- Primary Subject: Star Fox (Nintendo Switch 2 Remake)
- Key Update: While the 2026 remake delivers impressive modernized visuals, it draws criticism from classic fans for its muted sound effects and uninspired, emotionally flat voice acting compared to the 1997 original.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: The remake suffers from a lack of emotional urgency in its new voice acting and muted Arwing sound effects that strip away the original's satisfying crunch.
Star Fox 64 is one of the most beloved Nintendo games and can arguably be called the most popular entry in the Star Fox series. So much so, in fact, that it received a second remake for the Switch 2, the first one being for the 3DS handheld.
For those who have played the original, the changes made to make it fit the modern era of gaming are nothing short of beautiful. Some would say that it's what a proper remake should be, as the graphical upgrade and the few gameplay alterations really make it feel like an improvement.
However, although it did make the right call in those aspects, I would say that Star Fox for the Switch 2 is not all that great, and I would even go so far as to say that it doesn't even come close to the original. Visually, it does everything right, as you really feel like you're battling alien armadas in unique locations in space.
Where it drops the ball, though, is in its voice acting and sound design. First, let's talk about the former. When listening to lines delivered by every single character, that includes the bosses and not just the main case, some of you may think that they seem fine. However, there will be those who may think something's off, and that it's not what they're supposed to sound like.
This is because when comparing the Star Fox Switch 2 remake to the original, it's like night and day. If you ever played the game meant for the Nintendo 64, there's a clear difference in how the voice actors of the past brought the characters to life. Regardless of whether it's Peppy, Slippy, Fox, Falco, or even the many enemies they face, each one manages to spout out dialogue in a way that perfectly captures the situation.
For example, if one of your comrades were being continuously harassed by an enemy ship, they'll yell out lines such as "Take care of the guy behind me, Fox!" or "Hey, get this guy off me!" with such emotion that it feels as if someone will actually perish if you don't bother helping. Yes, there are times when the delivery of the voice lines go a little too over the top, but it's also because it goes overboard that each character becomes memorable.
If you've tried listening to the original's performance, try comparing it to that of the Switch 2 remake. Again, it's like night and day, as that of the new Star Fox feels as though the voice actors didn't put much effort into the delivery of their lines. Barring a select few, it feels as though the characters have no sense of urgency when it comes to everything happening around them. In fact, they almost sound excited or having fun nearly all the time, even in situations when they should be in peril.
There are even times when, whenever they speak, it's as if the people voicing them got bored and simply read from the script without any direction in terms of emotions. That alone greatly affects how you can enjoy Star Fox, and it's disappointing to know that voice acting wasn't one of the top priorities when it came to improving over the original.
But it's not just the voice acting that ruins what should have been a good remake, but also the sound design. Let's go back to the original Star Fox yet again, but this time, focus on the different sounds the Arwing makes.
Whether it's shooting, being shot at, or performing evasive maneuvers, each one is distinct enough that you can really feel that it's what the vehicle is doing. The sound design of the original had a crispness to it that really stands out, and it helps that it isn't overpowered by the music, which is also of top quality.
Then you listen to how the Switch 2 remake tried to improve that aspect, and it's likely you'll agree that the results fell flat. While the music is admittedly top-notch, the overall sound design feels like it took away what made the original special and replaced it with something more muted.
Nearly everything sounds like they lost the oomph that the original had, to the point that even the simple act of firing lasers sounds boring. Due to the lack of crispiness, the actions you can perform in the remake doesn't feel as satisfying, which ruins the overall experience.
Nintendo and Velan Studios really dropped the ball when it came to both the voice acting and the sound design, and it's very disappointing that they did, as those two aspects are extremely important towards the identity of Star Fox 64. Since they weren't improved as well as we hoped, it just means Switch 2 remake can't compare to the original. Perhaps a third remake could fix that, but by this point, it's best to no longer touch upon what Star Fox 64 did so well already.
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