Star Fox Turns Original Flaws Into Its Biggest Strength

When Star Fox first hit the headlines, the chatter was dominated by character designs, the decision to revisit a familiar narrative, and the buzz from insider leaks. Yet after spending an hour immersed in the remake, I realized we were asking the wrong question all along. The real focus should have been: how can a near‑perfect classic be refreshed for today’s gamers without stripping away the very elements that made it iconic?

In light of this, there’s a clear mandate to elevate Star Fox into a next‑generation experience. After an hour of gameplay, I can confidently say the developers have largely succeeded in this endeavor.

Star Fox stands out as a remake that both evolves and preserves. It introduces enough fresh elements to feel like a new adventure, yet retains the comforting familiarity that makes returning players feel at home.

There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s break it down step by step. First, the visuals. I used to mock the game’s character design, but honestly, anthropomorphic animals with realistic touches never really appeal to me. Still, the initial snark didn’t hold me back from appreciating the polished models that flow together beautifully on screen, fitting seamlessly into Nintendo’s evolving storytelling style.

Beyond the characters, Star Fox delivers stunning graphics. Have you seen the Arwings in flight? From the first moment they glide across Corneria’s sapphire skies, you’re left breathless, especially when you notice the subtle details that give each squad member’s ship a distinct personality. The environments are equally dazzling, with Corneria’s cityscape transformed from the N64’s gritty vibe into a visceral, stomach‑shaking tableau of Andross’s army’s devastation. I once worried that such depth might distract, but it actually enriches the atmospheric adventure.

As I mentioned, Nintendo is reshaping Star Fox’s narrative. I’m not claiming it’s a brand‑new story; rather, it’s the same core plot told differently. Between levels, we’ll witness moments where Fox and the crew converse, debate the situation, and provide deeper context for each mission. This is a brilliant move that showcases the team as mercenaries who will save the day—if they’re paid. It also offers richer insight into the war’s stakes, replacing the original’s generic “give it your all” or “danger ahead” lines from General Pepper.

These changes elevate the cast’s personalities, hinting at meaningful character development. In the original, each member served a caricatured role; here, we see sharper traits and emerging tensions that promise resolution. Consequently, the dialogue was rewritten—something I initially resisted but now embrace wholeheartedly. The Spanish‑Latin localization is also impressively polished, staying true to Nintendo’s high standards.

Let’s dive into the main highlight: how to play? In essence, it can be summarized in a simple sentence: it plays just like Star Fox 64 on Nintendo 64. Here’s why – before diving into this remake, I took a spin on Star Fox 64 on Switch Online and the 3DS version of the remake. Both are great versions, but they lack the natural feel of playing with the Nintendo 64 controller.

This is where Star Fox truly shines – it feels incredible to play. The game adopts the control scheme introduced in the 3DS version, assigning buttons for braking (B) and accelerating (Y), leaving maneuvers specials on the D-Pad. The main difference is that using Joy-Con 2 or a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller 2 results in a significantly more ergonomic experience, delivering comfort I never found in the handheld version. As soon as I took control and completed the tutorial, I was able to perform loops, eliminate numerous enemies, and most importantly: have just as much fun as I did with all my plays of the original version where I tried to get all the medals.

Another point I’d like to emphasize is that Star Fox maintains the replayability of the original. At the end of each mission, the game informs you of your performance, and even notifies you about unlockables. This provides motivation to play it again and even set challenges such as achieving the highest score possible on each level or completing the game without any damage.

Now, let’s talk about multiplayer. Multiplayer was already present in the original, but it was limited by the hardware. This is why the multiplayer has been completely reinvented, taking the gameplay system and adapting it to new contexts to unlock its full potential.

In the mode I recently experienced, the gameplay feels like a high‑stakes, galactic capture‑the‑flag match featuring three distinct factions. You pit your team of four—one player as Star Fox and another as Star Wolf—against an opposing squad, all racing to eliminate pirate adversaries, seize their loot, and bring it back to your base. Victory belongs to the side that amasses the highest score, which you earn by transporting treasure and dispatching enemies. I found the experience electrifying: fast‑paced, tense, and ripe for personal rivalries that keep the action alive throughout the match.

Another highlight was the virtual avatar mode integrated with Game Chat. Even though you’re mid‑battle focused on the on‑screen action, the feature lets you watch your avatar—whether it’s Slippy Toad or Peppy—react with exaggerated frustration to your opponents’ defeats. It’s a genuinely entertaining addition that I hope will foster a vibrant community once the game launches.

In cases like this, it’s common to hear the phrase “they realized they didn’t need to fix what wasn’t broken.” And indeed, the result is almost flawless from the outset—a quick, straightforward way to convey what this remake offers.

However, I feel that sentence falls a bit short when describing Nintendo’s broader ambitions for Star Fox. You’ll never hear me claim that Star Fox 64 was broken. Yet, time has exposed subtle cracks in some of its concepts. They remain beautiful ideas, especially for those of us who learned to appreciate them decades ago.