Star Fox 64 Designer Criticizes Character Models in Remake

Takaya Imamura he may have left Nintendo back in 2021, but his legacy at the Japanese giant remains undeniable. Having spent more than three decades at the company as a designer, Imamura was instrumental in the creation of the game’s iconic characters, including Captain Falcon, the eccentric Tingle, and, of course, Fox McCloud.

Following the surprise announcement of Star Fox, the classic remake Star Fox 64Imamura took to social media to share his thoughts with the public. Like millions of fans around the world, he seems to have found a compelling reason to finally pick up the Nintendo Switch 2, although his praise for the project came with a bitter aftertaste.

Storytelling and Art Direction

In a series of posts on his X account (formerly Twitter), Imamura initially expressed his official happiness with the renewal of the franchise. “Star Fox will finally be revived…”, he wrote, followed by a heartfelt, “This is not a dream, is it?”

However, the honeymoon phase was slightly affected when the discussion shifted to the updated designs of the game’s characters.

When asked by fans what he thought of Fox’s new take on the gang, Imamura jokingly replied, “This is what happens when I don’t watch it.” While it was clearly a light-hearted jab from the veteran, he didn’t stop there, adding that while he still thinks “the concept is great,” his original designs hold a special place above this new iteration.

Interestingly, Imamura didn’t stop there and even compared the game to the big screen in another post on X. He basically said that the designs were created Lighting of the latest Super Mario Galaxy movie felt superior to what was revealed in this upcoming remake. “The expression on Fox’s face in the movie version when he meets Mario is so much better!” he said, admiring the way the character design perfectly conveys the look of hatred in the scene where he and Mario look at each other.

Since the art direction has been a hot topic in the community, alienating the fans since it was revealed, having a real character designer who measured with such a candid (and a little “bitter”) takes only to add more fuel to the fire.

Whether you love or hate the new look, it’s clear that even after leaving the cockpit, Imamura still has a protective eye on the Great Fox crew. Despite his criticism, he seems ready to jump into the pilot’s seat when the game arrives, which will happen exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25.