Star Fox 64 3D

 3DS
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 278 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 198 out of 278
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 278
  3. Negative: 14 out of 278
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  1. JasonFajardo
    Jun 27, 2023
    8
    I've never played the original game but i have fun with this version. The features are entertaining but i fell it incredibly short, you can beat it in like one or two hours. Besides that, this is good enough.
  2. MadIsAdopted
    Mar 10, 2023
    7
    3d effects are very nicely implemented and visually it still holds up quite well. Gameplay is relatively intense with perfectly adjusted difficulty. Sadly it didn't touch me enough to spend my time on full completion, but I admit that Star Fox is a fantastic game
  3. hector_bcn98
    Nov 4, 2022
    7
    No es mi género favorito. Corto e intenso, muchos los rejugarán una y otra vez. No es mi caso.
  4. XV_
    Apr 11, 2021
    8
    For starters, the story goes more or less like this: after some time in exile a mad and evil scientist called Andross has been attacking the Lylat System with different kinds of weapons, and the Star Fox team is called to find out what is Andross planning and stop him from doing so. It is pretty much that, and while it may sound basic (and definitely it is) it works incredibly with theFor starters, the story goes more or less like this: after some time in exile a mad and evil scientist called Andross has been attacking the Lylat System with different kinds of weapons, and the Star Fox team is called to find out what is Andross planning and stop him from doing so. It is pretty much that, and while it may sound basic (and definitely it is) it works incredibly with the tone and overall rhythm of the game.

    You take control of a battle spacecraft called the Arwing, its mobility and functions are basic but effective: you move vertically and horizontally while the ship goes its way. The core mechanic is to shoot as many enemies as possible while you evade obstacles and projectiles, it is also possible to throw bombs that are limited but more powerful, as well to increase your power by shooting two beams at the same time. Most of the stages have a rail structure but some of them will start or end with a battle on which you can take full control of your Arwing's direction. Every stage will culminate with a boss battle that for the most part will be pretty easy but introduce you to a disposable but pretty fun antagonist.

    The combat is pretty solid, my only issue is that your ship can get on the way and you need to relocate a lot to see what it's coming your way, this can be a little tricky as your shooting reticle depends on your Arwing's position, it is not hard to get used to it but if you receive enough damage one or both of your wings will blow up and your aiming will be incredibly compromised as it will be hard to get a steady aim. I'm not sure if this kind of aiming and damage was a thing back in the year when it was released but it certainly is not present on the few shooters that I have played and I find it brilliant, it is a simple mechanic made for a simple game but it adds a whole layer of tension when you're on the verge of exploding. The game lets you choose from two game modes at the start of the campaign: 3DS mode and N64 mode. 3DS mode let you use gyro controls and it seems that enemy HP has been tweaked, N64 mode apparently retains the same difficulty and controls from the original, and also you can shot your comrades in this mode, a thing that sometimes can be annoying since they like to appear out of nowhere into your shooting range but it is to add some difficulty into a rather easy game, not to mention that I can't play with gyro controls and 3D on.

    Aside from the Arwing, in a few planets you will be using a tank or a submarine, while they don't feel as good as the Arwing mechanically speaking, they still feel like they should. The tank feels heavy but destructive and the submarine while I think is the clunkiest it is also a little more versatile in terms of your arsenal. These scenarios add some versatility to the game and while they are not the most fun to play they are a breath of fresh air.

    You can unlock several routes and mix them to add replayability but it's still a pretty short game, each playthrough took me around one hour and it took me 3 playthroughs to play them all and unlock the "true ending". It is not an issue at all because its flow is greatly made but keep in mind that if you're looking for a long experience you probably won't find it here unless you're into having the highest score possible.

    Visuals have been upgraded to look good on a 3DS screen, it is not the best 3Ds game you will find but it looks good and the framerate is pretty stable. The thing that I like the most about its graphics is that they have their original appeal and don't deviate much from the N64 art direction. Character design and story have a Tokusatsu and classic Japanese action show stylization to it that works incredibly well with the puppet-like characters. This stylization is well translated to a Saturday morning cartoon style, normally I wouldn't like a choice like this but it is pretty on spot. Although I don't prefer that everyone sounds jerkish and snotty most of the time, it might be a thing of the original script but who knows, it would be great to have the option to play the original Japanese voice acting. Speaking of which, it seems that they cast the original actors from the N64 game and they sound good and replay their roles without any noticeable issue.

