Remake or Reboot: How Star Fox 64 Compares to the Original
By [email protected] in Jun 4, 2025
Star Fox 64 is considered one of the greatest video games of all time. Released in the 90s, it has sold over 4 million copies. But many people notice the similarities between the 64 version and the original. Is Star Fox 64 a remake of Star Fox? This article will compare and contrast the two Nintendo game series in detail.
What Is Star Fox and Star Fox 64?
1. Star Fox
Star Fox is a Japanese sci-fi rail shooter video game series published by Nintendo in early 1993. The game closely follows a combat team of anthropomorphic animal characters called “Star Fox.” Their core mission is to save a home planet named Corneria from various antagonists, which mainly takes place in outer space called the Lylat System.
Most entries in the Star Fox franchise feature rail shooter gameplay, where players navigate flight paths through intense combat scenarios.
1.2. Star Fox 64
Being known as a sibling of Star Fox, Star Fox 64 - another space rail-shooter game - made its debut three years later in 1997. Its plot is the catastrophic galactic military war Lylat Wars between the invading forces of Andross's Empire and the Star Fox team.
Capitalizing on the success of Star Fox before, Star Fox 64 featured significant upgrades, including precise controls, full voice acting, and multiplayer modes. These improvements led to tremendous achievements. One of them is making Star Fox 64 the forty-fifth greatest game of all time, according to Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition in 2009.
It’s no secret that Star Fox 64 has become one of the greatest video games of all time, with over 4 million copies sold. Plus, its innovative game format made a strong impression on players and successfully received many positive reviews on Metacritic.
Is Star Fox 64 A Direct Remake Of Star Fox?
No, Star Fox 64 is not a direct remake. Rather, it is best described as a reboot of the original video game Star Fox.
So, the key question is, how do we clearly distinguish between a remake and a reboot, especially in the context of long-running video game franchises like Star Fox? In broad terms, a remake relates to a new version that mostly leverages the same characters, plot points, and setting from the existing film. Reboots, on the other hand, may maintain very few iconic elements of the previous film, taking only a basic framework before heading in a new direction.
Regarding the relationship between Star Fox and Star Fox 64, Star Fox 64 leans more towards being a reboot. These two still share the same characters and plots and both fall into the rail-shooter genre. Yet, the gameplay is fundamentally different. Star Fox 64 features true 3D graphics and also contains segments with greater freedom of motion and exploration. Moreover, most players agree that the levels in Star Fox 64 are much more dense and interesting.
Star Fox 64 vs. Star Fox: What Are the Differences?
In this section, we will walk you through the three main differences between Star Fox and Star Fox 64 to explain why the latter is considered more of a reboot than a remake. The key areas in comparison are graphics, gameplay, and audio.
1. Graphics
Needless to say, graphics stand as the leading difference. Star Fox utilized the Super FX chip to generate 3D graphics using simple polygons, which resulted in a visually limited aesthetic.
In contrast, Star Fox 64 took advantage of the Nintendo 64 to deliver an extremely refined 3D experience with clean and smooth buildings, structures, and character designs. Owning a superior and highly advanced visual presentation at that time, Star Fox 64 had completely surpassed its sibling video game.
2. Gameplay
While Star Fox is only a classic 2D on-rail shooter, allowing players to focus on shooting enemies and dodging obstacles, Star Fox 64 introduces a more innovative mode. Within this, players are able to freely move in a 3D space and engage enemies from all directions.
In addition, Star Fox 64 provides complex levels with branching paths and diverse environments, whereas Star Fox isn’t able to do that.
3. Audio
Another core difference between Star Fox 64 and Star Fox is that Star Fox uses funny and nonsensical voices for the characters. Meanwhile, Star Fox 64 uses real in-game voice acting with meaningful dialogue.
In summary, Star Fox 64 is an upgraded version of Star Fox in the matter of audio, with impressive science fiction-based soundtracks that easily hype players up rather than relying solely on basic sound effects.
What Inspired Star Fox 64’s Development?
Most importantly, it was Shigeru Miyamoto’s personal demand to experience science fiction scenes interactively instead of only enjoying them visually through television. At the same time, the Nintendo 64 system was about to be released. So, the Star Fox 64 development team quickly seized the opportunity to reach their goal of delivering a cinematic sci-fi experience in a video game with compelling 3D experiences.
How Do Reviews Compare For Star Fox 64 And Star Fox?
When examining the reviews, Star Fox 64 and the original Star Fox were both generally acknowledged as exceptional titles with different strengths. Star Fox 64, released three years later, had the advantage of providing better experiences thanks to its cinematic presentation and compelling 3D graphics.
Moreover, this reboot video game was rated as very creative and attractive, with challenging levels that showcased the designers' imagination in a fantastic manner. Finally, the in-game voice acting made a strong impact, adding to the dynamic sense of adventure.
Some players express mixed feelings about the audio, though. When it comes to background music, Star Fox 64 surprisingly fell short of Star Fox. Enthusiastic players found Star Fox’s soundtrack more sublime and focused. In contrast, Star Fox 64’s music, with its advanced technology, even became an element that often broke players' concentration during key moments.
Conclusion
So, is Star Fox 64 a remake of Star Fox? As we’ve seen, Star Fox 64 is rather a reboot. Through its 3D technology and sci-fi game concept that offers true cinematic feelings and well-chosen soundtracks, Star Fox 64 has gone beyond the limitations of a traditional "remake." The game completely revolutionized how players experience such a great video game.
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FAQs
1. Is Star Fox 64 a remake of Star Fox 1?
No, Star Fox 64 is not a remake of Star Fox 1. It’s best described as a reboot.
2. Is Star Fox Zero a remake of Star Fox 64?
No, Star Fox Zero is not a remake of Star Fox 64. While it still presents the same gameplay and story elements, Star Fox Zero is distinct due to advanced design and an innovative control scheme.
3. What was Star Fox inspired by?
Star Fox was inspired by a mixture of Japanese culture, including folklore and sci-fi puppet shows from the 60s like Thunderbirds.
4. Are Star Fox and F-Zero connected?
Yes, they are. While there isn’t a direct relationship, these two video games share a common space, characters, and technology.