Star Fox Switch 2 review: a polished remake that can't top the N64 original

Velan Studios' Star Fox remake lands on Nintendo Switch 2 as a glossy reimagining of Star Fox 64, the beloved 1997 classic. The core rail-shooter gameplay is as sharp as ever, but the new cinematic additions raise a question the game can't quite answer: does more story actually make it better?

The biggest addition is a suite of cinematic cutscenes that push Fox McCloud's generational anxiety — living up to his war-hero father James — to the forefront. Where Star Fox 64 kept the family drama as light background texture, Velan leans into it hard, staging sequences that reportedly rival the production quality of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. The controls have been lightly streamlined, making barrel rolls, side tilts, and somersaults feel snappy and accessible without losing the arcade satisfaction of the original. Classic stages like Corneria and Sector X are faithfully rebuilt with sharper visuals and bigger explosions, and the fundamental loop — short, replayable missions chased by high-score medals and Expert difficulty runs — remains as compelling as it was in 1997.

The problem is that Star Fox 64 was already a tight, confident game that didn't need a longer script to justify itself. The remake's cinematic ambitions occasionally tip into over-explanation, and the All-Range free-flight arena levels — a weak point in the original — are still a frustrating drag here. Polygon's review argues the game confuses modernity for maturity: it's more polished and cinematic, but a whiter smile doesn't make Fox a better pilot than his dad.

Star Fox is a fine remake of an all-time great, but it can't outfly its source material. If you never played Star Fox 64, this is an excellent entry point. If you did, expect a familiar ride with a flashier coat of paint and a few more feelings to talk about.