Back in 1997, Star Fox 64 was a defining title for the newly released Nintendo 64 system, selling a whopping 4 million copies worldwide. And to this day, fans still tip their hats to that game as the apex of the Star Fox franchise.
The new Star Fox for the Switch 2 is essentially a remake of that Nintendo 64 bestseller, designed for those who never got to fly off with Fox McCloud and his mercenary squadron in their blocky polygon-graphics heyday.
The story narrative launches players into a prologue that shows the original Star Fox team being betrayed. That action results in team leader James McCloud’s tragic disappearance on planet Venom at the hands of the villainously evil Dr. Andross.
Years later, James’ son, Fox McCloud, forms the new Star Fox mercenary team—featuring Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi and Slippy Toad. They’re called upon to protect the Lylat system from a new invasion by Andross and his ilk.
Planets will be protected, money will be earned and, if Fox McCloud has anything to say about it, justice will be served!
The gameplaying functionality here is very close to the original Star Fox 64 title. Gamers soar into missions filled with swirling, zapping and tumbling enemies and obstacles. They must also fly through corrosive and destructive environments. The key is to become so attuned to your R-wing flier’s controls that you can quickly maneuver forward with the right somersault, barrel roll, brake, boost or tilt to snag the ring-based power-ups and blast your way through the chaos in front of you.
It’s all about quick hand-eye coordination and instant decision-making.
The first playthrough is fairly challenging but short. More than anything it’s a tutorial that shows you what you can expect to encounter in future playthroughs. However, those subsequent playthroughs add new branching pathways that toss subsequent challenges and additional playthrough requirements at you.
To get to those new pathways and hidden stages, you’ll have to hit specific goals during a playthrough, such as keeping all your wingmen alive or hitting exact target scores or flying through hidden warp gates. As the hurdles get tougher, your maneuvers must become more crisp and precise—and your successes will then feel all the more rewarding. However, it should be noted that unlocking all of these branched paths through the game is a fairly difficult undertaking.
Star Fox can be played in offline, single-player mode with bot teammates. You can play in local co-op mode, with one player using one Joy-Con controller to steer the R-wing’s movements and the second player using the other Joy-Con to aim and fire the guns. Up to eight players can also participate in online, objective-based dogfights.
Gamers play as an anthropomorphized hero (or heroes) who takes on a destructively evil villain who’s ready to destroy a star system. The action is fun, the challenges get increasingly difficult, and the on-screen visuals are vibrantly colorful.
For all of its action and color, this is a ship-based combat game where players shoot down drones, blow up obstacles and can battle against other players. (There’s also a tank-like battle vehicle that is part of play.) The combat is very fast-paced and filled with radio chatter, zapping lasers and huge explosions.
During single-player mode, a teammate named Falco is regularly sarcastic and sneering, often suggesting he could lead the Star Fox team far better than you.
Parents should note that later playthroughs of this game can become frenetic and demanding, which could be frustrating for younger players.
The newest Star Fox game is visually vibrant and loads of fun. Fans of the old Nintendo 64 version will slip into the pilot’s seat with joy. But younger rooks should be ready to practice those R-wing moves.
After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.
