The new Nintendo Switch remake of Star Fox offers a cinematic experience reminiscent of Top Gun, but players accustomed to modern game lengths may find its main Campaign surprisingly short, clocking in at under two hours. This runtime mirrors the original Nintendo 64 release, with the addition of new cutscenes not substantially increasing the core playtime.
While the brevity might be a concern for those prioritizing a time-to-value ratio, the game provides numerous avenues for extended engagement. The Campaign's replayability is a core feature, as players can explore different paths through the Lylat System by completing secret objectives within levels. Unlocking these alternate routes, which often involve saving specific characters like Falco, leads to different stage progressions and can take around four playthroughs to see each unique stage, with significantly more required to experience every possible route.
Chasing High Scores and Challenges
Although the remake lacks a dedicated high score leaderboard, a significant incentive from Star Fox 64, the pursuit of high hit counts remains. Players can track their performance on individual stages and aim for medals by achieving specific hit thresholds. Mastering each level by defeating as many enemies as possible is a demanding task that offers a substantial challenge for dedicated players.
For those who prefer more defined objectives, a Challenges mode is available. This feature allows players to revisit unlocked stages and attempt a series of specific goals. Successfully completing six normal challenges unlocks an Expert difficulty, which presents a tougher set of objectives designed to push players toward near-perfection on each level. The skills learned in this mode can then be applied to optimize performance and achieve higher scores in the main Campaign.
Multiplayer and Unlockables
Beyond the single-player content, Star Fox includes a multiplayer Battle mode. This mode features objective-based team matches across three maps, offering variations on capture the flag and zone control. The tight flying controls and dogfighting mechanics provide a solid foundation, though the limited number of maps and objectives may leave some wanting more. The developers may potentially expand this mode in future updates.
Tangible rewards for dedicated play are present in the form of unlockables. Players can earn banner backgrounds and icons to customize their player cards, many of which are unlocked through Battle mode. Completing challenges and unlocking all planets yields lore files, offering deeper insights into the game's universe. Additionally, players can acquire extra filters for the AR GameChat integration, including secret characters and accessories. For completionists, these numerous unlockables provide a considerable amount of content to pursue, ensuring that players looking for more than just a brief Campaign experience have ample opportunity to stay engaged.