Okay, Star Fox launched on the Nintendo Switch 2 this week. A remake of the 1997 original (pictured above) on the Nintendo 64, it brings with it a graphical overhaul, better controls, and a bunch of new features.
One big highlight is the updated soundtrack. Orchestral in its sweep, the thing really adds to the immersive gameplay a great deal. Kudos to the New York based developer Velan Studios for handling the project and making a great soundtrack even better.
The Star Fox 64 Remake’s Fantastic Score
The original soundtrack on the N64 classic Lylat Wars (called Star Fox 64 in North America) was composed by Koji Kondo and Hajime Wakai. The former is Nintendo’s legendary lead composer.
It still sounds great on the N64, but this upgrade is just really what the series deserves.
Velan Studios used Matt Pirog to arrange the original pieces, with Hajime Wakai the recording supervisor. They’ve gone from the N64’s now primitive seeming sound chip to a full blown orchestra.
Stephen Barton has also contributed some new pieces to the remake, which were recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London where, you know, The Beatles did their thing back in the day.
The Star Fox series is inspired by John Williams’ music from the Star Wars films.
You can hear that in flow here. For the modern player, it’s just fantastic. The pieces are dramatic, thrilling, fast-paced, and just surge you into the gaming experinece.
Alongside the more bombastic moments, there’s the melodic, choir-driven Aquas. It’s a water level where you’re in a submarine, which was always a quietly disorientating experience to play as a kid.
The music here is better than ever, really immersing you into the game (in more ways than one).
Fantastic stuff overall, with a lot of care and attention going into this. Nintendo and Velan Studios didn’t hold back on lavishing maximum effort into the Star Fox remake and the soundtrack is a huge part of its success story.
ADDENDUM ALERT!! A Special Mention to the Star Fox Menu Music
There’s a really invigorating take on the menu music from Lylat Wars. A great homage to the original piece, but also with some welcome flourishes.
As we absolutely loved this bit of music on the original. We have clear memories of sitting there listening to it on a loop, a surprisingly melancholic and thoughtful bit of music.
At the core of the game there is a tragic loop. Fox McCloud is dealing with the death of his father, and avenging it, and the hands of the evil genius Andross.
This menu music is the quiet before the storm, perfectly encapsulating the purposeful revenge mission you’re about to engage in.
