Following his brief appearance in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Fox McCloud is returning in a new Star Fox game.
When I say a new Star Fox game, I’m referring to the 3DS remake of Star Fox 64, which was originally known as Lylat Wars in Europe and other PAL regions. It was essentially a remake of the original Star Fox 64.
That’s right, it’s remake squared, baby, and I’ve had a couple of hours to try it out for myself.
Simply put, if you’ve played Star Fox before, this game won’t offer many surprises – it’s still the Star Fox you remember!
Although the core gameplay of Fox and his team racing through levels and destroying everything remains familiar, it feels much smoother now, and there are actually some new additions too.
The most noticeable update is the graphics – the characters now have a slightly more realistic appearance.
I understand how disturbing it is to see your friends looking so strange and distorted – I felt the same way at first. But you do eventually get used to it.
The game is visually stunning. As I played, it felt like experiencing the original Star Fox concept that Shigeru Miyamoto imagined over thirty years ago – a perfect, idealized version of his vision.
They’ve also thrown in some new cutscenes and voice acting, which is awesome! Even as someone who’s played this game a ton, it’s cool to see some fresh stuff and hear new dialogue. It really keeps things interesting!
Nintendo seems to have realized how popular Falco is and has given him a bigger part in the game’s story cutscenes, letting him be the cool, rebellious character fans enjoy.
As for how it plays, Star Fox is still fundamentally the same game we know and love.
Okay, so the button layout is totally different now compared to the old N64 days, but honestly, the core gameplay is still the same. I really think if you dropped someone who played Star Fox back in 1997 into the newest version, they’d pick it up instantly – it’s that intuitive!
This game is one of the first to utilize the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse controls, allowing for more accurate aiming compared to using a traditional joystick.
The idea sounded good, but it turned out to be difficult to use. I had to control both the ship’s flight and aiming at the same time with the same controls.
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It was really unpleasant to use and quickly made me feel motion sick. After about 30 seconds, I – and everyone nearby – agreed that the standard controls were much better.
Thankfully, the mouse controls are fantastic when it comes to local co-op.
One player can fly the ship using one Joy-Con, while the other aims with mouse controls.
Although it seems simple, the ability for your teammate to move your target around the screen creates fun chaos, making the game both more engaging and surprisingly tense.
Playing this game felt a lot like playing Overcooked – you and your teammate are trying to work together towards a common goal, but often end up hindering each other. It’s frustrating, but surprisingly enjoyable!
The 3DS’s battle mode returns, and we jumped into a few 4-on-4 matches. They were delightfully chaotic and honestly, the most enjoyable part of the demo.
This mode is like the one in Kirby Air Riders – it’s incredibly fun with a full group of players. However, it might not be as enjoyable if only a few people are participating.
The strangest thing about the game is how it uses the Switch 2 Camera. You can apparently throw the camera around to show a live video of yourself to other players in the lobby, but honestly, neither I nor anyone I know has ever actually tried it.
Star Fox now has a fun new feature: you can unlock and use virtual avatars, similar to VTubers, that mimic your expressions. For example, when you speak, the avatar moves its mouth, and if you make a face, it copies you!
It’s strangely appealing, and while I doubt anyone will buy the Switch 2 Camera just for this feature, it’s exactly the kind of quirky thing Nintendo is known for – and I love it.
You don’t even need to pretend to be a VTuber! Instead, you can use augmented reality accessories like Wolf’s eyepatch, Fox’s ears, or Falco’s beak – and the beak even moves when you talk.
Essentially, Star Fox doesn’t offer much beyond what you already know. While it’s not groundbreaking, calling it unoriginal feels a bit strong.
If your child recently met Fox in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, this offers a completely new and updated way to experience the character.
Fans who’ve waited fifteen years for a new Star Fox game probably won’t mind that Nintendo stuck closely to the classic, and arguably best, rail shooter style.
I can’t wait to play again and get endlessly frustrated by Falco, just as the game’s creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, designed it to be!
Star Fox releases on 25 June 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2.
Authors
Alex Raisbeck writes about video games for TopMob, covering both major releases and smaller independent titles. He’s also contributed to well-known gaming publications like VideoGamer, GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, and PCGamesN.
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2026-06-02 17:38