Another Star Fox 64 Remake? - NVC Clips

Nintendo's profits have seen a significant 52% increase year-over-year, a development that makes sense given the launch of a new console. A notable personnel change announced alongside this financial report is the retirement of Takashi Tezuka, an executive officer at Nintendo. Tezuka, who joined the company in 1984, has a storied career as a designer on the original *Super Mario Bros.*, director for *Mario 3*, *A Link to the Past*, and *Mario World*, and most recently, producer of *Mario Wonder*. He has been the long-standing steward of 2D *Mario* games, solidifying his status as a Nintendo legend. His retirement is effective June 26, 2026, coinciding with his 65th birthday. At Nintendo, reaching the age of 65 typically signifies retirement, with exceptions like Shigeru Miyamoto’s transition to a special executive fellow role. This retirement marks the continuation of a trend where long-serving Nintendo veterans are beginning to step down. The discussion then shifts to future Nintendo developments, with President Shuntaro Furukawa stating that more unannounced games are coming this year. He specifically mentioned that Nintendo is working on a variety of new titles for the Nintendo Switch 2, not just major releases for the latter half of the year. New titles are being prepared in addition to those already announced, with details to be revealed at the appropriate time. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the announcement of a *Star Fox 64* remake for the Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled for release on June 25th. Priced at $49.99 digitally and $59.99 physically, it shares the same pricing as *Splatoon 3*. This announcement, made during a recent Nintendo Direct, has generated considerable discussion. Seth, one of the hosts, expresses immense excitement for the remake, finding it visually impressive and fun, regardless of it being a remake of *Star Fox 64*. He believes Nintendo is playing it safe by remaking a successful title, and if it performs well, it will pave the way for new *Star Fox* games. Pre-order sales for the game are reportedly strong, with it being the number one selling game on Amazon, partly due to retailers offering the physical version at the digital price. Seth admits to missing *Star Fox 64* initially, possibly due to the extra cost of the rumble pack, but was later convinced to try it by industry legend Kat Bailey. He is optimistic that this remake will lead to more *Star Fox* content, hoping for a new entry in the vein of how *Metroid: Samus Returns* led to *Metroid Dread*, rather than the *Metroid Prime Remastered* leading to an indefinite wait for *Metroid Prime 4*. He defends the new character designs, finding them cool and liking them. He expresses frustration with negative comments he receives on social media about the remake, urging detractors to keep their disappointment to themselves. Brian acknowledges that the disappointment some feel stems from the Nintendo Direct’s opening, which, after a long anticipation, led many to expect a brand-new *Star Fox* game. While he also finds the remake gorgeous and likes the character designs, he understands the frustration of those who desired something entirely new. Logan chimes in, suggesting that the timing of remakes is crucial. He argues that while remaking *The Last of Us* multiple times might be excessive, *Star Fox 64*'s second remake is justified due to the 15-year gap since its last iteration on the 3DS. He highlights that *Star Fox 64* was a highly beloved game, and this remake will introduce it to a new generation who may not have experienced it. The added enhancements, improvements, and features like the Vtuber-friendly camera are expected to endear the franchise to a new audience. Logan advocates for introducing younger generations to classic games like *Star Fox 64* as an alternative to contemporary titles like *Roblox* and *Minecraft*. The conversation then delves into the impact of leaks and rumors. Logan expresses skepticism towards leaks, citing "Nate the Hate" as an example where information was not entirely accurate. He clarifies that while Nate the Hate had insider information about a *Star Fox* game for Switch 2 releasing in June, he never specified it was a remake of *Star Fox 64*. The leak suggested a brand-new *Star Fox* with a classic style and online multiplayer, which is a different expectation than a remake with a tacked-on online battle mode. Logan uses this as a reminder to take leaks with a grain of salt, emphasizing that they are often a game of telephone, and information can be misconstrued. He believes that the disappointment surrounding the *Star Fox 64* remake is a direct result of these leaked expectations. Brian draws a parallel to the Switch 1 generation, where rumors of *Wind Waker HD*, *Twilight Princess HD*, and *Metroid Prime Trilogy* remastered led to disappointment when these titles didn't appear in every Direct. He notes that while *Metroid Prime 1* was eventually remastered, the rest of the trilogy never materialized, and the sales of *Metroid Prime 4* might have impacted further plans. Brian reiterates the importance of skepticism towards rumors and leaks. He points to past examples like the Nintendo Revolution and the peculiar oval-shaped Switch leak discussed on their show, highlighting the increased difficulty in discerning credible information due to AI tools. He stresses that leaks are not official announcements and should not dictate expectations. Brian argues that going into any Nintendo Direct with specific expectations based on rumors is unfair and devalues the actual product being revealed. He praises the *Star Fox 64* remake as one of the best-looking remakes since *Resident Evil 4*, potentially rivaling *Silent Hill 2*. He believes it's more than just a visual upgrade, with new narrative elements and quirky, Nintendo-esque additions like the talking animal filter. Logan agrees with the sentiment that the remake is visually impressive and a significant improvement over the 3DS version. He highlights the inclusion of new mission modes and challenges as perfect additions to the gameplay style, expressing excitement for multiplayer battles. He also