Star Fox 64 Remake Review: A Gorgeous Restoration That Plays It Too Safe

Star Fox 64 is one of the classics on the Nintendo 64 (who would have thought, right?). Even today, I clearly remember the moment I got my N64 and that famous three-pronged controller. Along with them, I received a promotional booklet with games. Among other things, it included a page dedicated to Star Fox 64. I remember well that for Christmas I could only get one game, while I had received the console back during the summer. So for a good four or five months, I flipped through the catalog, weighed my options, studied screenshots with a magnifying glass, and tried to figure out what I should choose. The shortlist came down to Zelda and Star Fox, since I had already gotten Mario along with the console. And somehow, I chose Zelda, even though Star Fox had been nagging at me for a long time.

In hindsight, I think that was a good decision,  but also the reason I never played Star Fox 64. So when I was offered the chance to review the remake, it felt like a kind of redemption and an opportunity to finally see exactly what I had missed nearly three decades ago. For those unfamiliar with Star Fox, it is an arcade-style space shooter. Besides the main character, Fox McCloud, whom we control, the team includes the experienced rabbit Peppy Hare, the self-assured bird Falco Lombardi, and the mechanic Slippy Toad. Orders come from General Pepper, an anthropomorphic dog. The goal is to stop the mad scientist Andross, a monkey who is trying to conquer the Lylat System.

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I know,  it sounds like a modern science-fiction fable. The story isn't a pinnacle of complexity, nor does it try to be anything more than a classic Nintendo plot of "stop the bad guy." If nothing else, the remake does bring nicely animated sequences between missions, which give the whole adventure a bit more character. But that's also where the feeling lingers that it could have gone a step further. The characters are likable but mostly remain trapped in their archetypes. There isn't much banter between them, no significant drama, no meaningful relationship development. Just another workday at the space office.

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Star Fox 64 Gameplay,  A Classic That Still Holds Up

On the gameplay side, the remake offers almost nothing new. This remake has remained extremely faithful to the original, and beyond somewhat more comfortable controls and the ability to aim with the Joy-Con mouse, it doesn't change much. Just like before, it's possible to make a sharp turn, perform a barrel roll to dodge projectiles, execute a 360-degree maneuver, or shower enemies with lasers and bombs.

And don't get me wrong,  the gameplay is still excellent. That moment when two enemies are on your tail, you lock onto a target, pull off a maneuver, and take them both out with a single bomb remains just as satisfying as it ever was. Each mission tries to introduce something new, whether through different enemies, hidden paths, special objectives, or an entirely new vehicle. Yes, you don't spend the entire game in a spaceship. In certain missions you'll jump into a tank to stop a runaway train, while others will send you into an underwater craft for a battle beneath the ocean's surface.

Missed Opportunities,  Where the Remake Plays It Too Safe

That's precisely why it stings that Nintendo didn't take the opportunity to add new content. Both the original and the remake use a branching path system through the campaign. The beginning and end of the story are always the same, but the planets you visit in between depend on your decisions during missions. Saving allies, finding secret passages, or successfully completing special objectives can open entirely new routes.

For its time, this was a revolutionary concept that encouraged multiple playthroughs. That's exactly why it's a shame the remake didn't receive at least one or two new planets. Such an addition would have given veterans a reason to return and new players even more content to explore.

Star Fox 64 Difficulty Levels and Challenge Mode

It's worth noting that every level has three difficulty settings, with Hard mode unlocking only after completing Normal. And since this is an old-school game, even medium difficulty can be quite demanding, while Hard will put the reflexes and patience of most players to the test without mercy. Additionally, completing the campaign unlocks a separate Challenge Mode. Here you'll find tasks like destroying three ships with a single shot, finishing a mission within three minutes, or eliminating all robots on the map. For veterans, this is yet another way to prove their skill, while for me it provided an extra reason to revisit already-completed planets.

Alongside the campaign and challenges, there is also a multiplayer mode. Battles between multiple players were available in the original through split-screen, but can now also be played online. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to test this part because, at the time of writing this review, the game had not yet been officially released, making it nearly impossible to find opponents. Apparently, it's possible to use camera filters that transform your face into one of the Star Fox crew members during matches. This could turn out to be a proper little furry arena.

Visual Redesign,  A Worthy Modernization

The visual redesign has divided the community, but I think it looks excellent. The characters resemble a high-budget animated film based on the original source material, while the levels themselves have received significantly more detail and life. Fans of the original will have no trouble recognizing familiar locations, now just in a considerably more lavish presentation.

The game also runs very smoothly at 60 frames per second. During play I noticed no significant performance drops, regardless of the number of projectiles, enemies, or effects on screen. True, not all levels are equally impressive, and some look a bit more modest than others, but overall this is a very successful modernization of an N64 classic.

Star Fox 64 In Conclusion

This is an extremely faithful reconstruction of the original, enriched with Challenge Mode and a significantly upgraded visual presentation. For fans of the original, that will likely be more than enough. At the same time, the gameplay holds up surprisingly well even today and could easily win over a completely new audience.

Yet it is hard to shake the feeling that Nintendo played it too safe here. One new planet, a few additional missions, or a little more room for character development would have turned this very good restoration into something truly special.

⭐ RATING

7.8 / 10. Star Fox 64 on Nintendo Switch 2 is a polished, visually impressive, and mechanically satisfying remake that remains deeply faithful to its beloved source material, but its missed opportunity to expand the content keeps it from reaching the heights it could have.

👧👦 AGE RECOMMENDATION

Ages 8 and up.

Star Fox 64 features cartoon animal characters, arcade-style space combat, and no blood or mature content. The shooting is entirely sci-fi and abstract, featuring laser beams, explosions, and robots, with no realistic violence. The story is simple and easy to follow. The difficulty can be challenging, which actually makes it a great game for developing focus and persistence in older kids. There's also a split-screen and online multiplayer component, so parental awareness of online features is advised for younger players.

🤖 GEMINI AI SUMMARY

Star Fox 64 returns on Nintendo Switch 2 as a faithful remake of the beloved N64 arcade space shooter. Players once again lead Fox McCloud and his crew — Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi, and Slippy Toad — on a mission to stop the villainous Andross from conquering the Lylat System. The remake stays extremely close to the original formula, offering refined controls and Joy-Con mouse aiming alongside a significant visual overhaul that brings the cartoon animal cast to life in high-budget animated film style. The branching campaign structure, three difficulty settings, and newly added Challenge Mode offer solid replay value, while online multiplayer expands on the original's split-screen battles. The game runs at a locked 60fps with no notable performance issues. The main criticism is that Nintendo played it too safe — no new planets, missions, or meaningful character development were added. For fans of the original, it's a polished and nostalgic treat; for newcomers, it's an accessible and entertaining classic worth experiencing. Score: 7.8/10. Recommended for ages 8 and up.