Star Fox 64 Designer Criticises the Charater Models in the Remake

2 weeks ago 12

Star Fox 64 Designer Isnt a Fan of the Remakes Visuals This Is What Happens When I Dont Supervise

Published May 8, 2026, 2:22 PM EDT

Tay Garcia is a Staff Writer at DualShockers and a Brazilian journalist who has been covering games professionally since 2017. Her work spans news, reviews, previews, lists, guides, and features, with a particular focus on horror, retro games, theories, puzzle games, Metroidvanias, Soulslikes, and story-driven titles.

Before joining DualShockers, Tay worked as an assistant editor and contributed to Jovem Nerd, one of Brazil’s largest pop culture outlets, as well as Editora Europa, a major Brazilian publisher known for gaming and technology magazines. She has also worked as a streamer, YouTube creator, and podcaster. Tay holds a B.A. in Journalism, has postgraduate training in Social Media, and is certified in professional video game journalism. She was also a member of Podcast UP, which won the Cubo de Ouro Award for Best Podcast in Brazil in 2021.

Takaya Imamura 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 crucial in the creation of some of gaming's most iconic characters, including Captain Falcon, the eccentric Tingle, and, of course, the legendary Fox McCloud.

Following the surprise announcement of Star Fox, a full remake of the classic Star Fox 64, Imamura took to social media to share his thoughts with the community. Much like millions of fans worldwide, he seems to have found a very compelling reason to finally pick up a Nintendo Switch 2, though his praise for the project came with a bit of a bittersweet aftertaste.

A Matter of Supervision and Art Direction

In a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Imamura initially showed legitimate excitement about the revival of the franchise. “Star Fox is finally going to be revived…”, he wrote, followed by a heartfelt, “This isn’t a dream, right?”

However, the honeymoon phase hit a bit of a snag once the conversation shifted toward the game's updated character designs.

When asked by fans what he thought of the new look for Fox and the gang, Imamura jokingly remarked, “This is what happens when I don’t supervise it.” While clearly a lighthearted jab from a veteran, he didn't stop there, adding that while he still thinks "the concept is good," 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 stated that the designs created by Illumination for the recent Super Mario Galaxy movie felt superior to the ones featured in this upcoming remake. “The expression on Fox's face in the movie version when he first meets Mario is the best!” he said, praising how the character’s design perfectly conveys a look of hostility in the scene where he and Mario look at each other.

When asked by fans what he thought of the new look for Fox and the gang, Imamura jokingly remarked, “This is what happens when I don’t supervise it.”

Since the art direction has been a hot topic within the community, dividing fans since the reveal, having the original character designer weigh in with such a candid (and slightly “spicy”) take only adds more fuel to the fire.

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