Versus Mode

Simply called VS, Star Fox 64's Versus Mode is a rather simple one. Star Fox 64's multi-player mode allows two to four players to dogfight in three different modes and arenas. The screen is always split into quadrants, with the unused quadrants (in the case of a two or three player game) displaying dramatic camera angles of the battle. When you play in VS. Mode, you'll usually only have access to the Arwing fighter as your vehicle. However, if you get medals in every mission, you will be able to play the game in Expert Mode, and this will allow you to use Landmaster tanks in VS. Mode. Once you earn medals in every mission playing in Expert Mode, you will be able to use Rocket Launchers in VS. Mode. In order to earn the medals, you must destroy a certain number of enemies in each stage while keeping your wingmen active through the mission.

Game Modes[]

First, the players (or 1st player actually) choose the Game Mode. There are three different Game Modes to choose from.

• Point Match: This is the basic mode, in which the player, who is the first one to shoot down the set number of other players, is the winner. The number of required kills can be set from one to five.

“Combatants agree on a number from one to five and enter it into the computer. The first one to defeat that many vehicles is the winner. If you're defeated (and no one has one yet), you reenter combat in a new vehicle”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 114

• Battle Royal: This is a very simple mode, in which each player has only one single life. The winner is the last man standing.

“This is a "sudden death" match in which each pilot is given one vehicle. If you're defeated, you're out of the match. The last surviving pilot is declared the winner”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 114

• Time Trial: This is a time-based mode, in which the players have a set number of time to shoot down enemies. However, if a player gets shot down by another player before the end of the match, his score resets back to zero. The player with the highest score at the end of the match is the winner. The time limit can be set from one to five minutes.

“In a Time Battle, the computer clock is set for anywhere from one to five minutes. The pilot with the most wins at the end of the period is declared the winner. If you're shot down, your tally of wins is reset back to zero.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 114

Characters[]

After choosing the Game Mode, the players choose their Handicap, which can be set from one (no Handicap) to three (significant Handicap). The higher the Handicap the shorter the Shield Gauge. The players also choose one out of four Characters, which is determined by the controller slot in which a player's controller is plugged into. The screen is also divided into four equal rectangles between the players. In two and three player games, the unoccupied fourths of the screen will display various camera angles of players. The camera also kicks in Battle Royal if there are more than 2 players left and a player is shot down. The fourth of a screen each player gets is also determined by the controller slot.

1. Player having the controller in slot 1 is Fox McCloud and gets the upper left fourth of the screen.
2. Player having the controller in slot 2 is Peppy Hare and gets the upper right fourth of the screen.
3. Player having the controller in slot 3 is Slippy Toad and gets the lower left fourth of the screen.
4. Player having the controller in slot 4 is Falco Lombardi and gets the lower right fourth of the screen.

The characters are in no way different from each other gameplay wise, so they only differ by their looks. The character's weapons fire color coded ammunition to determinate player's shots apart.

Stages[]

After choosing their characters, the players set the number of required kills if they are playing Point Match or time if they're playing Time Trial. There are no this kind of special options when playing Battle Royal. In the same window comes the Stage selection. There are three stages in Star Fox 64's Versus Mode. Each mode has two of the stages available. If you reach the edge of the Stage, you will warp to the other side. Point Match and Battle Royale can be fought in the skies of Corneria or in the hydrogen clouds of Sector Z. Time Trial takes place on Katina or Sector Z.

• Corneria: This stage is available in Point Match and Battle Royal. There are only some pyramids and buildings on this otherwise simply flat stage. The players have no vehicle restrictions.

“This battle site is modeled after a typical area on Corneria. The buildings aren't grouped tightly, but they do provide cover from enemy fire. There are items hidden around the arches and other structures (marked by the stars on the map), so you'll also be able to practice stunt flying and emergency maneuvers. If you choose to drive a Landmaster, the pyramids are good shields against aerial attack.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 115

• Sector Z: This is stage is playable in every Game Mode. There is some space junk on this stage, but not much else. It highly resembles its Main Game's counterpart. Since the stage is situated in space, the Arwing is the only vehicle available here.

“This next battle site is modeled after a portion of the Sector Z space junkyard. The arena is very tall, and you can climb, drive and perform complex maneuvers without worrying about shaking into the ground. Flying through the debris in the corners is hazardous, but that's where you'll find Laser Upgrades and Smart Bombs. Of course, Landmasters and characters aren't available here.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 115

• Katina: This stage is inaccessible outside Time Trial. It is very much like Corneria, but has only one giant pyramid in the center of the stage, much like in the Main Game. The players have all the vehicle options available.

“The Katina battle site is available only in a Time Trial. Except for the central Katina base pyramid, the arena is wide open, leaving Landmasters and characters with little useful cover. This is where wits and ability will count the most. Keep an eye on your radar screen at all times. If you're in an Arwing, remember that you can see ground units only if you're fairly low and close to them.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 115

Vehicles[]

After choosing the stage, the battle is almost ready to start. The players now have five seconds to choose one of two vehicles or to not use one. If nothing is chosen within the five seconds, it will be randomized.

