Nintendo Switch 2 Critic Reviews

Overall, while the fundamental bones are exactly the same as Lylat Wars, we came away from Star Fox more excited to jump back in thanks to the transformative facelift of its presentation. It remains to be seen if a new generation of players, who might have different expectations based on the trailers, will latch onto the rail shooter gameplay in quite the same way, but for longtime fans, swooping through space in the Arwing has never looked or played this good. [Hands-On Impressions]

Star Fox is shaping up to be a return to form for the series. Although I was only able to get a small taste of what the title has to offer, new multiplayer modes, excellent visuals with equally excellent controls, and of course, that returning and iconic soundtrack are all in place to give this launch of Star Fox possibly its best one yet. [Hands-On Impressions]

Star Fox on Switch 2 is exactly the game you think it is; it's Star Fox 64 looking prettier, feeling more responsive, and offering a new bevy of bells and whistles. It's still got the branching paths that are a little obtuse at first – even if that's what makes it fun. You're still getting yelled at by your squad mates when they are under attack, and you're still rolling around and shooting lasers. [Hands-On Impressions]

Overall, the question I wanted to find an answer for going into this hands-on preview was: Is Star Fox worth getting as a newcomer or fan of the series? The answer is… complicated. For fans, this game has already been remade once, and it’s a tough sell at full price. What I will say is if you’re here for the plot and characters, or if you have a few mates to jump into game chat and play with, I think you will have a blast, and this game is for you. [Hands-On Impressions]

I still think that the game won’t be for everyone based on the gameplay, but I think with the added story elements, and how great the game looks, these will both go a long way to making Star Fox a household name alongside the likes of Mario and Zelda, especially on the heels of the Super Mario Galaxy Movie. [Hands-On Impressions]

I walked out of my hour-and-a-half preview with Star Fox in disbelief at how excited I was to tell everyone about a remake of a game I’ve already played several times before. [90-Minute Hands-On Impressions]

Not everyone will warm to the jarringly realistic designs of its animal protagonists, but there’s no denying that this is a remake with visual soul. [Hands-On Impressions]

In short, the game looks incredible. This then extends to the sound design too, with the reworked soundtrack broken up by the punchy effects of destroyed ships and collapsing buildings. Like the visuals, this felt both clearly reflective of the past while bringing it to the present. [Hands-On Impressions]

Battle Mode is, frankly, a bit overwhelming at first, but the combination of dog fighting and Arwing space acrobatics was a lot of fun, once I learned to read the battlefield. More enjoyable though was the implementation of GameChat features. [Hands-On Impressions]

As someone who has beaten Star Fox 64 over 100 times, I found myself smiling as I experienced the new cutscenes, beautiful graphics, and gameplay enhancements during my brief preview session with the game. [Hands-On Impressions