Star Fox Review – The Crew Is Back

Out of all the franchises that have enjoyed a well-deserved comeback as of late, one I was not expecting to return was Star Fox. Still, like the iconic Arwing escaping the explosion from Venom, Fox McCloud and his crew have returned, not only to bring back the classic experience we all remember from the Nintendo 64, but also to deliver what is easily the best-looking Nintendo Switch 2 so far. And while I do have a few gripes about this remake, Nintendo has set a new bar on how to remake classic titles.

New Looks, Same Experience

While the Nintendo 64 was one of my first consoles, I must admit that among the lineup of classic titles of this platform, I didn’t spend as much time on Star Fox as I would’ve wanted. Yet, that’s not to say I didn’t love. For me, Star Fox 64 is still a staple of rail shooters and the best Star Fox installment ever made. Naturally, when I fired up Star Fox on my Nintendo Switch 2, that rush kicked in, as if I had played the game just yesterday, which is a great thing, yet one of the gripes I have with it as well.

In terms of narrative, there is nothing new that stands out. Yes, the cinematics are superb, and every scene of this space odyssey will make your jaw drop, regardless of how many times you piloted an Arwing before. However, Star Fox doesn’t add anything new when it comes to storytelling. You still start as a young and inexperienced Fox McCloud, taking the reins of the Star Fox Team after his father’s disappearance. From there, it’s up to you and your iconic squad to stop Andross.

While I would’ve loved to see extra missions or an expanded narrative, I can’t really complain as Star Fox delivers more than just a stunning spacefaring adventure, but it really shows the true power of the Nintendo Switch 2.

When the game started, I couldn’t believe just how gorgeous it looked on my docked Nintendo Switch 2. Frankly, some Switch 2 exclusives left me a bit disappointed when it came to their visuals, but Star Fox made me realize that studios can squeeze a lot from this platform. Everything from the fur details on Fox McCloud, Falco’s feathers, and even Slippy’s skin glow is done perfectly, to the point that some details rival those of several 3D animation films we’ve seen.

The surprising part is how these details stay at the same quality when playing. The first levels were quite mind-blowing, as I never thought I’d see some of the stages I explored as a kid remade so beautifully. Yet, some of the “secret” stages, such as Solar or Area 6, were the highlights for me. Vulcain’s fight was already among my favorite boss encounters ever, but Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 elevated it to cinematic levels that I thought wouldn’t be possible. That applies to practically every stage in the game, as some corridors that looked empty in some of the game’s earlier iterations are now brimming with details, which makes this remake feel completely new, despite not adding many new things that separate it from its original Nintendo 64 release.

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Secret levels, routes, and replayable stages aside, there are a few noteworthy additions, too, such as a full co-op campaign, mouse controls, which I found clunky, and an excellent online mode. Even if at first I was craving a completely new Star Fox experience, the more I took my Arwing out for a space ride, the more I fell in love again with this classic, as it finally got the treatment it deserved.

A New Standard for Remakes

Despite feeling conflicted at first, as I would’ve loved to see a new Star Fox adventure, I am thankful that Star Fox 64 got such a stellar remake treatment. Among the many game re-releases we’ve seen lately, only a few stand out as technical and artistic achievements, and Star Fox on the Nintendo Switch 2 is one of them. Yet, I’d dare say it goes beyond that, as it truly sets a standard for remakes on a Nintendo platform, and it makes me wish more Nintendo 64 games would return looking as great as this new installment.

Overall, Star Fox is ideal for both rookies and Arwing veteran pilots. As someone who had already experienced the best Star Fox adventure out there, it felt refreshing to play it again with that familiar feel, but with smoother controls and gorgeous visuals. And while I will certainly continue engaging in some space dogfights in its online mode and trying to earn all medals, I hope this remake convinces Nintendo to bring back Fox McCloud and his crew for a new adventure one day.