I want to start off saying that I’ve never “actually” played a Star Fox game before. My first exposure to Star Fox was playing Star Fox Assault multiplayer with a friend from when I was in elementary school. 2 days ago I was over at a friend’s house and we got on the topic of 3DS games we’ve played, and when I mentioned that I want to try Star Fox 64 3D someday, he pulled out his copy of the game and instantly gave it to me and told me to play it. A day later when I finally had free time, I started up the game and I was astonished by the fact such a simple and short game could be so damn captivating. By now I’ve beaten every level and have gotten both endings multiple times and I enjoyed almost every minute of it.

When I started playing the first level I was loving the art style and design of pretty much everything. It all had a good amount of spectacle to it which made me look forward to the next level so I can see the artistic design of everything. Star Fox 64 looked damn good already for a Nintendo 64 game but this version really improved the visuals that I think it would warrant another play through even if you’ve already played it. Not to mention that the sound design is amazing. There’s a lot of sounds that are iconic from the series and in mixture with the amazing soundtrack made it a beautiful experience the whole way through. Occasionally the draw distance can bother me with obstacles just sort of popping up out of nowhere but it’s not enough to put me off. The character designs are also iconic too despite them being sort of simple at a basic level. Everyone is so distinct and memorable in design which extends to their personalities too which I’ll get into. Overall, Star Fox 64 3D will guarantee a strong impression on you with how clean and flashy it all looks.

The gameplay is really simple too but I never really got bored of it because there’s enough changes with each level that the simplicity isn’t a problem. Never have I felt like I was struggling against the Arwing because it’s a really smooth controlling vehicle. The only moments I’ve had difficulties with it are when you take too much damage to the wings, causing it to handle a little worse. It’s sort of a whatever kind of feature to me. I don’t mind it but I don’t think I would’ve cared if it wasn’t in the game either. The Blue Marine controlled really decently too even if I didn’t like the level it was in. That brings me to the Landmaster, which at first I didn’t like how it felt because the aiming was weird that it was controlled by moving up and down on the stick. Over time I got used to it though and welcome the change of pace that the Landmaster brings. As I was saying earlier too, each level really brings out the simple gameplay. Sure you could just play it as a typical space shooter by dodging, shooting, and boosting through the level, but each level has their own environmental hazards that fit right in. The bonus objectives so you can take alternate paths is also welcome, even if some of the requirements for the alternate path aren’t clear sometimes. I do wish that there was more to do outside of the main story though because there really isn’t a lot else. The last thing I want to mention about the gameplay is the bosses, because this is honestly something that I wish I could give a simpler answer too. There’s a decent amount of bosses that I enjoy but there will be some that are a pain in the ass for no reason, or sort of a nothing boss. The boss as the end of blue marine just feels annoying, I can’t reliably dodge Vulcain’s dive attack even though everything else about him is a pushover, and the Macbeth boss fight is better off being ignored. Hell I also though Andross was disappointing. His first phase is easy and then his second just won’t get off your ass, making you perform some awkward maneuvers to get decent shots. I loved all the Star Wolf fights though with how you’re given chances to use your environment or simply out-maneuver your opponents.

Now moving on, the story is also decently intriguing. It’s not very deep at all but in all honesty it doesn’t need to be. Andross is waging war to try to take over the Lylat system and you’re sent to go stop him and his forces. There’s a few extra details that I won’t mention that do give it a bit more depth and helps add a bit more to certain characters. It’s very direct in what is going on and what you’re supposed to be doing and I can appreciate a game that takes a simple approach. I think more people actually remember the characters more than they remember the story itself and for good reason. Just like their designs, everyone has a distinct personality which makes their moments of banter with other characters that much better. As much as everyone shits on Slippy, I feel for the guy for trying his best to be useful to the team while Falco occasionally gives him a hard time for his shortcomings. I’ve always liked Falco’s personality too where he’s just a lovable asshole. Everyone included in the story feels like they have a proper role instead of having some that might as well be replaced with dead air. There’s nothing overly convoluted but it also isn’t too simple that the game might as well have not even tried to have a story. It hits just the right spot to be enjoyable.

This whole game was really enjoyable even when I had to replay some of the stages I’ve already done. I think that this was a damn good way to start the Star Fox series. The game can be beaten within just a few hours if you’re trying to see everything. There’s no harm in trying the game if you get the chance since it’s not gonna be a massive time sink. In fact I can see why my friend was so eager for me to try the game because it’s very well done and a lot of fun. It feels like a game that knew exactly what it wanted to be from the start. If you ever get a chance to play it, I honestly think you should.

I have no idea what the story of this game is and I don't SF64 3D cares either. The gameplay is enjoyable. Flying around and shooting stuff for 7 straight levels is surprisingly fun and engaging the whole way through. The bosses were fun if not really mechanically challenging. The only flaw of this game is your crew constantly demanding you save their butts from enemies on their tails. Yet when you're in the same predicament they're like "Tough luck, ou're on your own" Other than that, the game was a short and pleasant trek to start 2024 with. Nintendo needs to bring back this series. Perhaps your crew can be better used as secondary characters like in RPGs where you can switch to them for more varied combat opportunities. Idk just do anything with this series except let it die shamefully with Star Fox Zero.

