Star Fox Review and Strategy Guide: Is the Switch 2 Remake Worth It?
The Switch 2 Star Fox remake looks strong and has a fun battle mode, but its campaign feels stuck in the past. Here is how to decide whether it is for you and how to approach it.
In this article
Here's a Star Fox review and strategy guide for the Switch 2 remake, and the short answer is yes, if you know what you're getting. The remake comes with high-effort visuals and a fun battle mode [1]. Those two strengths make it a good pick for players who want something enjoyable right away. You may also find this useful: Star Fox Assault Walkthrough in Spanish.
The catch is the campaign. It feels stuck in the past, so set your expectations before you start [1]. Going in with that in mind keeps the older design from feeling like a letdown.
Whether you're replaying a favorite or trying the series for the first time, the answer depends on what you want from it. Below, you'll find what works, what does not, and how to approach the remake so your time with it is well spent.
What does the remake do well?
The visuals and the battle mode are the two strongest parts of the Switch 2 Star Fox remake. Both give you a good experience from your first session. [1]
Visuals that show real effort
The visuals are a clear highlight of this remake, and a lot of effort went into them. [1] You will notice this as soon as you start playing, so the game makes a strong first impression.
If you played the original, take a few minutes to compare the look of familiar places. The updated presentation is easiest to appreciate when you see it next to what you remember. Let the scenery sink in rather than rushing through it, since the effort shows most in the details.
A battle mode that is easy to start with
The battle mode is the part reviewers call fun, so it is the easiest place to start having a good time. [1] You do not need to commit to a long session to enjoy it.
For a simple plan, open the battle mode for a short match when you have a spare half hour. Play a few rounds, then decide how you feel about the game. If you enjoy the fast action, you will have a reason to keep exploring the rest of the remake.
The battle mode also works as a low-pressure way to get comfortable with the controls. You can get used to the flight and shooting before you commit to anything longer. That makes it a good first step for anyone who is new to the series.
Where does the campaign fall short?
The campaign feels stuck in the past rather than updated for today's players [1]. If you came hoping the Switch 2 remake would modernize the single-player story, this is the part most likely to disappoint you.
What "stuck in the past" means
A remake is supposed to bring an older game up to date, so a campaign that still feels old stands out more than it would in a new release. You may notice that the story and its missions move at the pace of the original rather than what many current players expect. Think of it as a mood across the whole campaign, not one stiff level you can skip.
If you want a modern campaign
If you want a modern single-player experience, lower your expectations for the campaign before you start. Play a few sessions and see whether the story keeps your interest. For example, if you finish a stage and feel more relief than curiosity about the next one, that is a sign to switch to the battle mode instead.
If you came for nostalgia
If you played the original and want to revisit it, the older feel may be the appeal rather than a flaw. A dated campaign can feel like a familiar trip back to a favorite game. The stiffness you would notice in a modern release may read as charm when you already know the territory.
Going in with that lens makes the campaign a known quantity rather than a surprise. You can then decide how much of your time it deserves.
Which Star Fox guide should you trust?
The Prima Collector's Edition guide is written for Star Fox Zero, so it is not the right pick for the Switch 2 remake. [2] Its description lists detailed maps, combat tactics, and a complete walkthrough of Story Mode. [2] Those extras only help if they match the game you are playing.
The Star Fox Zero title is the clue to look for on any guide. A guide built for another game can send you to stages and story beats that do not match your save. You would spend time on pages you cannot use.
The Adventures strategy guide has gaps
Star Fox Adventures is a different game, and the BradyGames strategy guide for it has real problems. A ReviewStream reviewer called it a pretty disappointing strategy guide. [3] The reviewer said it was missing information on certain areas and sometimes skipped a necessary task and jumped forward. [3] You may also find this useful: Star Fox Adventures Walkthrough in Spanish.
Weak maps make that worse. The same review said the maps could have been clearer and more defined. [3] A map that is hard to read is hard to use when you are stuck in a stage.
Picture reaching a section where the guide jumps ahead. You would have no step to follow right when you need one most. The reviewer's verdict was a qualified yes: the guide can help you beat the game, but you will be on your own here and there where it is missing. [3]
Check the game and the stage list
Before you buy any guide, check the game named on the cover and in the product description. Then look for a list of stages or a table of contents on the seller's page. If the stages you plan to play are missing from that list, the guide may leave you stuck at those points.
Sample pages help too, if the seller offers them. Look at whether the maps are readable and whether the walkthrough follows the order you will play in. For example, a guide that names the battle stages you plan to tackle and shows a clear map for each is a better buy than one that only covers the story.
If the cover names a different Star Fox game, keep looking. The right guide is the one that matches the title on your screen and shows every stage you will face.
How should you approach the remake?
Start with the battle mode if you want quick, fun sessions. Reviewers single it out as the fun part of the Switch 2 remake [1], so it is the easiest place to get a good time without committing to a long campaign.
Try a few matches in a row rather than planning a big session. Short rounds suit battle mode well, because you can stop after one match and still feel you got something out of it.
Expect an older campaign
If you want the campaign, go in expecting an older design. The campaign feels stuck in the past rather than updated for today's players [1]. Its stiffer parts may feel slower or more rigid than the newer action games you are used to, so set that expectation before you start.
A practical way to handle this is to play one stretch at a time. Treat the campaign as a look back at how the series used to play, not as a modern action game. If a section starts to feel like a chore, take a break and come back to it later.
Use battle mode as your test
Use the battle mode to decide whether the rest of the remake is worth your time. If you enjoy the battle mode, the controls and feel are working for you, and the campaign is more likely to hold your interest. If battle mode leaves you cold, the campaign's older design will probably frustrate you more than it entertains you.
Give it one evening. Play several battle matches, then ask yourself whether you want to keep going. That short test tells you more about whether the remake suits you than any amount of reading.
So, should you play it?
The Switch 2 remake is worth playing if you want strong visuals and a fun battle mode, and you can accept a campaign that feels dated. The remake comes with high-effort visuals and a fun battle mode, but its campaign feels stuck in the past [1]. If the battle mode hooks you, the campaign's older design will matter less.
If you are unsure which Star Fox game to start with, the cluster article "which star fox game to play first" compares them. Once you have picked a game, choose a guide only after confirming it covers that game.