Star Fox remake puts Switch 2 visuals in the spotlight

Nintendo’s Star Fox remake for Switch 2 arrives June 25, and The Verge’s Andrew Webster says its visual overhaul is the strongest showcase yet for the new console. His review says the game keeps the on-rails shooting framework of Star Fox 64 while adding a more cinematic presentation.

Webster writes that Nintendo’s early Switch 2 exclusives have often focused on size, citing Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Pokopia as games built around broader spaces or larger systems. Star Fox, by contrast, uses a tighter mission structure, which he says gives Nintendo room to stage more controlled action scenes and detailed set pieces.

A familiar campaign with a bigger presentation

According to The Verge, the remake follows Fox McCloud, an anthropomorphic pilot leading a mercenary squad that fights Andross, an evil scientist, across a series of galaxy-spanning missions. Webster says the broad story, level layouts and campaign structure remain close to the Nintendo 64 game.

The review says the most visible changes appear in presentation. Webster reports that missions now include voiced cutscenes that add more context before objectives and show the cast outside their vehicles, including scenes between battles.

Those additions, Webster says, make the remake feel closer to a contemporary action game. He describes sequences with ships skimming over water, screen-filling enemies, lava-filled arenas and firefights through space debris, saying the effect gives the game a stronger sci-fi movie quality.

The Verge also says the controls feel more responsive than the Nintendo 64 version, though Webster notes that may partly reflect the difference between using modern hardware and the original N64 controller. The review compares one early iconic scene with the version available through Nintendo Switch Online to show the extent of the remake’s visual update.

Old arcade design remains

Webster says the remake still carries the rhythm of an arcade-style shooter. The review says a first run through the campaign takes about an hour, but seeing all of its content requires replaying stages, finding alternate routes, unlocking extra missions and reaching the true ending.

That structure can be demanding, according to The Verge, because some missions remain difficult. Webster singles out a tank-based train mission as an idea he liked but found frustrating after repeated attempts to hit the required targets.

The review says the repetition can clash with the remake’s movie-like presentation. Webster writes that the lightweight story feels thinner beside the upgraded visuals, and the cutscenes lose impact when players see them repeatedly, even though they can be skipped.

Nintendo has added several features beyond the campaign, according to The Verge. Webster lists a challenge mode with extra objectives, expanded multiplayer with online play and virtual avatars, though he says he was not able to test the avatar feature.

Webster places Star Fox within a broader run of high-profile remakes, pointing to Resident Evil, Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, as well as upcoming updates such as Halo: Campaign Evolved and Nintendo’s reported Ocarina of Time remake. His verdict is that Star Fox benefits from its new look, even as it shows the tension between older game design and modern production values.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.