What can be said about this that others hadn't already said?

Well, I guess I can start by bringing up that the teammates aren't as annoying as you'd see people a decade older than me claim. Maybe it's the fact that the 3DS voices aren't as compressed as the N64 ones, or just the fact that I first played this now as opposed to those who'd played the game as a kid. I will admit, though, I did occasionally fall victim to the Unwittingly Shooting Teammates Amidst The Commotion Disease.

The levels themselves were fun to navigate through! Though, a handful of times, it can get too frantic which in turn leads to repeated bumping into walls.

The bosses themselves were just the right amount of challenging - not too easy, not too difficult. The perfect amount for a game that encourages you to replay it.

Speaking of which, yeh, I can see myself replaying this one again sometime in the future! But for now, I'm glad I gave it the one playthrough.

This is my first time playing a Star Fox game, and I must say, it's a great introduction. The action is fast-paced and satisfying, the characters are charming, and the presentation are great. I finally understand why this series is so fondly remembered.

The only downside for me is that the sections set during the all-range mode aren't very enjoyable and can be a bit tedious to me. Besides that, I can still highly recommend this game if you're looking for a fun and replayable game with lots of personality.

Hot on the tail of Ocarina of Time 3D, Nintendo bring us another Nintendo 64 classic, this time in conjunction with Q Games (responsible for Star Fox Command). Star Fox 64 3D brings us an updated version of the on-rails shooter originally released over here as Lylat Wars.

If you’ve never had a chance to play the original Star Fox 64, it is an on-rails space shooter. The Lylat System has been taken over by a giant disembodied head (called Andross) and it’s up to Fox McCloud and his team to save the galaxy. While there are 16 levels, you only play seven in each playthrough – completing levels in different ways will send you along different paths. It doesn’t take long to complete a playthough – between 30 minutes and an hour – but it’s a game that’s built to be played many, many times thanks to high scores and medals.

The most noticeable difference is the game’s new lick of paint, and by “lick of paint” I mean “complete overhaul of the models, textures and effects”. The extra power of the 3DS allows for lovely surface water details, richer backgrounds and much more detailed environments. The blockiness of the original is no more and the end result is something that looks completely different yet is instantly recognisable at the same time. Furthermore, a couple of locations have been redesigned (while keeping the level the same).

The surface of Katina, for example, is now covered with lakes which reflect the gorgeous sunset and stunning clouds. The fog is no more and you can see mountains off in the distance. Low clouds of sand float across the screen on Titania while dust flies when enemies land on the ground, meanwhile in the distance is the lovely view of the planet’s rings. There are many stunning views to be had, which are also amplified by the great 3D effects. While nothing special has been done to the game specifically for the 3D, it still creates a wonderful effect.

Due to the arcade nature of the gameplay, Star Fox 64 doesn’t feel like it’s aged one bit. The controls are extremely fluid with the circle pad and the action is fast-paced and very satisfying when you perform well. The 3DS version of the game comes with three difficulties. On top of the standard and expert modes from the original game, the 3DS comes with an easier mode designed, as the game itself states, to balance the game for gyro controls and the 3DS pad. Enemies do less damage and you, sadly, can’t damage your team mates.

Speaking of the (optional) gyro controls, they could have worked if it wasn’t for a few issues. Firstly, the game is definitely a lot harder with gryo controls – especially stages in all-range mode – as turning is much slower. Secondly, the 3DS seems to slightly lose track of the “default” position, meaning that holding the 3DS upright will still make your Arwing drift sideways. To fix this you need to tap the brake button in order to reset the gyroscope. As you’ve probably already worked out, this creates the annoying problem that using the brake to help with quick turns will really mess up the gyro settings. Surprisingly, due to the way you tilt the console, the 3D worked most of the time I used the gyro controls. Thankfully these controls are optional, even if the game annoyingly asks you if you want to use them every time, and you can still use the Circle Pad for the more difficult bits without needing to turn gyro controls off.

The sound of the game has also been overhauled, including an orchestrated version of the soundtrack and re-recorded dialogue. The new voice actors aren’t quite up to scratch and a fair few of the incredibly cheesy (in a good way) lines feel flat. The option for gobbledygook speech is also no more. Even so, the brilliant sounding music and sound affects more than make up for a few badly spoken lines.

Multiplayer has been done from scratch in Star Fox 64 3D. The levels look beautiful and all three modes are a lot of fun and have many options, including brand new power ups to add a bit of Mario Kart’s randomness into the mix. It only requires one cart to play and it utilises the 3DS’ camera to take photos of the player mid-game for reaction shots. It’s a surprisingly robust multiplayer mode, which makes the lack of online all the more frustrating.

Star Fox 64 3D is a game that feels perfect for the 3DS. The short game with high replayability makes it the perfect game to pick up and play and the new options to save progress between levels or to play individual medals adds further to it’s pick up and play nature. It’s very easy to play and enjoy, but it would take a huge amount of practice to truly master the game on normal mode – and then there’s the expert mode on top of that.