it’s a fun way to cool down after playing and get a better sense for this setting.

Most new of all, though, is Star Fox (2026)’s battle mode multiplayer. Teams of four sorted between Star Fox and Star Wolf can compete locally or online on three maps, each with their own side objectives. Anyone looking for the next e-sport probably won’t be satisfied, with a variety of random power-ups and a generally chaotic battlefield to manage, but dogfighting with other players can certainly be fun. Little adjustments like tighter u-turns, a more zoomed-out field of view, and a less generous lock-on system fine-tune the multiplayer experience. Objectives provide good reasons to get into the fight and there’s some decent room for fun teamwork in the mix. The only problem, really, is that this game is on Switch 2. This game uses dated peer-to-peer matchmaking and, as much as I might like to try flying alongside my friends, it’s hard to ask them to give it a try for $50 on a $500 (or more) console. Luckily, local gameshare works even with the original Switch, so getting friends together in person for customizable private matches actually seems feasible.

Star Fox (2026) may be the fifth time we’ve told this story and the third time we’ve done it through these levels, but it’s more than just a fresh coat of paint. Nothing’s ever going to make Star Fox 64 any less of a classic, but if you can get your hands on this remake, it is absolutely the definitive version of the Lylat Wars. It looks beautiful with no asterisks, it plays smoother than butter, and the story feels more complete than ever. More to the point, it feels like the perfect jumping-off point for a true sequel. The updated narrative is filled with potential for a follow-up that expands on the team dynamics, and this game proves that classic Star Fox gameplay certainly stands the test of time. It feels like it’s time for Star Fox to truly take off like it always deserved to, and as much as I enjoy this polished classic, I’m really hoping Nintendo and Velan can capture this spirit in something new.