• Arwing: The player fights with an Arwing, which has an advantage over the other two options, for its flying capability and speed, which the other options more or less lack. The Arwing is chosen with the A Button.

• Landmaster: The player starts the battle with a Landmaster anti-aircraft tank, which can dodge by rolling as well as hover for small periods of time. The Landmaster is chosen with the B Button.

• On foot: The player has no vehicle at all and their character fights with only a huge blaster on their shoulder. The characters are also very slow without vehicles. The on foot option can be chosen by pressing the C up Button. The bazooka cannot charge up shots or lock-on.

Power Ups[]

In each battle mode game, a single Twin Laser power-up and Bomb will appear at random in the arena. The player with the Twin Lasers has a huge firepower advantage over the other players, so be sure to head straight for the power-up when it appears. Likewise, a well placed Bomb will really put the hurt on your opponent's shield. There are many strategies in the multi-player games and each one plays differently. After the vehicles have been chosen or the five second time limit has passed, the battle starts. There are two different power ups available. They highly affect the outcome of a battle. Only one of each upgrade appears on a stage at a time.

• Laser: The Laser of your character gets its firepower doubled. The player with this has a serious advantage over other players.

• Smart Bomb: The Smart Bomb is a one use, enormous damage causing bomb. Lock onto another player and use its homing feature to guide the bomb into its target to cause some serious damage.

Website description[]

VS. Mode: To be the best requires endless training. Team Star Fox engages in a variety of combat simulations to perfect their skills and battle instincts. In VS. Mode you can battle up to three of your mates, choose teams or go it alone. Vs. Mode features eight rules set for you to choose from...

Battle Modes[]

In Star Fox: Assault, there are as many as eight different Battle Modes:

• Main Rules is the normal set of rules. There are no restrictions depending on the settings, and all weapons, vehicles, and stages are available.

• Sniper Showdown is a pilots-only mode that disables all use of regular weapons other than Sniper Launcher, but the weapon has unlimited ammunition.

• Homing Launcher Clash is a pilots-only mode that disables all use of regular weapons other than Homing Launchers, but the weapon has unlimited ammunition. Homing Launchers, once launched, chase at their target(s) at a decent speed and rate, and travel until the target is hit, or if the launcher has been interrupted.

• Missile Launcher Bout is a pilots-only mode that disables all use of regular weapons other than Missile Launchers, but provides unlimited ammunition for them.

• Booster Packs Brawl is similar to Main Rules, except that it is a pilots-only mode, and all players start the match wearing Booster Packs. Booster Packs allow hovering in midair, and the height depends on the characters stats. All weapons are available in this mode.

• Booster Packs Launcher Tilt is a combination of the Homing Launcher Clash and Booster Packs Brawl modes. It is a pilots-only mode that utilizes Booster Packs and disables use of weapons other than Homing Launchers, but provides unlimited ammunition for them.

• Sure-Shot Scuffle is a mode that functions similarly to Main Rules, but instead all weapons deliver one-hit knock-outs. There are no restrictions depending on the settings, and all weapons, vehicles, and stages are available.

• Crown Capture is a mode that also functions similarly to Main Rules. The objective is to take the crown from your opponent, and keep it until time runs out. If you are defeated, your opponent gains the crown. Time decreases every time a player holding the Crown is defeated. The maximum time starts at 2:00 minutes, at the beginning of the battle, and the minimum is 0:15 seconds.

Characters[]

In Star Fox: Assault, there are six playable characters, four of them are available by default. Unlike Star Fox 64's pilot mode, each playable character has their own traits and unique skills.

Characters[]

Character	Health	Speed	Jump	Arwing	Landmaster	Pilot	Special
Fox McCloud	★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★★	★★★★	★★★★	N/A
Falco Lombardi	★	★★★★	★★★	★★★★★	★★	★★★	N/A
Slippy Toad	★★★★	★★	★★★★	★★	★★★★★	★★★	Charge Speed X2
Krystal	★★	★★★	★★★	★★	★★	★★★	Barrier X2
Peppy Hare	★★	★	★★★★★	★★★	★★★	★★★★	Charge Speed X4
Wolf O'Donnell	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★	★★★★★ (Wolfen)	★★	★★★	N/A

Stages[]

In Star Fox: Assault, there are sixteen playable stages, most of which are locked. All vehicles are available on a stage(s) unless otherwise stated. Stages listed in bold need to be unlocked.

• Simple Map 1
• Simple Map 2
• Simple Map 3 (Pilots only)
• Simple Map 4 (Vehicles only)
• Simple Map 5
• Katina Outpost
• Inner Sargasso Hideout (Pilots only)
• Outer Sargasso Hideout (Arwings/Wolfens only)
• Fichina
• Planet Sauria
• