Review – Star Fox for Switch 2

For a brainchild of Shigeru Miyamoto, the Star Fox series sure doesn’t feel all that supported. Loaned out to other developers since the beginning, Nintendo themselves have really only flown one solo mission — Star Fox 64. Call it bias, call it familiarity, call it quality; there’s a reason we keep getting the 1997 classic again and again, and after this latest treatment on the Nintendo Switch 2 I’m not complaining.

There may not be much new when it comes to soaring with this squadron of space animals, but the reimagined visuals and lightly expanded narrative comes alongside modern convenience and additions to the package. That makes this the fullest take on SF64 around, but does that mean you should pick it up when you can play the original via Switch Online or a cherished N64 cartridge?  

 

Let’s Rock and Roll!

 

For anyone new to the Lylat Wars (and I wouldn’t blame you, this being the first new game in a decade), you’re in for an iconic rail shooter from a bygone era. Piloting an Arwing and unloading lasers and bombs on enemy ships as your four-man squadron takes back an entire solar system from Andross is as empowering and rewarding as it ever was. 

A lot of that comes down to game feel, which is responsive, smooth and kinetic. You gain no new skills or techniques over the couple hours it takes to finish the Campaign. Where you go depends on triggering alternate paths, often through your own capabilities or careful observation of the stage’s route. This one’s all about pure skill and technique as you carve your path and it’s easily a must-play experience at least once no matter which version you have access to. 

 

 

That doesn’t mean there isn’t variety. Stages range from shooting galleries, 3D All-Range mode areas, or ones that splice them together. Three stages also change your vehicle entirely, either to the Landmaster tank or the Blue-Marine submersible. Neither of those hold a candle to the Arwing, but they do at least offer up a different flavor. I do wish more thought went into the singular underwater stage though, as it feels almost like filler compared to the rest of the game.  

Like many N64 kids, I grew up playing Star Fox. Dusting off my original cartridge reminded me just how much time I spent on it, with nearly every medal earned despite never having the strategy guide or an internet to consult. Blazing through Corneria is nostalgic in the finest way, with enemy clusters and chatter from the team engraved in my brain. That’s all to say, I’d know if things felt off or dare I say unworthy for this Switch 2 touchup. 

Performance is buttery-smooth now, running night and day from the N64’s frequent slow down, especially during big explosions and hordes of enemies. There are some downgrades worth noting though — the visual and haptic feedback from hitting bosses is practically nonexistent, taking away a lot of impact during those encounters. By and large though, this is now the definitive way to play this game, even if it’s missing some of that 1997 charm. 

 

 

Something’s Up Ahead. Looks Different

 

It’s been memed to death that this is the third time Nintendo’s gone back to Star Fox 64 in some way, but after time with this Switch 2 remake it’s clear why they prop that 1997 gem up again and again. Even nearly 30 years later, SF64’s stages hold up exceptionally well. That goes not just for their set pieces and challenges but for their implicit storytelling. The Lylat System as most know it is largely from their varied biomes and bits of dialogue from our wingmen, and they remain a worthy backdrop for the now expanded story. 

That’s not to say Star Fox is suddenly a grand space opera. Most of the “new” is from cutscenes of the team interacting and getting intel from General Pepper. As a remake I wouldn’t have expected sweeping changes to what was already a slim narrative, so these character interactions make the most sense. Peppy gets more moments to be the insightful veteran instead of yelling at me to try a somersault (don’t worry, he still does that too) and Falco’s prickly confidence is alive and well, but the ones who really benefit from these are Fox and Slippy.

 

 

Fox in 64 was most often shown as cocky to his enemies and no-nonsense as a leader. Here he comes off as a hotshot through and through, occasionally dismissive of Peppy’s responsible approach and jabbing back when Falco calls out his inexperience. He also really hammers home that Star Fox is an independent mercenary operation, reminding General Pepper of his running tab for their services and outright defying him when it comes to how they operate. 

