It has been a decade since the last Star Fox game dropped on a Nintendo console, and it was, quite frankly, not well-received. Star Fox Zero was a bit of a miss for Nintendo and PlatinumGames, with a current Metacritic score of around 69. The best-rated Star Fox game to date is still Star Fox 64, and this is the title Nintendo chose to remake on the Nintendo Switch 2.
The one thing I have learned over the years is that many of the games I loved as a kid just don’t particularly hold up well today. In preparation for this review, I went back to try my cartridge copy of Star Fox 64 and quickly realized I hated that game as much when I was a kid as I do now.
Would updated graphics, smoother controls, and an overhauled story cutscenes fix the problem?
With the digital version being 49.99 USD (69.99 CAD), Star Fox is coming in a bit cheaper than standard Nintendo Switch 2 releases. I’m guessing this is a calculated decision by Nintendo because, well, this game is really short.
There are 16 total levels to play in Star Fox, but you will only ever encounter seven of them on a single playthrough. With each level taking around 10 minutes on average, a playthrough is only going to last about 60-90 minutes.
Getting through all the different levels, however, will take some time. Specific requirements will need to be met to find what is ultimately a secret exit within each stage, requiring players to fly through a set number of portals, defeat a boss within a certain time, etc. Thankfully, the game provides you with information about how to find your way to different levels; most notably, you’ll get audio queues from your flying partners while making your way through a level.
What needs to be stated, though, is that Star Fox (Switch 2) is not just a coat of paint on an old game; it has been rebuilt from the ground up with brand new visuals, never-before-seen cutscenes that provide additional story elements, updated ship handling, and more.
For many, whether or not you buy Star Fox probably comes down to if it feels like a modern game. In terms of content, I would say probably not. The game does have branching paths as you work your way through the story, coupled with the challenge mode, which will have you completing specific tasks, and these can get quite hard.
I found Star Fox is a lot of the same, but with small tweaks that make you want to come back again and again. If completing similar objectives but with different parameters doesn’t interest you, this probably won’t be worth the investment.
Key additions, though, still make this an attractive package. The game now supports 8-player multiplayer, where two teams – Team Fox and Team Wolf – compete in head-to-head battles that revolve around completing specific missions, or eliminating rival pilots.
Think of this like you would Mario Kart battle mode; while it is not something I’m likely to play very often, going online for a few multiplayer rounds was quite enjoyable, and will be a highlight for some.
The downside here is that there are only 3 battle maps to play on, and specific game modes are tied to a specific map. For example, Cargo Heist can only be played on one map, and Zone Capture on another. There is no mixing and matching.
Star Fox now also boasts a really great cooperative mode. I played with each of my kids, taking turns either piloting the ship or shooting the guns. Splitting the duties between flying and shooting is a very logical way to incorporate some cooperative play, and something I personally really appreciate Nintendo doing.
When Nintendo introduced mouse mode for the Nintendo Switch 2, I was thrilled. Since I have small hands, mouse mode almost always works for me when implemented; sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case for most Switch 2 players.
That said, a complete playthrough of Star Fox is so short that even those who have experienced discomfort using the Joy-Con as a mouse are finding the short 60-90 minutes easily doable with mouse controls. It is a phenomenal way to play this game, although you are locked to cockpit view when doing so.
Deciding whether or not Star Fox will be for you is actually relatively easy. While most companies abandoned demos when demo discs ceased being a thing with gaming magazines, Nintendo continues to offer demos of its most popular games. With a demo available for Star Fox, everyone can try it out and see if it’s something they will enjoy.
Ultimately, though, unless you love pushing yourself to play the same levels over and over again, attempting to find secrets and high scores, Star Fox might not be for you on Switch 2. The campaign is incredibly short, and if you aren’t taking advantage of other modes, it’s likely too costly for the return on investment.
That said, this is the best Star Fox has looked, and for Star Fox fans, it’s going to be an instant hit. The audio is outstanding, the game runs at a flawless 60 frames per second, and everything about it, minus the length, screams modern gaming.
Yes, you can play cooperative mode or multiplayer mode with friends who do not own the game!
The only thing making Star Fox (Switch 2) longer than Star Fox 64 is the addition of cutscenes between missions. The gameplay length is identical.
Adam has been writing about video games since 2014 and board games since 2018. If he's not rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs or Toronto FC, he definitely has a controller in his hand - probably playing on a Nintendo platform - or is sitting at a table playing a board game. Adam also has firm opinions on a few key topics: there are much better board games than Settlers of Catan, and Nintendo doesn't need to compete with Sony and Microsoft.
