I won't lie and say that after Star Fox 64 3D and Star Fox Zero, which were basically a remake and a reboot of Star Fox 64, returning for a third installment of Star Fox 64—fourth if you count that Star Fox 64 is essentially a remake of the original Star Fox game—feels like they're trying to stretch the franchise too far, a franchise that Nintendo seems to have lost its way with. This is evident in how Adventures, Assault, and Command were completely different games from one another. On the other hand, I completely understand the decision this time to bring back this first installment in a more cinematic way, especially since it all leads us back to something that happened a few months ago: Fox's appearance on the big screen in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Fox McCloud's appearance in the Super Mario Galaxy movie was rumored ever since one of the shots in the first trailer showed Fox's holster on the side, although it wasn't very clear because the image was slightly distorted. After months of speculation, Nintendo confirmed it with a poster and later with a video and trailer, confirming that Glenn Powell was the voice of the space fox.
Many people doubted why Nintendo would reveal one of the film's biggest surprises in its own marketing, but I'm clear on it: it wasn't just to attract fans of the character, whether from Star Fox or his appearances in Super Smash Bros., to the film—Mario sells more than enough on his own, much more than Star Fox, it must be said—but to prepare for a true return of the saga after the failure of Star Fox Zero in the year the Wii U died.
And that's how we get to STAR FOX, yes, literally the name of the saga in the game… again, and this new installment is basically a total new beginning for the saga, a reboot to attract everyone who has met Fox in the movie, while at the same time bringing back players from the saga's history; you only have to look at the sales charts to see that this idea for Nintendo Switch 2 has worked.
Star Fox follows the storyline of the original game. After Fox's father, James, and Peppy are betrayed by Pigma on a mission to find Dr. Andross, James sacrifices himself to help Peppy escape. Years later, Andross returns and attacks Corneria, forcing General Pepper to recruit a new version of the bounty hunters, led by James's son, Fox, and consisting of an older Peppy, the intelligent Slippy, and the tough Falco. They join the fight to help the Cornerian army save Lylat from Andross and his allies, which include Star Wolf.
The story is the same as always, yes, but it's designed in a much more cinematic way, creating new cutscenes that introduce the history of each planet and character interactions that allow us to get to know them much better in these versions. There are even small details, like Falco grabbing a drink from the refrigerator while they're talking, that breathe new life into the story. But that's also the problem: although the story has been expanded and the cutscenes are spectacular and beautifully designed, it's still a story that's been told three times before. That said, the voice acting in this saga is once again better than excellent.
The reason they chose such a cinematic aesthetic for this Star Fox? I don't think I even need to explain. It's because this new era of Star Fox is more focused on attracting an audience the saga never had before, the general public. Although the designs are quite shocking at first, seeing them in action truly does them justice. I'll always love the cartoonish Star Fox we've grown up with, but these new versions have something special, an originality that blends perfectly with the more cinematic feel.
The gameplay of this Star Fox is basically… Star Fox. I don't know how else to describe it other than just keep going and focus on taking down enemies while trying not to crash. It's a very fun arcade game, but the gameplay can feel a bit dated for a modern game, and at times you'll miss the transformations from Star Fox Zero that added so much variety, or at least more levels for both vehicles available in this game, or even more open areas. The different routes during the campaign that unlock with specific features help break up the monotony, but it's still an arcade game in an era where they're not as common anymore.
To fix that problem, Nintendo has created new multiplayer game modes, 3 exactly distributed across 3 main planets of the game, but the campaign stages are not reused, instead each one has its own design, it's like the difference between VS Mode and Battle Mode in MK in terms of stage design, if you understand me.
The basic premise is the same in all of them: defeat Star Fox/The Corneria Army or Star Wolf/The Andross Army, and you get points for each enemy defeated. But in each of the maps, you'll have something special to do with your team to get more points. In Corneria, you'll have to capture the signal to call for reinforcements; in Fichina, you'll have to destroy asteroids and collect what's inside while dodging falling ones; and in Sector Y, you'll have to steal cargo from pirates and bring it to your base.
It's an addictive game mode that expands as you collect funds and stamps for your multiplayer profile card, although it would benefit from a future expansion to give the game even more life, with other scenarios based on other planets from the campaign.
The gameplay of this Star Fox is a mix where the classic, linear campaign mode with various options, but almost no gameplay changes from the original version, and the new multiplayer mode with a new life and much freer flight counteract the more outdated parts of the game, but not enough. Perhaps this is because we've seen another reboot, Star Fox Zero, which strove to create expanded gameplay within the same levels, bringing in elements from Star Fox 2 simply to give it a new lease of life. But this doesn't detract from the fact that it's a fun game, and the new multiplayer mode is also very addictive and essential.
The game's graphic and sound design is honestly the best part of this new era without a doubt. The game takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2's extra power, not only to create the most graphically complex game, but also to create one of the most cinematic and artistically beautiful environments in the entire saga by far, indicating a very promising graphical future for Nintendo during this new generation. This is perfectly complemented by a magnificently redesigned soundtrack based on the original themes; it's the perfect blend that gives this new/old era a very unique essence when compared to Star Fox 64 3D and Star Fox: Zero.
In short, Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 is a remake that absolutely perfects everything about not only the original game, but also its other versions like 64 3D or even some elements of Zero. However, it remains a version with almost no new gameplay features, even compared to its predecessor, Zero. This is a game that has had four versions in total, including this one, and it's more than overplayed at this point, even with its new Multiplayer Mode. The same goes for the story, which, although it expands much more than the gameplay thanks to extra scenes, feels more like a cinematic footnote than a major new addition.
What truly gives this new version its unique essence is its graphic, artistic, and sound design, which evolves the saga and Nintendo on the Nintendo Switch 2 in new and exciting directions. We just hope that next time it will be a completely new game that continues this new continuity towards the future that the saga deserves.
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