Star Fox 64 developer Takaya Imamura is happy about the release of a fan-made PC port, despite knowing that creator and IP owner Nintendo wouldn’t tolerate it.
Takaya Imamura, Star Fox 64 character designer, took to Twitter/X to express his happiness over the release of a fan-made PC port of the N64 title, despite being fully aware that Nintendo wouldn’t tolerate it. The company is rightfully strict about protecting its IP, though, in this case, there isn’t much of a legal battle to be fought, as the port doesn’t use copyrighted assets.
The PC port of Star Fox 64 opens the gateway for potential new features, such as improved graphics, mods, new modes, and more. For now, though, fans can enjoy the classic N64 title at a higher resolution and frame rate.
For the uninitiated, Star Fox 64 is a 3D rail shooter developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Players primarily assume control of Fox McCloud, piloting the Arwing spacecraft. The majority of gameplay occurs in “Corridor Mode,” where the player follows an on-rails path through various environments. In this mode, the Arwing can be maneuvered to dodge obstacles and enemy fire, perform somersaults to evade attacks or get behind foes, and execute the iconic barrel roll to deflect incoming fire. The Arwing’s laser cannons can also be charged to fire powerful lock-on shots.
Some sections of the game, including boss battles and multiplayer, take place in All-Range Mode. The mode allows for free movement within a 3D arena. In addition to Corridor Mode maneuvers, the Arwing can perform a U-Turn in All-Range Mode to quickly reverse direction. Players can also collect various power-ups throughout the game, such as rings to restore shields, weapon upgrades, wing repairs, Nova bombs, and extra lives.
The PC port of Star Fox 64 can be downloaded by following the link here.