As for Slippy, it seems like effort went into making him less needy and annoying and more a specialist (the team’s engineer) rising up to the greater good as a pilot. He even gets to clap back at Falco a couple times in his own way, and expresses his unique approach to problem solving with Meteo’s warps or Sector X’s boss encounter. Even if he still needs saving more than the other two, it’s clear this mission wouldn’t be possible without Slippy.

 

Jeez Laweez! What is that?!   

 

That’s all well and good for the added scenes, but what about possibly Star Fox 64’s most iconic element? The radio chatter from your team, allies, and enemies is an essential part of the series and while many lines here are lifted directly from the original, some of the changes and additions don’t hit as well. 

Some do arguably improve things — in Corneria, it’s now abundantly clear that Falco’s G-Diffusor malfunction is because of his negligence of a systems check at the beginning of the mission. On the N64, his “I’m fine” is more gruff than anything. Here that scene becomes indicative of his arrogance and impatience, giving you greater insight into Falco’s character right away. Slippy calling him out on it may seem like overkill in how it really spells things out for us, but it also gives the frog more of a backbone even if the pheasant won’t eat crow.

Going hand-in-hand with the script is the voice acting. Not to pick on Falco even further, but of the main cast his lines arguably suffer the most in the loss of their bite. Was some of his N64 delivery over the top? Yes. But I’ll take that over some of the understated voice direction present on Switch 2. 

Beyond the main cast, there are some others who completely fall flat or have been completely changed. Katt Monroe is an entirely different character in this one (points for making it clearer she has history with Falco, though) and I’ll always prefer cold, refined Leon over the more stereotypically psychotic approach the character has taken since. The biggest downgrades are to some of the stage bosses, like those of Sector Y and Macbeth. Are they less B-movie now? Sure. But I think I want them to be B-movie… 

 

I Guess I Should Be Thankful

 

For any comparative nitpicking I might have, Star Fox is another indisputably gorgeous entry in the Switch 2 library. Planet surfaces and open-space skirmishes are reimagined in a level of detail I never would’ve thought of, now running without the kind of slowdown that could plague some of 64’s busier stages. The music is also impeccable, elevating the score with orchestra arrangements to make you fall in love with the likes of Zoness and Star Wolf’s theme all over again.

 

 

While the core story hasn’t been expanded on from a gameplay perspective, Star Fox does include new ways to engage with the Lylat System both flying solo and online. Every stage now has 12 challenges (six normal, six expert) accessible from a separate menu than the campaign. It’s a great way to incentivize replaying and some even hint to certain strategies or targets (I genuinely had no idea you could shoot down the large ships in Area 6!) to increase your hit count. My one issue is that you can’t chase medals in this mode, making this pseudo-level select just shy of perfect. 

There’s also online multiplayer, replacing the previous local dog fights. The various modes are hard-locked to certain planets, making it all a very shallow addition in the grand scheme of things. If Nintendo’s keen to expand on it I’d be more inclined to revisit beyond using them as an excuse to use the virtual avatars in GameChat. But hey, GameShare is available which is always a plus.

 

Never Give Up, Trust Your Instincts

 

How much you’ll enjoy Star Fox will ultimately come down to how much you gel with what are by all accounts outdated sensibilities. The new polish is welcome, but this is still a Nintendo 64 game that you can beat in just a couple hours. If you’ve played the original or the 3DS remake, you more or less know what you’re getting here. 

I guess the biggest question you might have is if Star Fox on Switch 2 is “better” than the original. Frankly, I don’t think so. As mentioned earlier it’s certainly the most robust and definitive way to play it, but “best” is something more. I found myself missing the old sound design and couldn’t help but be bothered by Peppy’s icons being yellow instead of red. 

It might be impossible for me to undo decades of nostalgia, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the hell out of going back to the Lylat System. I’m thankful to Velan Studios’ fidelity to the original and the effort they’ve put into reviving a series that’s struggled for all these years. And if you’ve never played Star Fox 64 before? Maybe one day you’ll be talking about it on the Switch 2 version the way I am for the original classic.  

 

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