    For an experience crafted 24 years back, Star Fox 64 3D holds up pretty well with its solid gameplay and charming stylization, this remake celebrates its glory and for better or worse it doesn't try to rectify or upgrade what could be done. I would like to have Japanese audio and maybe a deviation from the original script but these are just nitpicking. Its simple story and gameplay may not be the most memorable things that will change your life or at least mine, but they make up for a pretty fun rail shooter.    … Expand
  5. ultraRising
    Sep 10, 2019
    9
    Very Faithful port of one of the best N64 games ever. This version may even be better than the console original with all the bonus features. I have one problem and that is you can't play every level on a single play through. Still awesome.
  6. new2dsxl
    Sep 6, 2019
    8
    The beauty of Star Fox 64 3D is that it provides a quick pick up and play experience that is guaranteed to provide an adrenaline rush. The original was renowned for its exciting action, and this title takes that original material and enhances it with much improved graphics and a gloriously smooth frame rate. The only complaints are the lack of online multiplayer and the fact that,The beauty of Star Fox 64 3D is that it provides a quick pick up and play experience that is guaranteed to provide an adrenaline rush. The original was renowned for its exciting action, and this title takes that original material and enhances it with much improved graphics and a gloriously smooth frame rate. The only complaints are the lack of online multiplayer and the fact that, content-wise, this game is almost the same as the original. Yet, this release can provide thrills and addictive shoot-em-up action to both veterans and those new to the game, its irrepressible energy enough to make us forget that we’ve done it all before.… Expand
  7. n_switch
    Sep 3, 2019
    8
    The beauty of Star Fox 64 3D is that it provides a quick pick up and play experience that is guaranteed to provide an adrenaline rush. The original was renowned for its exciting action, and this title takes that original material and enhances it with much improved graphics and a gloriously smooth frame rate. The only complaints are the lack of online multiplayer and the fact that,The beauty of Star Fox 64 3D is that it provides a quick pick up and play experience that is guaranteed to provide an adrenaline rush. The original was renowned for its exciting action, and this title takes that original material and enhances it with much improved graphics and a gloriously smooth frame rate. The only complaints are the lack of online multiplayer and the fact that, content-wise, this game is almost the same as the original. Yet, this release can provide thrills and addictive shoot-em-up action to both veterans and those new to the game, its irrepressible energy enough to make us forget that we’ve done it all before.… Expand
  8. LylatAce
    Feb 25, 2019
    10
    Star Fox 64 is the best N64 game I’ve played. There are plenty of reasons to replay, and you can always get better at the game. I don’t think it’s as good as Star Fox Zero, because there are less play-styles to use. However, it’s a great game for it’s time, and way ahead of its time, too. If I were to expand on this formula, I’d make the game easier for a newer generation. A lot of theStar Fox 64 is the best N64 game I’ve played. There are plenty of reasons to replay, and you can always get better at the game. I don’t think it’s as good as Star Fox Zero, because there are less play-styles to use. However, it’s a great game for it’s time, and way ahead of its time, too. If I were to expand on this formula, I’d make the game easier for a newer generation. A lot of the strategies are hard to fathom if you’re a newcomer. And a lot of times most people don’t take advantage of the games design. Tutorials on how to hone your skill as a pilot would be welcomed and cut out the ambiguity.… Expand
  9. antenneone
    Aug 26, 2018
    7
    Conversión a la portatil de Nintendo muy buena. Si te gustó en N64 aqui te volverá a enganchar. Eso si, muy corto
  10. SortOfCritic
    Jan 1, 2018
    7
    Star Fox 64 3D does improve upon itself with its new controls and graphics, but it is still a massive disappointment to the hundreds of fans who wanted a new game, made all the more sad because we now know that they have the capabilities to make a great Star Fox game
  11. Sausage22
    Nov 7, 2017
    7
    Great visual upgrade over n64 version. I liked it, but this game is really short and i'm not a type of gamer to play same levels again to gain better scores and stuff, but if you are into this you can try this one.
  12. GlennGlenny
    Oct 18, 2017
    7
    Having never played a mainline Star Fox I was interested to see what the fuss is about. The controls are intuitive and its a good game (apart from the ground rover level) with a decent plot and great characters but there wasn't enough here to make me want to play through again to try the additional paths.
  13. Toalbooth
    Jan 16, 2017
    9
    Comparing Star Fox 64 3D (Or as I call Lylat Wars 3D) to a game such as Super Mario 64 DS or Sonic Genesis for the GameBoy Advance is an insult, this game does an amazing job porting the original Lylat Wars experience onto Nintendo's little 3D child.
    It's essentially one for one the same as Lylat Wars, so nothing has changed in terms of difficulty or story, everything has been re-polished    Comparing Star Fox 64 3D (Or as I call Lylat Wars 3D) to a game such as Super Mario 64 DS or Sonic Genesis for the GameBoy Advance is an insult, this game does an amazing job porting the original Lylat Wars experience onto Nintendo's little 3D child.
    It's essentially one for one the same as Lylat Wars, so nothing has changed in terms of difficulty or story, everything has been re-polished with more textured and detailed models and new voice actors have come in with some extra dialogue.
    The 3D is implemented perfectly and gives a brilliant depth to it, and using the Circle Pad gives me more fluent control when controlling my Arwing.
    Not to say this doesn't have a downside, for the Motion Control option... isn't all that great, you use it to pilot your ship, and if you want to turn your Arwing to precisely aim something, you're really not going to get any good accuracy with the motion gimmick, I'm glad that it's reduced to an option and nothing mandatory, otherwise we would've had some problems, but it's just an option.
    The Multiplayer is in this and thankfully you don't need a second copy of the game to play with your friends, they can download play and it is a huge improvement from the Nintendo 64 version, there are items in Dog Fight arenas as you try to shoot each other down.
    Do I recommend this game? Absolutely, 100%, it's part of the Nintendo Selects dropping it's price to £15 physically and on the eShop, so do pick it up and play it, if you're a hardcore retro gamer, you will instantly get into the game no worries if you're new to it all, then Star Fox 64 3D will welcome you to the Star Fox series    … Expand
  14. GAGMR
    Sep 20, 2016
    8
    Great remake of a classic. If you've played or haven't played the N64 version pick this one up. It's a great game inside & out. If you can find a physical copy, grab it since they're becoming scarce. Wish Nintendo would add this to the Nintendo Selects, I had to get this digitally because it's hard to find but it was worth it.
  15. geo333
    May 27, 2016
    8
    As a first time player Star Fox series i had a lot of fun mainly because the game-play is addicting and the graphics for the remake of the N64 version is fantastic almost identical to the new version of the series. However the story is short although there are three different ways to go at it Overall, just like Ocarina of Time Nintendo really put time into the development of this game. andAs a first time player Star Fox series i had a lot of fun mainly because the game-play is addicting and the graphics for the remake of the N64 version is fantastic almost identical to the new version of the series. However the story is short although there are three different ways to go at it Overall, just like Ocarina of Time Nintendo really put time into the development of this game. and in that it deserves praise and game time from all around gaming players,… Expand
  16. funkydoodycool
    Mar 18, 2016
    9
    What do you expect? A complete port of the N64 game, with nicely update graphics? Well yes, that's what you get here.

