Star Fox
We got our hands on the new Star Fox release for Switch 2 and started our adventure by revisiting the franchise on both Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. Join us to see how things shaped up, including our Purpose Circus game review!
The SNES wasn't capable of delivering a 3D experience on its own and depended on custom hardware embedded in the game cartridge itself. Nintendo hired British studio Argonaut Software and partnered with them to extend the capabilities of the SNES platform. In the United States, Star Fox rolled out for the Super Nintendo in March of 1993 and was the 10th most popular SNES game of all time by sales.
The original release brings nostalgia for some and headaches for others. The system ran at redline with glorious 16-bit soundtracks and hero mumbles for the ages.
Nintendo 64 brought processing horsepower that made 3D look easy, but it lacked the purposeful placement and design of the original. Strict decisions on how to balance clock cycles with 2D character art and feel were replaced with a firehose of moving polygons plastered with cheap imagery. On the plus side, the headaches were gone and a local multiplayer mode fueled terrific dog fights.
The latest version of Star Fox on Switch 2 has phenomenal graphics, tasteful design and gorgeous spaces that draw you into the action. For a single player experience things are good, but the local split-screen multiplayer is gone and the pilot/gunner cooperative approach feels cheap.
Star Fox (External Link)
Bringing the arwing down to the water and navigating through arches reminds us of the original. The same mass and momentum captured in the original is present, with lighting and environmental effects only possible with the Switch 2.
Purpose Circus Game Rating
Inclusivity: ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Number of simultaneous players and learning curve for new players.
- No local split-screen multiplayer.
- Pilot/gunner approach forces the use of joycons - no pro controllers allowed.
Amusement: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Player engagement with game and others - collective laughter.
- Obstacles and enemies absorb your attention, but not always in a way that feels fun.
- Stale storyline is predictable and tired.
Quality: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Play efficiency and game fit/finish.
- Great graphics powered by the glitter of modern hardware but also purposeful decision making.
- Menus make sense and overall progression is smooth.
Replayability: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Gameplay variety, challenges and permutations of experience.
- Multiple paths through the game offers more than one play-through.
- Once the campaign is complete in all of its permutations the draw to play is weak.
Intangibles: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Innovation and nostalgia - the magic.
- Nostalgia is high with all the Star Fox characters updated for 2026.
- From a map, boss and storyline perspective, the game is essentially a remake of Star Fox 64.
Overall: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
We had a tough time agreeing between two and three stars for our overall rating but eventually settled on two because of how poor the interactive component of the game is. We enjoyed playing Star Fox for a few hours, but then it just felt mechanistic. Defeating Andross, we let out a sigh and powered things down to touch grass. It wasn't a game that made us want to keep going. That said, our overall return to the Star Fox universe was fun, offering a taste of video game history.
What makes something memorable and worth revisiting? What should be avoided, accepted or pursued? Is there a better or best version? What is good?
Grab some popcorn and join the circus as we answer these questions through shared experience. We look forward to having you with us along the way!
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