When it comes to Nintendo franchises that have seen some great highs, and more recently some comparative lows, the Star Fox series would certainly make the list. While perhaps never a massive hit, the rail-shooting action of the original and its N64 incarnation absolutely made an impression on many people. Their follow-ups since then have been more spotty by comparison, and in the case of Adventures seemingly losing the series thread entirely, but hope springs eternal that Fox McCloud and company could return one day. Until then, though it isn’t quite as refined, fans of that style of play can at least consider taking wing with Fur Squadron Phoenix.

Working as an on-rails shooter, you’ll be navigating your ship through a variety of environments, taking down groups of enemies and some pretty impressive bosses as well. Your ship proves to be quite maneuverable, even featuring its own version of Fox’s iconic barrel roll that you’ll be able to use to try to evade incoming enemy fire. Switching between quickly firing your lasers and using your charged shot will be necessary for success, as some waves of enemies will prove to be overwhelming either in size or strength, so you will need to stay alert and adapt. The good news is that if you find yourself struggling, each run will also reward you with points you’ll be able to use to upgrade your ship in a variety of ways, helping to add to your base potency, and making even more substantial challenges feel like they can be met eventually.

When it comes to downsides, the first is that while the game keeps you engaged and plays well, there’s no question that some of its elements are lacking in polish. I appreciate how colorful and varied some of its environments are, preventing everything from feeling too similar, but there are also sections in some areas where things got so dark that it was difficult to make out enemies. For the most part your movement does feel good and pretty responsive, helping you get through some tight spots, but in general pulling off some of the moves while trying to fire my weapons wasn’t always comfortable or would sacrifice accuracy. I’d also like to see the developer tackle some free-roaming segments, diversifying the gameplay offered and keeping up with the Star Fox series that obviously inspired this. There’s no question that the formula for success is there, and that the game is full of moments that help it shine, but with plenty of room for further refinement I’m eager to see the next incarnation of this series.