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Star Fox Proved My Brain Never Forgets

Star Fox and the Secret of Muscle Memory — 29 years later my brain still remembers every level, Nintendo's remake is impressive.

Rafael Escalante · Actualizado Jul 04, 2026

Star Fox and the Secret of Muscle Memory — 29 years later my brain still remembers every level, Nintendo's remake is impressive.

It's incredible — 29 years have passed since my father gave me one of the biggest surprises of my gaming life, gifting me Star Fox 64. I still remember he got me the Japanese version, since finding the English cartridge in Mexico wasn't easy. I played through every level, and what's most impressive is that 29 years later, with the release of [Star Fox](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/star-fox-switch-2/) for Nintendo Switch 2, muscle memory never ceases to amaze me.

## Muscle Memory Isn't in the Muscles

Despite what the name suggests, muscle memory isn't actually stored in the muscles. It's the result of the brain and nervous system automating movements we've repeated many times.

Every time we practice a skill, our brain strengthens the neural connections responsible for that task. With enough repetition, actions that once required concentration become nearly automatic. I remember playing Star Fox 64 so much that my muscle memory still recalls exactly how to move Fox's ship through every level, at exactly the right moment.

As soon as I turned on Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2, my mind locked in on getting every medal. It only took a couple of attempts to remember how to earn the medal in Corneria, then moving on to Sector Y, then planet Aquas, then Zoness — remembering the distinctive music that plays when Katt shows up — the stress of defending the Great Fox from 6 missiles (I'll admit, on the first attempt the Great Fox took a hit on missile No. 6), pushing through Area 6 (my favorite level) destroying nearly the entire armada, and finally reaching Venom. Incredibly, 29 years have passed, but my brain remembered almost every move. In a single weekend, I managed to earn all medals on Expert difficulty.

![Star Fox Expert Medals](https://storage.googleapis.com/rescalante.com/static/media/toastui-star-fox-expert-medals-20260704193249.dPzJIFKqwfP8.jpeg)

This got me thinking — the muscle memory everyone talks about is real, and it seems to persist across years. While we do lose reflexes with age, science shows that once a muscle learns something, it's very easy to return to that original state, allowing you to replicate the feat many years later.

## Why Do I Still Feel the Same Excitement as 29 Years Ago?

As many of you know, Nintendo is very good at selling nostalgia. I'm a hardcore gamer and for many years I've enjoyed playing remakes — Resident Evil 2 Remake being a prime example — but the Star Fox remake is an exact replica with better graphics and a spectacular soundtrack.

Defeating Andross never thrilled me as much as it did this weekend: guiding Fox, listening to Falco's arrogant remarks, rescuing Slippy who's always in trouble, and realizing that Peppy — the oldest member of the team — always reminds Fox that he's just like his father James.

![Star Fox Crew](https://storage.googleapis.com/rescalante.com/static/media/toastui-star-fox-crew-20260704194229.rZUjeW8b3kTo.jpeg)

### Boss Hitpoints Table by Level

| Level | Boss | Hit Bonus | Total Max Hits |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------- | :---------------------------------------: | :----------------------------: |
| Corneria | Granga | +10 | 11 |
| Meteo | Meteo Crusher | +10 | 11 |
| Sector Y | Combat Robot Shogun | +10 | 11 |
| Aquas | Bacoon | +10 | up to 19 |
| Katina | Saucerer | +10 | 11 |
| Fichina | Star Wolf (4 pilots) | +10 each | 44 |
| Zoness | Sarumarine | +10 | 11 |
| Solar | Vulcain | +10 | 11 |
| Sector X | Spyborg | +10 | 11 |
| Titania | Goras | +10 | 11 |
| Macbeth | The Forever Train (normal) | +10 | 11 |
| Macbeth | Weapons Factory (switch) | +50 | 51 |
| Bolse | Bolse Core | +10 | 11 |
| Area 6 | Gorgon | +10 | 11 |
| Venom 1 | Andross (Robot) | +10 | 11 |
| Venom 2 | Star Wolf II (4 pilots) | +50 each | 204 total |
| Venom 2 | Andross (Eyes) | +5 each | 12 total |
| Venom 2 | Andross (Brain) | +10 | 11 |

Star Fox for Nintendo Switch 2 is a gem. This appreciation post is just a reminder of how much I love playing and enjoying the nostalgia Nintendo sells us. Fox McCloud is one of the most iconic characters in video game history, and I've enjoyed this game like never before.

Star Fox Proved My Brain Never Forgets

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