Star Fox Switch 2 review: A safe but solid remake

And unlike the original (yes, I still remember), the updated map now provides clearer information about the objectives required to reach a harder stage or secure a medal, while extra dialogue during missions can point towards alternate paths. Veterans may find that guidance unnecessary, but it makes the branching campaign much easier to understand for anyone playing Star Fox for the first time.  

More than just a remake

As far as the remake’s presentation goes, developer Velan Studios has not simply cleaned up the visuals and increased the resolution. Each location has been rebuilt with considerably more detail, turning environments that once consisted of flat textures and a handful of polygons into what you would expect from a modern video game. Corneria, for instance. is no longer merely a collection of blocky buildings. Smoke fills the skyline as ships tear across the city and debris scatters through the air. Fox and his teammates also come complete with detailed fur, feathers and considerably more expressive faces.

Nintendo has sensibly provided several control options too. The simplified default layout reduces the reliance on some of the original button combinations, although a classic scheme is available for returning players. The more unusual option uses the Joy-Con 2 mouse function. The game also allows for a second player option by allowing them to take control of the weapons while the first concentrates on flying, with the two roles switchable simply by picking up or putting down the relevant Joy-Con. I found this fun to play with a partner, but fair warning, it can also lead to some entertaining arguments.

Refreshed graphics alone are not enough to disguise the campaign’s length, so the developers were smart to have the remake introduces a Challenge Mode built around revisiting its 15 stages. Each level contains additional objectives, such as completing it within a certain time, destroying a set number of enemies or fulfilling a character’s request.

Clearing every task for a stage unlocks a more demanding Expert variant. These challenges do not fundamentally change the game – you are still flying through the same locations and fighting the same enemies – but they provide more focused reasons to return beyond improving a score.

The new online multiplayer mode is another useful addition. Up to eight players can take part in four-versus-four battles between Star Fox and Star Wolf across three objective-based modes. Corneria revolves around controlling zones, Fichina has players collecting items and Sector Y uses a variation of capture the flag. That said, the absence of the traditional – and original – local split-screen multiplayer is disappointing.

Final thoughts

The question surrounding Star Fox is not whether it is good. Star Fox 64 already answered that almost 30 years ago, and the Switch 2 version improves it in nearly every way. It looks markedly better, controls well and runs smoothly, while the new cutscenes, challenges and online battles add enough substance to make this more than a basic visual remaster.

The more difficult question is whether Nintendo has been too cautious here. The new prologue made me wish there was a longer playable story attached to it, perhaps exploring James McCloud’s final mission or giving Star Wolf his own own campaign. Instead, the remake stops just as it begins to demonstrate what a modern Star Fox adventure could look like.

That makes this a slightly different proposition depending on your history with the series. If you have never played Star Fox 64, the Switch 2 remake is an accessible introduction and an example of why the original is still so fondly remembered. Its short campaign should not necessarily be seen as a drawback, provided you are willing to revisit it, explore different routes and chase higher scores.

Long-time players will have to decide how much they want to fly through Corneria yet again. The presentation is substantially different, but the landmarks, enemies and objectives remain where you remember them. It may be Star Fox 64 again, but it is also a convincing reminder that Nintendo should do more with Fox McCloud. Hopefully, this remake is the start of his return rather than another temporary stop before the series disappears into space once more.

Star Fox is now available for Nintendo Switch 2. Click here to buy.