    In much the same way that Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask have been remade in glorious 3D with polished graphics, this represents Nintendo doing a re-release properly. Well, almost.... For some reason Nintendo continue to pander to people who want zero challenge    What do you expect? A complete port of the N64 game, with nicely update graphics? Well yes, that's what you get here.

    In much the same way that Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask have been remade in glorious 3D with polished graphics, this represents Nintendo doing a re-release properly. Well, almost....

    For some reason Nintendo continue to pander to people who want zero challenge from their games, and in Star Fox 64 3D they have provided a new version that essentially makes everything easier for people who want that... fortunately they have also included the classic, proper N64 version so that those of us familiar with the game can enjoy it as we knew it.

    Now it's in the Nintendo Classic range at €19,99 there's no reason not to enjoy the game, with its multiple paths. It's short and sweet, and well worth your time. You'll be picking it up for years to come - as proved by the fact it's already almost 20 years old!    … Expand
  17. EpicLadySponge
    Feb 19, 2016
    8
    While an improvement of the original Star Fox 64, this Star Fox manages to nerf the greatness from 64 down and even when it does, your outrageous playtime keeps this game from being a disappointment.
  18. Ninjaonc
    Jan 17, 2016
    7
    mechanics are decent, although poorly explained, making boss fights full of guess work. story took under an hour to complete, I would recommend Kid Icarus Uprising for a similar single player shooter, with hours and hours of story. For thpse of you interested in multiplayer, I cant comment, I am only interested in Story driven games bar a few, it may be great, I havent tried it.
    Not    mechanics are decent, although poorly explained, making boss fights full of guess work. story took under an hour to complete, I would recommend Kid Icarus Uprising for a similar single player shooter, with hours and hours of story. For thpse of you interested in multiplayer, I cant comment, I am only interested in Story driven games bar a few, it may be great, I havent tried it.
    Not Nintendo's best release, but also not the worst, my main annoyance is the criminally short story, with little to no replayablility    … Expand
  19. Fobmcrafi6
    Dec 13, 2015
    9
    I'd give this about an 8.9 out of 10. Beautiful music, a lot of replay value, memorable characters and great use of gyro capability, as well as one of the best looking games on the 3DS too. Albeit the multiplayer should have been internet based and the game felt too short.
  20. tdunster
    Apr 27, 2015
    8
    My introduction to Star Fox was via the SNES and the 3dS version does not disappoint. The gameplay is still wonderful but now the game has the graphics to match, Especially on the New 3DS where you can use the Gyro and 3d without the problems encountered on the older 3ds hardware.
    The only downside of this game is that the campaign is very short. at a few hours long.
    It has some    My introduction to Star Fox was via the SNES and the 3dS version does not disappoint. The gameplay is still wonderful but now the game has the graphics to match, Especially on the New 3DS where you can use the Gyro and 3d without the problems encountered on the older 3ds hardware.
    The only downside of this game is that the campaign is very short. at a few hours long.
    It has some replay value in that you can chase medals by meeting goals on levels but anyone looking for fifty hours of gameplay should look elsewhere.

    Given that you can now pick this game up for next to nothing I'd say it's a game well worth owning.    … Expand
  21. Signas501
    Apr 21, 2015
    10
    Brought rom the 64 to the 3DS, we once again follow the anthropomorphic fox, Fox Mcloud and the star fox team, Slippy Toad, Falco Lombari, and Peppy Hare as they take on the veniacle Andross from taking over the Lylat system, consisting of 7 campaign levels with multiple branching paths. The system consists of Corneria, Macbeth, Katina, Zoness, Titania, Venom, Fortuna, Solar, & Fachina andBrought rom the 64 to the 3DS, we once again follow the anthropomorphic fox, Fox Mcloud and the star fox team, Slippy Toad, Falco Lombari, and Peppy Hare as they take on the veniacle Andross from taking over the Lylat system, consisting of 7 campaign levels with multiple branching paths. The system consists of Corneria, Macbeth, Katina, Zoness, Titania, Venom, Fortuna, Solar, & Fachina and not mention 6 other sectors to liberate, while also fending off Andross mercenaries Star wolf.… Expand
  22. dinosauryoshi
    Jul 21, 2014
    8
    A great port, bringing all the thrills of the N64 classic but unfortunately also the game's short duration.

    The presentation has been spiced up with the graphics notably improved, particularly the water/ground detail. The sound effects are as fantastic as ever and the voice acting as cheesy (yet lovable) as it was a all those years ago. The music is great too, really adding a sense of    A great port, bringing all the thrills of the N64 classic but unfortunately also the game's short duration.

    The presentation has been spiced up with the graphics notably improved, particularly the water/ground detail. The sound effects are as fantastic as ever and the voice acting as cheesy (yet lovable) as it was a all those years ago. The music is great too, really adding a sense of scale to the game.

