Star Fox is the most impressive visual showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, standing apart from other launch exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. While those titles emphasize open-world scale, Star Fox is a tightly choreographed on-rails shooter that feels like a playable sci-fi movie. The remake of the Nintendo 64 classic launches on June 25th.
Cinematic Overhaul and Visuals
Star Fox follows the same blueprint as Star Fox 64, with Fox McCloud leading a squadron of mercenaries against the evil scientist Andross. The story remains barebones, but the game now features voiced cutscenes that flesh out the narrative and show characters outside their ships, such as Fox sipping an energy drink between battles. The visuals are stunning: ships leave trails across oceans, gigantic enemies fill the screen amid lava waves, and space debris creates epic firefights. The game can be mistaken for Star Wars or No Man's Sky if not for the talking animals and cheesy dialogue.
Controls and Modern Feel
The controls feel much more responsive than the original, partly due to the modern controller. The visual and control upgrades make the nearly 30-year-old game feel modern. However, the game shows its age in structure. The initial playthrough takes about an hour, but to see everything, players must replay levels to find new paths and unlock the true ending. This requires significant time and patience, especially with difficult levels like the train mission where players pilot a tank.
Additions and Context
New features include a challenge mode with additional goals, expanded multiplayer with online play, and virtual avatars. The core experience remains the campaign and its unlockable missions. Star Fox launches amid a wave of popular remakes, including Resident Evil, Final Fantasy, and Dragon Quest. It illustrates both the benefits and drawbacks of the trend: the visual overhaul enhances the sci-fi movie feel, but the old-school gameplay can feel incongruous with the modern presentation. The balance mostly works in Star Fox's favor, though the repetitive cutscenes may lead to frequent skipping.
