Star Fox looks pretty on Switch 2, but it's time Nintendo let the N64 game die

Date:
Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Weve played the upcoming Star Fox Nintendo Switch 2 game, but cant help but wish that it wasn't such a faithful Star Fox 64 remake.

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Star Fox 64 . Its a great game, dont get me wrong, and was certainly pioneering for its time innovating with not only its novel Rumble Pak integration but also its many branching paths and impressive replay value but, almost thirty years after its release, its time to let it go.

It isnt some inaccessible hidden gem: its been remade and re-released repeatedly over the years. Back in 2011, we got a pretty substantial remake
in Star Fox 64 3D on Nintendo 3DS , followed by a virtual console port of the original game for the Wii U . Then 2016s Star Fox Zero was a 64 reimagining
at its heart, with a similar story and some near-identical levels in its campaign. Now we have the upcoming Star Fox , a complete remake designed for Nintendo Switch 2 , and things are just getting silly. With its release, almost half of the series nine mainline games will be some version of Star
Fox 64, and when there hasnt been a new game for almost a decade, surely now is the time for something more new and exciting. Latest Videos From Watch
full video here: You may like Star Fox 64 is getting yet another remake, this time for Nintendo Switch 2 The 26 best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play right now Why Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth feels right at home on Nintendo Switch 2 Do a barrel roll again (Image credit: Nintendo) Still, its not hard to see why Nintendo has gone down this route. With protagonist Fox McCloud appearing in the blockbuster Super Mario Galaxy Movie , the company clearly wants to
create an approachable entry point for prospective fans one that doesnt require knowledge of any prior games. Its also no secret that remakes like this are much cheaper than having to create an entirely new game, with developers working from an established template rather than having to build everything from scratch.

It makes total sense from a business perspective, and if this remake is a big success, I can only assume that well finally get a new Star Fox game in the next few years. The problem, having played a few hours of Star Fox at a
recent Nintendo event, is that its age does show.

Its also no secret that remakes like this are much cheaper than having to create an entirely new game Theres plenty good here, dont get me wrong, and its dripping with that usual level of Nintendo polish. The visuals look great in motion, and are substantially upgraded compared to past versions. Zooming through the picturesque first level, Corneria, its initial raft of green
hills and shimmering ocean appears genuinely beautiful, with the subsequent city siege being even more impressive.

From the handful that Ive seen, the new cutscenes are an improvement too (slightly uncanny, bit-too-realistic character models notwithstanding) and do a good job establishing the stakes and introducing the distinct personalities of the main crew. The controls are smooth as well and, while the game still unfolds mainly in an on-rails format, its pretty fun to hit barrel rolls and fire laser beams as you dart through the skies. Its all accompanied by a brilliant orchestral score that makes it all feel super cinematic. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

My main hangup comes from the levels themselves. Beyond aesthetics, theyre basically exact recreations of the N64 originals and are really quite short,
a fact thats even more noticeable now theyre sandwiched between lengthy cutscenes. On the standard difficulty, the boss fights I sampled were all comically easy too, which further compounds the issue shredding a giant mech in four seconds isn't a very climactic end to an already short encounter. (Image credit: Nintendo) I can already hear some of you yelling at the screen that Star Fox 64 has always been a very short game which is of course true but if youre going to all the effort to remake the visuals from scratch, I dont see why some extra encounters couldnt have been thrown in there to
extend the runtime (not to mention increase the appeal for those that have already played through 64 multiple times) a little bit as well. Fingers crossed the full release has some surprises in store.

At least a new co-op mode has been added to take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2 system, tasking one player with piloting the Arwing ship and the other with aiming its weapons with Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. The results are, as you might expect, pretty hectic, but Im glad the option is there for younger players eager to dive in with siblings and friends or even older gamers wanting to share the action with a family member. What to read next Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park review Should you buy a Switch 2 before the price hike? I played 5 exclusives to find out Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: choose wisely, and
play this excellent Nintendo Switch 2 port

The online multiplayer is another great excuse to squad up with some pals,
and its pretty different to the local action in the old game as well. Its 4v4 now, with one team dropping in as the Star Fox team and the other as the malevolent Star Wolf mercenary squad to battle over control points in a handful of maps.

I really enjoyed my brief time with it (and Im not just saying that because I got to play as my beloved Slippy) and am eager to try it out some more come release day. I'm hopeful that it will help me spend some more time in the
game after knocking out the campaign in just a couple of hours.

Star Fox launches as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive on June 25, 2026. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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