Star Fox Remake for Switch 2: A Fine but Overeager Update

Twenty years late. Still worth it. The Nintendo Switch 2 remake of Star Fox is a tricky balancing act, where developer Velan Studios has clearly poured its heart into polishing the game, but in doing so, it's lost sight of what made the original Star Fox 64 a timeless classic, instead opting for a misguided attempt to modernize a formula that, arguably, didn't need fixing, and it's this overeagerness to improve that ultimately detracts from the experience.

"A whiter smile doesn’t make you the better pilot."

You'll get Star Fox feeling old-school. It's the real feel. In this game, we've got seven planets to play through. Honestly, it's a key part of the experience, with the whole campaign done in under two hours, which is pretty quick, and it's a shame they didn't include high-score leaderboards like the original, instead opting for achievement-like challenges that just don't give you the same competitive vibe.

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It's fun. The real feel of piloting Fox's Arwing in Star Fox Remake for Switch 2 is still there. You'll get a kick out of flying through levels like Corneria, Sector X, and Meteo with their overhauled explosions and visuals. The controls are a bit tweaked, making it easier to do cool moves like barrel rolls and somersaults - it's like you're in a Top Gun scene. Not everything is great, though. All-Range levels are still a pain, and we've lost leaderboards, which is worth mentioning. It's a key part of the game that's missing now.

It's grand. The soundtrack is a highlight. You'll love the real instruments. They make Star Fox feel more over-the-top, with big arrangements that work perfectly for a space opera.

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It's a mixed bag. The new cutscenes are pretty. They feel like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in style. You'll notice the visuals are stunning, with a lot of detail, but they don't really add much to the story - it's more like they're reiterating what you already know. The character redesigns are a bit of a letdown, too. Some, like Peppy, still feel right. Others, like Slippy, are just off. The realistic approach they've taken doesn't always work. It's the little things, like the dead eyes on the models, that bug you. The voice acting is also hit-or-miss, with some characters sounding really flat, which doesn't help their personalities shine through.

It's a shame. And the voice acting is different now. You'll notice it with Slippy - his iconic sound is gone. The new voice is subdued. Falco's jokes aren't as funny, they've lost the edge, making him feel less lively, it's a key part of the Star Fox Remake for Switch 2 that's just not the same as the original.

<strong>Wesley's Take</strong>

It's a change. You'll notice it. The Star Fox Remake for Switch 2 feels different. We've got a more cinematic vibe now. For modern players, it's the real feel they've been waiting for. The story's been expanded, with more character interactions - they look great, we've got that. But with the new elements, the gameplay and narrative aren't really impacted, it's just a bit of extra stuff, and you'll wonder if they're trying to make it more like a movie, which isn't what you want from a game like Star Fox.

You'll notice it's missing high-score leaderboards. That's a big deal. The All-Range levels are frustrating too. It's a key issue with the Star Fox Remake for Switch 2, where it fails to match the original in some ways, and that's worth mentioning, for we've seen better updates.

Verdict

It's fine. Star Fox on Switch 2 is a remake. You'll get the real feel of the original gameplay. The game is fun, especially with friends, in space shooter mode. They've kept it true to the original, for the most part. But it's trying too hard to be modern, and that's where it loses some of the classic charm, which is worth mentioning. For fans of the old game, it's a good play, but if you're looking for something new, it might not be what you're hoping for, and that's key to its overall appeal, with some players feeling it's a missed chance to update the formula in a meaningful way.