Star Fox remakes the second-best rail shooter ever. Rez is the best
Nintendo is reviving the rail shooter genre with a remake of Star Fox 64, the acclaimed 1997 space action game featuring anthropomorphic characters and Star Wars-inspired aesthetics. The rail shooter genre, once a showcase for video game spectacle, has largely faded from prominence, with few recent indie attempts at revival.
In Star Fox 64, players navigate rushing 3D environments, eliminating enemies while pursuing high scores in an approachable, highly enjoyable experience. The upcoming remake brings this classic to modern audiences.
The article notes that Nintendo’s motivation for the remake extends beyond reviving the genre—the company appears equally motivated by the franchise’s merchandising potential. This is characterized as an “odd move” driven partly by business considerations rather than a pure creative impulse to resurrect the genre.
The article positions Rez as the superior rail shooter experience, using it as a benchmark for excellence in the genre. Star Fox 64’s remake represents Nintendo’s attempt to revive a nearly dormant category of gaming.