    Unfortunately that scale isn't there in the content. With the main game being completable in under an hour! Taking all the alternate routes and completing the hardest route will likely take an extra 2 or three hours depending on your skill level but that still makes for a very short game. If you're the high score type you'll be constantly coming back for more due to the new score attack option and the medals you can earn in each level (which are very challenging). The rest of us however won't find much to come back for other than to play the game through again for the pure enjoyment factor (which I do regularly).

    The gameplay is as great as ever, barrel rolling, summersaulting and u-turning feel fantastic. As does plucking enemies out the sky. The story isn't going to win any awards but is a cheesy in a loveable way and the 4 main characters make a great team, even if your team-mates are useless most of the time! The multi-player is good fun and can be done locally with just one copy of the game using download play. Online play isn't included unfortunately as this could have been a lot of fun and improved the replay value of the title considerably. The ability to save is worth noting! Something missing from the original meaning runs had to be completed in one go. The addition of an easier '3DS mode' is welcome too, providing an easier option for the less experienced gamers out there. 'N64 mode' provides all the challenge of the original!

    Overall this port improves upon the original graphically and in the availability of modes as well as the option to save. It's some of the best fun that can be had on the 3DS but is held back by the very short game length and limited replay value unless you are the type to go chasing high-scores and earning medals on missions (in which case you'll have plenty to do).    … Expand
  23. JJfromTexas
    Jun 18, 2014
    9
    So very, very good. Even better than the original Nintendo 64 release in many ways. Excellent use of 3D, and pretty much everything looks and sounds better. You can still play the challenging "N64 mode" if you want, but other tweaks are available in the main campaign for newer players. If only there were online dogfights...
  24. Incarta
    Feb 16, 2014
    7
    Alot of fun, but very short if you're only going to play through the once. Visually,it's better than the original and the controls are as tight as ever. I'm just not convinced this needed to be a full retail release
  25. Falcus
    Dec 1, 2013
    7
    Though it may look short and boring after the first playthrough, there's an impressive amount of content in the game for those who give it a try. Multiplayer is also fun, but online would've been better... Replaying levels doesn't get boring, at least not for me, especially when you're challenging people's records. StreetPass would have been a great record-sharing method. Visuals areThough it may look short and boring after the first playthrough, there's an impressive amount of content in the game for those who give it a try. Multiplayer is also fun, but online would've been better... Replaying levels doesn't get boring, at least not for me, especially when you're challenging people's records. StreetPass would have been a great record-sharing method. Visuals are pretty good, music is good, and the SOUND rating is partially redeemed by this as the voice acting is pretty pathetic. The use of 3D is quite nice. Overall, a shining gem of the 3DS' launch lineup (which was bad) and a must-have for fans of the rail-shooter games. Good, but not great.

    PRESENTATION: 7.5/10
    CORE GAME: 8/10
    VISUALS: 7/10
    AUDIO: 6/10
    GAMEPLAY: 7/10
    LASTING APPEAL: 7.5/10

    Overall: 7.2/10    … Expand
  26. psy_commando
    Nov 12, 2013
    7
    I wish they had made a new game on the Wii instead to be honest.. And making a remake of a reboot is kinda pushing it a little.. Don't know why exactly, but as a fan of the first game, if they'd ever have to do a remake, I'd rather have had a remake of the SNES game, set in the SNES continuity. They could even had joined SF2 SNES with it and make a nice little bundle of awesome! AndI wish they had made a new game on the Wii instead to be honest.. And making a remake of a reboot is kinda pushing it a little.. Don't know why exactly, but as a fan of the first game, if they'd ever have to do a remake, I'd rather have had a remake of the SNES game, set in the SNES continuity. They could even had joined SF2 SNES with it and make a nice little bundle of awesome! And without the "graphics are ugly" factor that seems to put off lots of people with these games!

    But I'm getting a little off topic.. The game is nice. The graphics were well updated, everything feel like the original but in higher details. There was some retconning though, notably corneria's "moon" isn't where the training stage takes place, and a couple of other things, like falco doesn't mention einstein anymore..

