Nintendo doesn't flex with Star Fox nearly as much as it should. This is one of the publisher's marquee franchises, and despite some missteps, the classics have still held up. Star Fox 64 in particular is a rite of passage for many kids, and having spent hours upon hours playing battle mode with friends, I can attest to its siren's song.
Although Nintendo has strayed from the formula of Star Fox 64, every so often, they'll return to that well to sate long-time fans, with mixed results. We got the marvelous 3DS remake and the flawed Star Fox Zero "reimagining" on Wii U, but now we've reached a comfortable middle ground on Switch 2.
An Absolute Classic Returns
To be crystal clear, "Star Fox" on the Switch 2 is a remake of Star Fox 64by developer Velan Studios, with some extra story cutscenesand a completely remade multiplayer component (more on that later). The phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies, since the original Nintendo 64 campaign format still works in 2026.
In essence, you're thrown into a galaxy in chaos, taking the titular Star Fox organization (comprised of Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Peppy) up against the evil Andross, backed by the villainous high-flying Star Wolf team. As you take your Arwing through each level, you're often presented with a small choice, which can impact how you progress on the world map to Venom: the final planet and conclusion of the story. After you take down Andross, you can start all over again, discovering new routes, alternate exits, and secrets along the way.
You might fight a new boss or discover something new about a party member, and the ever-shifting scenarios (as well as the promise of challenge medals) help propel you through multiple playthroughs. It's an extremely old-school arcadey approach, and I have to say, it still works like a charm.
The best part about Star Fox is how simple it is. You load into a stage, you shoot everything that moves (while protecting your crew), and repeat. The Arwing is still very agile and responsive, and barrel rolls, U-Turns, and somersaults allow players a large degree of control over their craft, especially when the game shifts to "all-range mode" in bigger arenas.
The streamlined focus allows for a larger emphasis on dogfighting, which can create some tense moments, especially if your party is getting picked off one by one on a higher difficulty level.
The New Story Bits Don’t Add Much Or Break Anything
One of the big additions to Star Fox on Switch 2 is a set of cutscenes, typically featuring the Star Fox crew at home base between sorties, discussing the mission at hand. Some of these clips offer insight and character development, while others simply set up the mission at hand. I appreciate the effort to inject more personality into this ostensibly arcadey flight game, but the scenes don't always hit.
That said, these completely optional new scenes didn't detract from my experience either. It was fun seeing the crew hang out and dish a bit, but it wasn't necessary in the slightest. It helps that, no matter how you feel about the redesigned characters, the actual playable space within the game is gorgeous.
These levels are lovingly recreated in a way that most other Nintendo remakes pale in comparison to, as it's really hard to describe just how incredible each planet is in motion on Switch 2. Even better, performance is consistent in Star Fox Switch 2, which is ideal for a moment-to-moment flight game where you can turn the tide with one quick maneuver.
To be clear, finishing the campaign will only take a few hours, so your mileage may vary. If you're the type of person who puts a game away immediately after beating it, you'll need to rely on the multiplayer element if you intend to keep with Star Fox long term. If you're anything like me, you'll kick off a new campaign immediately, seeking out all the side routes and extras (which are roughly the same as the 64 edition).
Multiplayer Is Fun, But Condensed
We were able to test out multiplayer extensively, and found it to be a really fun, but somewhat dry endeavor in its current state. Right now, battle mode multiplayer is restricted to Arwings only, with a 4v4 setup (Fox, Falco, Slippy, and Peppy versus Wolf, Leon, Andrew, and Pigma). Players are free to join any slot they like, but they must join a team, which eliminates the option of free-for-alls.
Here are the three maps you can play at launch:
- Corneria - Capture the Point to call in backup as you attempt to take down the enemy team and score more points.
- Fichina - Grab meteor crystals and avoid meteor showers in this collection-centric map.
- Sector Y (space) - Capture the flag from neutral mercenary enemies and deliver it to your capital ship.
All three maps are fun in their own right, which makes the smaller level count easier to swallow. Corneria has a lot of bridges and hazards to fly through as you shake off enemy ships, the mountainous terrain of Fichina is dangerous, and the open space of Sector Y enables some really intense dogfights between teams.
I have to say, I had a blast playing Star Fox battle mode multiplayer, and there are options for bot matches (with multiple difficulty settings, and the ability to adjust each individual player's power level), online play, or local game share. The problem is that these three maps can only last you so long, depending on your tolerance for them, and the temperature of the group you're playing with.
There's also a "co-op" mode available, but it's not as expansive as you'd think. Here, two players can team up, with one controlling the Arwing's movements and the other utilizing the Arwing's weapon systems. It's a decent way to play with family members, but it lacks depth and is more comparable to the light co-op modes in other Nintendo games like Donkey Kong Bonanza or Mario Odyssey.
With a multiplayer content update (including new vehicles and modes), the long-term legacy of Star Fox would be even more secure. The core formula of the N64 classic holds up, and I'll be hunting down medals for weeks to come. If you haven't played the classic this Switch 2 edition is based on, now is a good time to see what everyone is talking about.
A digital code was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.