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The Star Fox remake for Nintendo Switch 2 has landed successfully. Critically acclaimed and embraced by the community, especially long-time fans, the return of Lylat Wars after 29 years has been met with widespread approval. However, even with its polished presentation, there are key aspects that could have been further developed, alongside other minor points that would benefit from enhancement. While the game is excellent from the outset, as its initial week on sale concludes, it becomes even more evident that the game is crying out for fixes and additions that are expected to arrive with an inevitable update, surely being prepared by Velan Studios. As ROB 64 would say: “Position confirmed, supplying…”
Based on our experience and persistent community requests, here are the four improvements that should be included in the first update patch for Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2.
1. Highlighting Boss Weak Points
Honestly, the absence of highlighted boss weak points didn’t significantly detract from the experience, as the new graphics and sound cues are sufficient. However, for nearly thirty years, players have been targeting the same weak spots, and the feature of destructible parts flashing red and yellow has been present since the very first Starwing on the SNES. Many users, both veterans and newcomers, have requested this addition, and it would cost Velan Studios little to implement, whether for accessibility or simply for nostalgic reasons. This could be entirely optional, much like the team color changes in Battle Mode, to make them easier to distinguish.
2. Leaderboard and Statistics Screens
This omission is considered more “serious” than the previous one, given the game’s arcade spirit. The reasoning behind it is unclear, even though the trend is to remove online leaderboards and data compilations from modern titles, which were once an essential game element just a few years ago. Could this be to prevent cheaters from falsifying results, or to await the proving of online multiplayer? Regardless, here’s what we ask of General Pepper:
- Solo Mode: Similar to Star Fox 64/Lylat Wars, a leaderboard or “Rankings” menu displaying your best campaign scores, indicating the route taken. On a separate screen, the best scores from other players’ campaigns worldwide would serve as an additional challenge and indicate whether they were achieved with or without mouse controls. It would also be essential to sort scores by planet and difficulty level.
- Multiplayer: Your complete online game history, including hours played, time spent on each planet/mode, distinctions earned, favorite power-ups, most used scoring methods, your win/loss ratio on each map, and other data to help you improve, such as your most frequent “death” type.
3. Video Room, Music Menu, and Art Gallery
While the integrated in-engine cinematics between missions are best experienced as you progress through the Lylat System’s planetary map, players who have spent over 10 hours and explored nearly all 25 possible route combinations likely skip these cinematics to get straight to the action. What if you wanted to rewatch them in order, or just a specific one? A highly appreciated feature would be a viewing room where you could watch all unlocked scenes and create a personalized movie by specifying the exact route with its different variables, from before Corneria to the two possible endings after Venom. The orchestral soundtrack is fantastic, and while there are 10 tracks available on Nintendo Music as part of this “special release,” the full soundtrack is incomplete, and its release date is unknown. It would be great to enjoy Koji Kondo’s superb compositions directly within the game. These two features are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by games like the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. It would be even better if you could accompany the music with illustrations and concept art for each theme. In fact, there’s so much artwork, both from the original and the remake, that fans would truly appreciate a comprehensive gallery of illustrations from both projects to complement the existing Holoviewer, providing additional documentation for this true classic.
4. More Battle Mode Maps, Please
This point, though saved for last, is no less obvious. The request for more Battle Mode maps was already made in our review and even our preview. While the new online Battle Mode has been entirely redesigned for this version, resembling any modern multiplayer game and largely eclipsing the very basic original concept from the N64, this very fact makes us want more. In other words, a lot of effort has been put into these space skirmishes, and that’s precisely why the three existing maps/planets/modes are insufficient: Battle for the Bay on Corneria, Deep Space Dustup on Sector Y, and Meteorite Melee on Fichina. If Nintendo limited the release to these three scenarios and game modes simply to gauge the community’s reaction, we hope their conclusions are clear: more options are needed as soon as possible to prevent the game from becoming monotonous too quickly. What planets would you like to see added? Clearly, these three game types could be adapted to other planets. For instance, Corneria’s bay battles on Katina, Sector Y pirates on Sector X or Meteo, and Fichina’s meteorites on Venom. But let’s use our imagination (an expression that couldn’t be more fitting) in case Velan needs ideas:
- Aquas, Macbeth, Titania: It would be great to pilot the Blue Marine submarine or the Landmaster tank in multiplayer, wouldn’t it? What if it were asymmetrical, with only one squadron member able to be underwater or on wheels, while others engage in aerial combat with their Arwing and Wolfen ships?
- Solar: The ideal setting for a survival mode. You not only have to try to damage your opponent but also fly high and constantly regenerate health, while objectives force you to descend and take risks.
- Sector Z: What if each team had a mothership like the Great Fox and could fire missiles at the opponent? You would have to protect it while trying to launch missiles at the other side.
- Zoness and Bolse: The radar beacon concept, but in multiplayer. They change sides if you shoot them, and if they catch you, points go to the opponent. Similarly, Bolse’s central tower and its electromagnetic fields could appear in various locations on a larger map.
- An Obstacle-Ridden Map: For now, it’s relatively easy to fly around the planets, even if you’ve undoubtedly crashed into Corneria’s bridges, Sector Y’s space debris, and Fichina’s rocks more than once. What if a mode rewarded your piloting skills with many more elements on screen? Flying at high speed amidst space debris and other obstacles would truly change the game’s dynamic and the feeling of satisfaction.
These are the improvements and additions we would like to see in the Star Fox update, which Nintendo has not yet officially announced. What would you request? Leave your comment below.