    They remade the voice acting from scratch and even re-hired most of the original voice actors! But I feel they didn't quite match the original, especially peppy.. And the video screen at the bottom was really annoying I couldn't seem to even take a look at it given all the action was happening above.

    The music seems to have gotten worse in some cases for some reasons.. Its seems they've insisted on using low quality samples, and tried to emulate the N64 synth I guess.. But the N64 game wasn't my favorite music-wise to be honest. I preferred the samples and the tracks from Starfox SNES and Starfox 2 SNES. Still, they could have done better, like those very nice orchestral arrangements in the slightly disappointing Starfox Assault.

    The controls are just as fantastic as they were on the N64! The circle pad is a little tricky sometimes to move around, but you get used to it.

    The only thing that really bugs me is the 3d feature, on the original 3DS its really hard to play for a long time with that on, because you keep moving the console and it distort the 3d effect and your view of the game... So I tend to just turn it off, even if its supposed to help with depth perception..

    And the gyro controls are just, not my cup of coffee to be honest.. I was having enough trouble not moving while playing to see the 3d effect on the screen, this just made it worst.. And it seems not all that precise..

    All in all its a decent game, you'll probably enjoy it more if you're a starfox fan though.    … Expand
  27. NathanJones
    Sep 28, 2013
    6
    Star Fox 64 3D is really good, but the voice acting though is awful and the multiplayer is nowhere close to being fun either. I still prefer playing this on the N64. Score: 2/5.
  28. MIDP
    Aug 4, 2013
    6
    I enjoyed this game very much.

    Some of the things I disliked however was that some of the challenges of getting a certain grade at levels in order for unlockables were just way to hard for me. I'm not great at video games, but by no means anywhere below average either. These are some of the things that ruined the lasting appeal of it for me. It is still a very good game worth    I enjoyed this game very much.

    Some of the things I disliked however was that some of the challenges of getting a certain grade at levels in order for unlockables were just way to hard for me.
    I'm not great at video games, but by no means anywhere below average either.

    These are some of the things that ruined the lasting appeal of it for me.
    It is still a very good game worth looking into.

    Not as good as Star Fox Assault for the GameCube however, which is my personal favorite in the series.

    6 out of 10    … Expand
  29. mykellinden
    Jun 23, 2013
    2
    Star Fox 64 was an incredible game.......when it came out in the 90's. In my personal opinion, this is one of the VERY few classics that should not have seen a remake of it. First off, the only thing that the game benefits from is enhanced graphics and level select. Other than that, the voices are kept at a very low, crappy N64 quality instead of redone and enhanced to match the updatedStar Fox 64 was an incredible game.......when it came out in the 90's. In my personal opinion, this is one of the VERY few classics that should not have seen a remake of it. First off, the only thing that the game benefits from is enhanced graphics and level select. Other than that, the voices are kept at a very low, crappy N64 quality instead of redone and enhanced to match the updated graphics. Secondly, the Gyro Controls are not as mind-blowing as people claim, as I see it. The Gyro Controls are awful in enclosed and very public spaces, which has always led to me always having them off. Basically, this game is Super Mario 64 DS all over again. Better graphics, sad new features.… Expand
  30. VidsRule
    Jun 18, 2013
    4
    Is someone calling this a $40 experience? That person is a fool. This is a relic of a time way back then. Zelda 64 is at least the best game ever made. This is a $10 arcade game that was a joke forever. Nintendo, you losers, if you're gonna charge $40 for an old lost game, make it one of the best, you terrible business people.
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best 3DS Game of 2011
4
#4 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2011
9
#9 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 56 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 31, 2011
    80
    Even fourteen years after its first release fast and variable space action Star Fox 64 remains one of the best rail shooters and the 3rd dimension fortunately doesn't ruin its original playability. [Oct 2011]
  2. GamingXP
    Oct 28, 2011
    80
    The graphics are beautiful, the 3D effect is very well implemented and the Arcade Mode is a good addition. Good, albeit a bit short, space action for your spare time.
    Read full review
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Oct 25, 2011
    90
    The game shines again, as did 14 years ago, combining the nostalgia with modernity.
    Read full review
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