Star Fox is a series that has a lot of fans but also a rocky history. The first game on the SNES was a cult classic, but Star Fox 2 was cancelled despite being complete due to the incoming N64 and PlayStation era, and would not see a release until 2017. Star Fox 64 was a complete reboot but the series has struggled to get out of that game’s shadow. Star Fox Adventures was originally not a Star Fox game, and the subsequent titles proved just as polarizing, culminating in Star Fox Zero, another attempted reboot that flopped. Outside of an appearance in the Switch version of Starlink Battle For Atlas, there seemed to be no more future for Star Fox.
So when it was revealed there would be a Switch 2 Star Fox game, there was some excitement, albeit with hesitation due to the game being yet another remake of Star Fox 64. It seemed so unnecessary, but I resolved to keep an open mind about the game. I am glad that I did so, because Nintendo and Velan Studios have not only remade the game, they have made a blueprint for the future of the series.
Velan Studios made some interesting choices about what to change in Star Fox and while not all of the changes were great, there were plenty that are very much appreciated. Some of the changes were needed, such as the UI interface, but even in that regard there is some familiarity. For instance, the main menu in Star Fox 64 had a charming minimalism to it, while Star Fox on Switch 2’s menu has been overhauled in a way that maintains the simplicity but in a new way that calls back to various games in the series.
Of course the notable changes are to the story, and the new cutscenes are one of the best parts of the game, for me anyways, as it helps expand on the game’s story while giving the characters more sense of personality. They give you more of a reason for why you are doing what you are doing, and also opens up a lot of possibilities for future games as well. This can be seen with the new prologue that adds more weight to the story while also offering some possibilities for later in the game, (albeit no spoilers are given here in this review), which was a nice touch.
Of course there are also some changes to the campaign as well, since the training mode was entirely optional in the original release but now is part of the story and helps the plot, while throwing in some changes here and there. When playing the game, you will notice the dialogue is not the same as the N64 version, and that is because it is closer to the original Japanese release. Some lines have been changed, removed or added and I need to note that the voice acting is not always the best for all the characters as sometimes lines hit perfectly, and other times the voice acting is distracting.
Some of the bosses have also been reworked in various ways and provide a new challenge, which is very welcome for those who have played the N64 and 3DS versions several times. In addition, some levels in the campaign have been given changes to work better and address complaints about the original to make things flow better and reduce frustration including sector x. The downside is that there is some frustration with controls at first, but you can get the hang of it after a while. The lack of gyro controls is a missed opportunity, although the mouse control options were great and the local co-op was well handled.
Speaking of playing with others, multiplayer is the biggest change here. The N64 version had a local multiplayer option, it was nothing special, and the 3DS remake added more but not too much. This Switch 2 remake, however, vastly expands the options and gives us online play as well. Not all of it is perfect and sometimes the lobbies are a little empty, but when you play with others, the replay value is immense. There are three maps and each map offers a different gameplay mode, which is nice but more variety would be welcome. Hopefully more content is added later to expand on this, because these modes really add to the game’s replay value.
Replay value is important to a game like Star Fox, which as a rail shooter, is all about the arcade formula. Star Fox encourages multiple playthroughs to see everything such as the different routes, and there are also some nice Easter Eggs referring to other games in the series, and also other Nintendo and Superfx games. Previous versions of Star Fox 64 had a challenge mode, bit it felt like a throwaway idea, while the Switch 2 remake gives it actual depth and missions that give real meat to the gameplay and helps encourage playing repeatedly. It is not overwhelming thankfully, and is arranged just right.
I cannot of course go without mentioning the visuals, as thanks to Velan Studios’ s Viper Engine, Star Fox on Switch 2 has breathtaking visuals that really show off what the Switch 2 is capable of, and gives Star Fox a truly cinematic feel. The character designs may not be to everyone’s liking, but they definitely stand out here. In addition, Star Fox on Switch 2 has the best versions yet of the franchise’s iconic music, which sound perfect here.
Star Fox on Switch 2 in many ways feels like a tech demo game, but that is not a bad thing necessarily. It feels like more than just a remake of Star Fox 64, but rather as said earlier, a blueprint for the future of the series and where it can go next. After so many misses over the years, it seems Star Fox has finally hit the target and pulled off the mission successfully. Here is to seeing more like this from the series in the future, because the future is now looking bright once again.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided