Star Fox

It's a gorgeous remake of a superb game, with a lower price than bigger, "newer" titles. That has a lot of value in itself. [Hands-On Impressions]

However, the preview did not leave us entirely without reservations. After all, Star Fox had all but vanished from the scene for years. Moreover, this new installment is once again a remake of Star Fox 64—or Lylat Wars. This is a game that has already been re-released once before, as Star Fox 64 3D on the Nintendo 3DS. This makes the question all the more pressing: why didn't Nintendo opt for a completely new adventure instead? [Hands-On Impressions]

This return of Star Fox has left us with a very positive impression. It is a remake—and thus suffers from the lack of novelty that a brand-new installment might have offered—but after playing it, we believe that the respect and affection shown toward the original work are indisputable, successfully recapturing everything that made this video game great. Its charisma, frenetic pace, replayability, and sheer fun factor are guaranteed—all within a genre that has, in the modern gaming landscape, practically vanished. It is a significant and much-needed return for the Nintendo Switch 2. [Hands-On Impressions]

Naturally, from our perspective, we would have preferred a brand-new Star Fox title; however, bringing back the very best installment—expanded and improved—is the ideal way to help the fox take flight once again. [Hands-On Impressions]

For the moment, we can say "Mission Complete," but for "Mission Accomplished," we will have to wait a little longer. Star Fox for the Nintendo Switch 2 was conceived with a very clear objective in mind: to transplant the foundations of Lylat Wars (Nintendo 64) into the future, crafting a highly cinematic space opera that serves as the definitive origin story for this band of space mercenaries. The graphics, direction, voice acting, script, and orchestral soundtrack—everything seems to align to bring to life what, in the 90s, was merely the stuff of imagination, casting the Lylat System—with its stunning environments and, above all, its vehicle designs—in a brand-new light. And yet, despite improvements to the control scheme and the introduction of original new modes, one gets the sense that the core gameplay formula remains firmly rooted in the past; it offers a flight on the wings of nostalgia that will surely bring a smile to veterans' faces, but which newcomers might find hard to swallow. To make any definitive judgments, we will have to wait for the complete package to arrive, so that we may discover the strategies Nintendo has employed to add some spice to this very traditional recipe. [Hands-On Impressions]

The fact that the campaign so slavishly mirrors the original leaves me with more than a few doubts—as you may have gathered—especially considering that the opportunity was absolutely there to expand the stages, create new scenarios, and offer fresh incentives even for those deciding to replay *Star Fox* for the umpteenth time. The new additions are certainly welcome, though they will undoubtedly require more in-depth testing to fully gauge their depth. It has been a bittersweet experience for me—albeit one accompanied, naturally, by the hope that the "Switch effect" will finally propel the series out of its current loop and toward a future from which there is no turning back. [Hands-On Impressions]

Star Fox feels like more than just a prettier version of the Nintendo 64 classic. The campaign is still familiar, but the upgraded visuals, smoother controls and new Switch 2 features make it feel surprisingly fresh. I still need to see the full game, but after this hands-on, I’m more excited for Fox McCloud’s return than I expected. [Hands-On Impressions]