Star Fox Review: What’s the Big Idea, Fox?

June 29, 2026 - 18:59

The new version of Star Fox 64 plays exactly like the one you remember from the late 90s. That is both its biggest weakness and its greatest strength. On one hand, you get the same tight controls, the same satisfying barrel rolls, and the same frantic dogfights that made the original a classic. On the other hand, there is nothing new here to justify the price of admission for veterans who have already flown through Corneria a hundred times.

The core experience holds up remarkably well. The game is a masterclass in arcade-style action, pushing you through a series of branching paths with relentless speed. Every run feels different depending on which route you take, and the medal system still offers a real challenge for completionists. The voice acting, while cheesy, has aged into a kind of nostalgic charm. Hearing Fox shout "Do a barrel roll" still brings a smile to my face.

But the question remains: what is the big idea here? This is a straight port with a fresh coat of paint. There are no new levels, no new ships, and no expanded story. For someone who never played the original, this is an easy recommendation. It is one of the finest gaming experiences I can recall, tight and polished from start to finish. For everyone else, you are paying full price for a game you already own. That is not all bad, because the original is that good, but it is hard to shake the feeling that Nintendo could have done so much more.