addresses the imprecise use of terms like "remake," "remaster," and "reimagining." Logan clarifies that *Star Fox 64* is not a remake of the SNES game, nor is the Wii U's *Star Fox Zero* a remake of the N64 title. He asserts that the current *Star Fox 64* remake is a faithful adaptation of the original N64 game, with identical level layouts. He distinguishes *Star Fox Zero* as an attempted reboot that suffered from being released on the worst-selling Nintendo console with the worst control scheme, leading to poor sales. He gives Nintendo a "mulligan" for that title. Another host expresses a significant shift in their perspective on the *Star Fox* announcement. Initially cynical about the franchise's lack of innovation and reliance on *Star Fox 64*, and the perception that it survives due to Miyamoto's favoritism, they now view the remake as a wonderful announcement. They acknowledge that while these criticisms of the franchise may still hold true, they shouldn't detract from the quality of this specific game. They remind the audience that they are hardcore Nintendo fans and that the 3DS remake of *Star Fox 64* was released 15 years ago, making it inaccessible to most. They reiterate that the game looks excellent, will feature a 4K presentation, and will avoid the problematic control scheme of *Star Fox Zero*. They praise the orchestral soundtrack as potentially one of Nintendo's best and consider the price point healthy. They hope this remake serves as a reintroduction to *Star Fox*, paving the way for a new game in a couple of years. The discussion then returns to Nintendo's business strategy. It's suggested that Nintendo is hedging its bets with this remake. By redoing a beloved and proven game with modern enhancements, they are reintroducing *Star Fox* to a younger audience, possibly influenced by the *Mario* movie. This is seen as a smart business move to revive the franchise. The hosts agree that if a future *Star Fox* game fails to innovate or improve upon the formula, then the franchise's struggles will be evident. However, for this remake, the long gap since the original and its previous remake warrants a pass. The idea of a favorite franchise being primarily defined by one game that gets repeatedly remade is explored. Using *Resident Evil* as an example, the hosts imagine a scenario where the franchise only offered *Resident Evil 1*, *Resident Evil 2*, *Resident Evil 2 Remake*, *Resident Evil 2* with gamepad motion controls, and a DS version. This would lead to questioning the franchise's appeal. However, they acknowledge that *Star Fox 64* is a universally beloved game, and Nintendo is creating a visually stunning remake of it. The art direction of the remake is also discussed. It's noted that this level of realism is not typically what Nintendo aims for. However, it's suggested that the on-rails nature of the game allows for this approach without needing to compete with open-world graphical powerhouses. The balance achieved between honoring the original's cartoony expressiveness and incorporating realistic fur textures is praised. This made some think of the fur in *Star Fox Adventures*, noting how impressive the animal designs looked. The possibility of this remake serving as a blueprint for a potential *Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* remake is raised, although the whimsical fantasy art style of *Zelda* might not lend itself to the same level of realism. It's predicted that if a similar playbook is applied to an *Ocarina of Time* remake, many who were initially critical of the *Star Fox* remake will embrace it due to nostalgia. The art style of the *Star Fox 64* remake is defended, with hosts expressing surprise at the backlash. They see it as a bold and cool artistic choice, even if the characters appear "weird" or "like little freaks." They argue that this aesthetic fits the eccentric nature of *Star Fox*, which involves talking puppets in spaceships playing a *Star Wars*-like game. The idea of playing as non-human characters in space games is championed, with a desire to avoid playing as humans and instead experience unique alien characters. The comparison to the *Mario* movie is made, acknowledging its different art styles, and concluding that these animal characters look great regardless of the artistic presentation. The hosts express a desire for a full game in this art style, but are happy with the current rendition. A humorous observation is made about Fox's father being named James and Fox being named after his species, questioning the naming convention. The hosts express shock at their own positive reception to the remake, noting how the *Mario* movie has reignited their enthusiasm for *Star Fox*. They acknowledge the series' reputation for having only one fantastic game but emphasize how truly great *Star Fox 64* is, with its branching paths, squadmate roles, and distinction between "mission complete" and "mission accomplished." They believe the remake could help Nintendo recapture that magic for a sequel. The decision to simply title the game "Star Fox" is seen as a positive move to rebrand and reintroduce the franchise. The hosts find it heartwarming to see a major publisher support a series with a less-than-stellar recent history due to internal passion, citing Miyamoto's continued support for *Pikmin* and *Star Fox* as examples. The passion behind game development is highlighted as a key factor in creating excellent products. The remake of *Star Fox 64* is seen as an example of this, with a team that is genuinely excited about the project. The hosts express their excitement for the game, its title, and the potential for future installments. The idea of a prequel game focusing on James McCloud is suggested, with a nod to Hideo Kojima's character designs. There's a belief that Nintendo has long-term plans for these character renders and that the remake is not just a standalone project. The Nintendo Switch 2's library is viewed as an extension of the Switch 1's, and the absence of a *Star Fox* game on the platform, despite *Starlink* being a Ubisoft title, is noted. The remake is seen as a welcome addition, especially after the commercial failure of *Star Fox Zero*, which one host admits to dislik