Starfox Review – Nintendo Switch 2

The Lylat System has a peculiar, undeniable gravitational pull. Just when you think you have finally hung up your pilot’s flight suit and stored your Arwing for good, Fox McCloud is suddenly everywhere.

Hot on the heels of his scene-stealing, Han Solo-esque debut in this year’s blockbuster The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (complete with that brilliant 2D anime flashback), a brand new Star Fox title lands on the Nintendo Switch 2 as a top-to-bottom, bombastic remake of the legendary Nintendo 64 classic Lylat Wars.

Does a fresh coat of paint justify a modern price tag for a brief 90s campaign? The answer is a resounding – if slightly complicated – “yes”.

Retailing at £41.99 digitally, this is a gorgeous, fundamentally sound rail shooter that bridges the gap between retro nostalgia and modern hardware capabilities. The result is an experience that feels remarkably fresh, serving as an absolute must-play for newcomers and a stunning nostalgia trip for veterans.

Story

The narrative structure will be instantly familiar to veteran pilots, playing out almost exactly as it did in 1997.

The fate of the system rests squarely on the shoulders of the Star Fox Mercenary Squad. You follow the hot-headed Fox McCloud and his iconic wingmen (Falco Lombardi, Slippy Toad, and Peppy Hare) as they engage in intense aerial combat. Your ultimate goal is to take the Lylat System back from the clutches of the evil mad scientist, Dr Andross.

Where this remake massively improves upon the original is in its cinematic presentation. Velan Studios and Nintendo have expanded on the original framework by weaving in brand-new cinematic cutscenes that play between stages.

What is truly impressive is that these incredibly high-quality sequences are rendered entirely in-engine.

The detailed texture work gives the anthropomorphic cast a slightly creepy, realistic animal aesthetic, reminiscent of Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox. These additions allow players to learn much more about the team’s dynamics before launching into battle.

Seeing Fox’s impulsiveness clash against Falco’s arrogance in fully rendered cutscenes elevates the game beyond a simple arcade shooter, breathing genuine life into the squad without bogging down the pacing with unnecessary exposition.

Gameplay

On the track, Star Fox is unabashedly old-school arcade shooting mixed with ingenious modern twists. While you spend plenty of time piloting the Arwing, the experience is not just flying. You are also placed at the controls of the Landmaster tank and the Blue-Marine submarine. The Landmaster brings heavy ground combat and a temporary hover ability, whilst the Blue-Marine submerges you in the oceans of Aquas with unlimited homing torpedoes.

Furthermore, the game occasionally takes the reins off for open sections known as all-range mode. These areas allow for complete 360-degree manoeuvrability, though the tighter camera angles can make it a bit unwieldy and easy to crash into the scenery if you are not careful.

The core mechanics, such as barrel-rolling to deflect lasers, utilising bombs, and keeping your teammates out of scrapes, remain as sharp and demanding as ever. The original game’s legendary branching paths are fully intact here, requiring players to discover hidden objectives to see everything the Lylat System has to offer. For those who have already mastered these routes, a dedicated Challenge Mode adds new objectives to missions you have already completed.

The biggest revelation here is the introduction of “Mouse Targeting”. By holding the new Joy-Con 2 controller like a computer mouse, players unlock incredibly intuitive aiming from inside the cockpit. This control scheme effectively uncouples your targeting reticle from your flight path, giving high-score chasers an unparalleled level of precision.

Alternatively, a local co-op option allows two players to share one of the Joy-Con 2 controllers, with one handling the piloting and the other acting as the gunner.

However, they give with one hand and take with the other; the game dictates that Mouse Targeting can only be used in Campaign Mode and Challenge Mode. Similarly, the asymmetric co-op play is only available in Campaign Mode and Challenge Mode. Locking these brilliant new mechanics exclusively to the single-player and challenge experiences feels like a missed opportunity for the game’s competitive modes.

Multiplayer is where this re-release truly breaks away from its N64 legacy. Under the game’s dedicated Battle Mode, players can clear objectives and take down foes online in 4 vs 4 dogfights. These matches can be highly competitive, allowing you to create private matches with friends or match up with random players worldwide.

What makes the multiplayer exceptionally consumer-friendly is its GameShare integration. If one person has the game, up to four players can take to the skies locally in Battle Mode with GameShare. This generous feature also expands online using GameShare via GameChat. This functionality allows you to drag your friends into squad battles remotely without forcing them to purchase their own copies.

Audio

Acoustically, the game impresses across the board. The overall atmosphere is intense and immersive, elevated by an exceptional orchestral score composed by Stephen Barton, recorded at Abbey Road no less! The music retains the essential sense of nostalgia for longtime veterans while delivering a crisp, punchy soundscape that incorporates sweeping, cinematic flourishes.

While some purists may miss the iconic, crackly radio static of the original N64 voice lines, the modern voice cast delivers nuanced, engaging performances that perfectly suit the cinematic tone. The chatter from your wingmen feels natural, and the audio cues for incoming missiles and enemy ships remain incredibly distinct. These cues are crucial for surviving the chaotic All-Range Mode battles.

Performance

As a native Switch 2 title, the game serves as a brilliant technical showcase for Velan’s proprietary Viper engine. The visual overhaul is genuinely stunning, successfully utilising fantastic lighting, smoke effects, and volumetric fog to transform the blocky polygons of the 90s into an immersive spectacle.

Everything from the reflections on the waters of Corneria to the kaleidoscopic wormholes you travel through looks fantastic, running with silky-smooth performance even when the screen is filled with lasers and explosions. The title supports single-system play for 1 to 2 players, and online lobbies for up to 8 players.

If you are willing to jump through some hardware hoops, the game offers a fascinating social feature. Using a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), you can change your face while using GameChat.

This projects your real-world face into the game to look like a member of the crew. The resulting Character Avatars actively reflect your head movements and expressions during online sessions. This adds a hilarious and highly personalised touch to multiplayer lobbies.

However, players should be aware of the requirements surrounding these features. Utilising the GameChat network requires an internet connection, a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership, and mobile phone number registration. Furthermore, the two-player co-op using GameShare is only available via GameChat. You will need to meet all those requirements to take advantage of the remote co-op features.

Verdict

Carrying a PEGI rating of 7, this modern shooter successfully repackages a legendary classic for a new generation. Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 is undeniably a very faithful, conservative remake, one that refuses to fundamentally alter the 30-year-old blueprint of its source material. For some, the asking price might seem steep for a 90-minute campaign they have already played.

Yet, for those willing to dive back in, the snappier controls, jaw-dropping graphics, and generous GameShare multiplayer features make it an absolute triumph.

Velan Studios has treated Nintendo’s long-left franchise with the utmost respect, delivering a title that is polished to a mirror sheen. It is an incredibly fun, deceptively deep return to the Lylat System that proves some formulas are truly timeless.