Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cartoonish space shooter a faithful remake of N64 classic.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Star Fox 64 3D
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say that this game offers an enjoyable, nostalgic experience with improved graphics and voice acting compared to its predecessor, making it appealing to both new and experienced players. While the gameplay can be repetitive and easy for skilled gamers, the character development, teamwork elements, and positive messages resonate well, making it a great choice for younger audiences.
- engaging gameplay
- improved graphics
- positive messages
- character development
- nostalgic experience
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Star Fox and his cadre of elite fliers are thrust into battle to save their star system from an invading force in STAR FOX 64 3D, a remake of the much-loved Nintendo64 original. Players zoom around both linear and open environments -- primarily in spaceships but also occasionally in ground vehicles, such as a tank -- shooting down enemy craft as well as fixed targets on the ground. This version of the cartoonish classic has received a graphical overhaul, including support for stereoscopic play, as well as a new control option that allows players to pilot their craft by using the 3DS' built-in gyroscope to shift the camera with intuitive physical movements. A new local multiplayer mode allows up to four players in close proximity to play against each other, with only one cartridge needed.
Is It Any Good?
If you're a fan of Star Fox in general and Star Fox 64 in particular, there's every reason to believe that this game will sate your appetite for lightweight space combat. The controls are tight, the graphics are noticeably improved over the original (we loved the sharp light reflections issued from the surface of an icy, watery planet), and local multiplayer provides players plenty of reason to keep playing after they finish earning all available medals in the campaign.
That said, Star Fox 64 3D is recognizable as a game from another era. Its short campaign can be finished in around an hour (though it offers good replay value), the environments feel small and cramped and have low ceilings that place limitations on aerial maneuvering, and the story is threadbare and filled with one-dimensional characters. That makes its $40 price tag hard to justify, especially given that Wii owners can purchase the original -- minus this edition's graphical and control enhancements -- for a fraction of the price through the Wii Shop Channel. It's a good game, but it also serves as a reminder that the Star Fox license is in need of a brand new adventure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in games. Some games focused on combat are more family friendly than others. Why do you think this is the case? Is variance in the graphic depiction of violence the only factor, or is there something else that partially determines the way we perceive the harshness of battle?
Families can also discuss playing games together with friends in the same room versus over the Internet. Is playing together locally more social or more fun? Do you find you focus better when playing online because there are fewer distractions? Which do you prefer?
Game Details
- Platform : Nintendo 3DS
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Nintendo
- Release date : September 9, 2011
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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