FUR Squadron Phoenix Switch Review

FUR Squadron Phoenix Switch Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch

For a brief moment in history, on-rails shooters were all the rage. One of the most famous in my mind was Lylat Wars (or Star Fox 64, depending on what part of the world you live in). It’s a series that never quite got the follow-ups it deserved, and despite celebrating its anniversary just this week, Star Fox and his team have been radio silent. Thankfully, Fur Squadron Phoenix is here to fly a sortie in their stead, offering unlocks, roguelite progression, and aiming to fill that Arwing-sized hole in our lives. What’s It Like? Jump in your ship, do a barrel roll, and prepare to start blasting as we review Fur Squadron Phoenix on Nintendo Switch.

Fur Squadron Phoenix is the follow-up to Fur Squadron, which released on the original Nintendo Switch back in 2023. The sequel ties into the original’s narrative and follows Robin, a new recruit sent to train with the Fur Squadron using cutting-edge VR systems. As you begin your training, the Bist system falls increasingly under threat from the Marauders, and the Chimera Federation calls upon your team for reinforcements, pulling some missions out of the VR simulation and into the wider galaxy. The story is further fleshed out through your relationships with the Fur Squadron, which sees you level up connections to unlock more exposition around the motivations and backgrounds of the supporting cast. It’s a unique approach, and the character interactions help break up the missions while delivering the game’s narrative. The story is not thematically heavy. It keeps things light and fun, and makes me feel like the story beats were interesting while staying in almost cozy territory.

Gameplay, however, is anything but cozy, and wastes no time throwing you into challenging levels. You will fail some of these, and when you do, you are awarded points to upgrade your shields or weapons, or unlock new tools to try again. Your standard attack is a laser with a charge and lock-on system that deals splash damage, making it easier to take down groups of enemies in a similar vein to Star Fox 64. Your secondary weapons let you choose from bombs, missiles, lasers, and even nuclear blasts, which become essential when facing enemies with specific weaknesses. You can also activate a special ability that charges throughout a stage, slowing time to let you line up shots with precision.

This becomes especially useful during the game’s boss fights, which are cleverly designed with dodge mechanics and wide area-of-effect attacks. There is a genuine thrill in weaving through an enemy’s wild swipe and countering with return fire. You will be blasting, rolling, and dodging constantly, and at times it genuinely feels like a return to the glory days of Star Fox, and I mean that as a compliment. While Fur Squadron Phoenix pays tribute to those who flew before, it also carves out its own airspace with its unique progression system and unique boss encounters. It is fast, fun, and relentless as you blast through a range of levels chasing higher scores. Speaking of high scores, the scoring system builds combo chains that reset when you are hit. To unlock new ships and skins, you must reach specific score targets on each level. There were many times I replayed a stage just to unlock the ship locked behind it, and even scraping by with only a few hundred points to spare felt incredibly rewarding.

Fur Squadron Phoenix features a bright and colourful palette and an almost low-poly vibe, especially in VR missions. These range from underwater VR scenarios and neon-lit sakura missions in bustling city skylines to the darkness of space. Not every mission will wow you visually, but the tight gameplay carries you through. Enemies sometimes feel similar, particularly in the space stages, but then suddenly you’re blasting away at frigates on the ocean surface or alien jellyfish beneath it. Those moments stand out and keep the action fresh. Boss fights, once again, shine, with all but one I experienced delivering exhilarating encounters. The screen gives warning zones to avoid, and you must dodge while chipping away at giant creatures that create a real spectacle.

While Fur Squadron Phoenix was primarily developed for the original Nintendo Switch, it can unlock framerates on Nintendo Switch 2, delivering a noticeably smoother experience on the newer hardware. On Switch 1, the game maintains solid, steady performance at 30 frames per second, whereas on Switch 2, the optional unlocked framerate adds an extra layer of fluidity, making dodging and aiming feel even more responsive. For my pilots looking into accessibility options, Fur Squadron Phoenix offers a few helpful adjustments. You can reduce screen flashes, tweak sensitivity settings, and adjust brightness to suit your preferences. Beyond that, though, the options are limited. As always, I recommend doing further research to determine whether Fur Squadron Phoenix meets your accessibility needs.

At $30 AUD, Fur Squadron Phoenix is a fantastic on-rails action game that will keep you entertained with its roguelite progression, high score unlockables, and tight shooting gameplay. While the story isn’t heavy or overly complex, it provides enough charm and character interaction to keep the campaign engaging. Combined with the progression systems and scoring challenges, it’s easy to get pulled into multiple playthroughs chasing higher scores or new ship unlocks. If you enjoy arcade-style rail shooters or are looking for a modern take on classics like Star Fox 64, Fur Squadron Phoenix is an absolute blast.

So, What’s it Like? FUR Squadron Phoenix is like Star Fox 64, set in another galaxy.

In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.

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