by Dylan LahaiseNintendo announced a new Star Fox game – the third remake of 1997’s Star Fox 64 – in May, and it has generated plenty of excitement, despite some controversial new character designs. Developed by Velan Studios, this new take on the series looked very impressive upon its reveal. A free demo was announced in the latest Nintendo Direct and immediately became available to download from the Nintendo eShop. I recently had the chance to play it, and I came away eager to play more. I have plenty of thoughts, so without further ado… let’s rock and roll!
The demo begins with a brief prologue, following the original Star Fox team of James McCloud, Peppy Hare, and Pigma Dengar. Tragedy strikes, James is presumed dead, and Peppy promises to look after his son, Fox. It is good to see more focus on the story in this game, since this is a scene we didn’t get to see before; we only heard about what happened to James’ old team. The story then jumps five years later, and Fox McCloud has taken charge of the team, keeping Peppy but adding some new recruits: hotshot pilot Falco Lombardi and engineer Slippy Toad.
We enter gameplay with an ‘Arwing introductory training module’ hosted by Yaru de Pon, president of manufacturer Space Dynamics. The player becomes familiar with the Arwing’s basic controls and abilities. These include tilting into turns, boosting, somersaults, firing and charging lasers, and launching bombs. And of course, you can’t have Star Fox without the iconic barrel roll, which deflects enemy fire if timed right. This comes in handy, as you’ll be dealing with plenty of enemies at once. All of these mechanics are fun and easy to use, which is important, as they become imperative in the subsequent level. This is a far cry from the clunky use of the Wii U GamePad in 2016’s Star Fox Zero, the last game in the franchise.
After a short time completing objectives using the skills you’ve learned, the module crashes, as it is revealed that the whole simulation was in virtual reality. I greatly enjoyed this framing device, as it makes the tutorial more enjoyable. It fits perfectly within the story and doesn’t feel disconnected. Tutorials can often be a slog to get through, but not here.
Right after training, General Pepper, commander of the Corneria Defense Force, contacts Fox with a mission: defeat evil scientist Dr. Andross and save the Lylat System.
The first level, Corneria, is not part of the demo but will certainly be present in the game, as evident in the trailers. Instead, we are taken to the second level, Meteo, a dense asteroid field. The Star Fox team is headed for the planet Venom, but they first have to deal with waves of enemy fighters that make up Andross’ forces. Along the way, you can collect rings to restore your shield, hopefully lasting long enough to face the level’s boss fight.
Once you’ve destroyed many smaller ships and navigated the asteroids, you must face the Meteo Crusher. A high-ranking member of Andross’ forces, the Meteo Crusher Pilot’s intimidating ship has various weapons made to stop you in your tracks. Luckily, there are weak points that can be targeted, and after doing so, eventually the Meteo Crusher meets its end. This boss fight is very exciting, offering a genuine challenge and great dialogue to keep things entertaining.
I finished the fight in no time, but I did not escape unscathed, as the Arwing took substantial damage from the Meteo Crusher’s massive beams and rays. I managed to beat the level in roughly 11 minutes, though more experienced pilots will likely clear it much faster. I’m looking forward to attempting to beat my own time when the full game launches!
This demo was quick, but definitely memorable. My time with Star Fox so far has been a joy. There is much to love, whether you are looking for a casual experience or something more demanding, as there are settings for both. The normal difficulty is a nice compromise, where it isn’t too easy, but it’s not punishing either. The Arwing’s third-person orientation controls very smoothly, and the mouse controls in first-person are quite intuitive. I can’t wait to see how other vehicles, such as the Landmaster, function in the game.
The gameplay is only one part of the equation, but I must also speak to the visuals. This game is absolutely stunning; it is easily the best-looking game made for the Nintendo Switch 2 so far, with detailed models, fantastic character animation, and beautiful environments. The presentation, especially the voice acting and music, is top-notch work. It all feels incredibly cinematic and polished, which a franchise of this epic scope deserves.
There are still some mysteries about this game, such as its multiplayer modes, but I am confident it will be a worthy remake of a Nintendo 64 classic. Fortunately, we don’t have to wait too long to find out, as Star Fox blasts onto the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25.