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The Star Fox remake for Nintendo Switch 2 has successfully landed. Critically acclaimed and embraced by the community, especially long-time fans, the return of Lylat Wars after 29 years has been met with widespread approval. However, even with its polished presentation, there are key aspects that could have been further developed, alongside other minor points that would benefit from enhancement. While the game is excellent from the outset, as its initial week on sale concludes, it becomes even more evident that the game is crying out for fixes and additions that are expected to arrive with an inevitable update, surely being prepared by Velan Studios. As ROB 64 would say: “Position confirmed, supplying…”
Based on our experience and persistent community requests, here are the four improvements that should be included in the first update patch for Star Fox on Nintendo Switch 2.
1. Highlighting Boss Weak Points
Honestly, the absence of highlighted boss weak points didn’t significantly detract from the experience, as the new graphics and sound cues are sufficient. However, for nearly thirty years, players have been targeting the same weak spots, and the feature of destructible parts flashing red and yellow has been present since the very first Starwing on the SNES. Many users, both veterans and newcomers, have requested this addition, and it would cost Velan Studios little to implement, whether for accessibility or simply for nostalgic reasons. This could be entirely optional, much like the team color changes in Battle Mode, to make them easier to distinguish.
2. Leaderboard and Statistics Screens
This omission is considered more “serious” than the previous one, given the game’s arcade spirit. The reasoning behind it is unclear, even though the trend is to remove online leaderboards and data compilations from modern titles, which were once an essential game element just a few years ago. Could this be to prevent cheaters from falsifying results, or to await the proving of online multiplayer? Regardless, here’s what we ask of General Pepper:
- Solo Mode: Similar to Star Fox 64/Lylat Wars, a leaderboard or “Rankings” menu displaying your best campaign scores, indicating the route taken. On a separate screen, the best scores from other players’ campaigns worldwide would serve as an additional challenge and indicate whether they were achieved with or without mouse controls. It would also be essential to sort scores by planet and difficulty level.
- Multiplayer: Your complete online game history, including hours played, time spent on each planet/mode, distinctions earned, favorite power-ups, most used scoring methods, your win/loss ratio on each map, and other data to help you improve, such as your most frequent “death” type.
3. Video Room, Music Menu, and Art Gallery
While the integrated in-engine cinematics between missions are best experienced as you progress through the Lylat System’s planetary map, players who have spent over 10 hours and explored nearly all 25 possible route combinations likely skip these cinematics to get straight to the action. What if you wanted to rewatch them in order, or just a specific one? A highly appreciated feature would be a viewing room where you could watch all unlocked scenes and create a personalized movie by specifying the exact route with its different variables, from before Corneria to the two possible endings after Venom. The orchestral soundtrack is fantastic, and while there are 10 tracks available on Nintendo Music as part of this “special release,” the full soundtrack is incomplete, and its release date is unknown. It would be great to enjoy Koji Kondo’s superb compositions directly within the game. These two features are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by games like the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection. It would be even better if you could accompany the music with illustrations and concept art for each theme. In fact, there’s so much artwork, both from the original and the remake, that fans would truly appreciate a comprehensive gallery of illustrations from both projects to complement the existing Holoviewer, providing additional documentation for this true classic.
4. More Battle Mode Maps, Please
This point, though saved for last, is no less obvious. The request for more Battle Mode maps was already made in our review and even our preview. While the new online Battle Mode has been entirely redesigned for this version, resembling any modern multiplayer game and largely eclipsing the very basic original concept from the N64, this very fact makes us want more. In other words, a lot of effort has been put into these space skirmishes, and that’s precisely why the three existing maps/planets/modes are insufficient: Battle for the Bay on Corneria, Deep Space Dustup on Sector Y, and Meteorite Melee on Fichina. If Nintendo limited the release to these three scenarios and game modes simply to gauge the community’s reaction, we hope their conclusions are clear: more options are needed as soon as possible to prevent the game from becoming monotonous too quickly. What planets would you like to see added? Clearly, these three game types could be adapted to other planets. For instance, Corneria’s bay battles on Katina, Sector Y pirates on Sector X or Meteo, and Fichina’s meteorites on Venom. But let’s use our imagination (an expression that couldn’t be more fitting) in case Velan needs ideas:
- Aquas, Macbeth, Titania: It would be great to pilot the Blue Marine submarine or the Landmaster tank in multiplayer, wouldn’t it? What if it were asymmetrical, with only one squadron member able to be underwater or on wheels, while others engage in aerial combat with their Arwing and Wolfen ships?
- Solar: The ideal setting for a survival mode. You not only have to try to damage your opponent but also fly high and constantly regenerate health, while objectives force you to descend and take risks.
- Sector Z: What if each team had a mothership like the Great Fox and could fire missiles at the opponent? You would have to protect it while trying to launch missiles at the other side.
- Zoness and Bolse: The radar beacon concept, but in multiplayer. They change sides if you shoot them, and if they catch you, points go to the opponent. Similarly, Bolse’s central tower and its electromagnetic fields could appear in various locations on a larger map.
- An Obstacle-Ridden Map: For now, it’s relatively easy to fly around the planets, even if you’ve undoubtedly crashed into Corneria’s bridges, Sector Y’s space debris, and Fichina’s rocks more than once. What if a mode rewarded your piloting skills with many more elements on screen? Flying at high speed amidst space debris and other obstacles would truly change the game’s dynamic and the feeling of satisfaction.
These are the improvements and additions we would like to see in the Star Fox update, which Nintendo has not yet officially announced. What would you request? Leave your comment below.
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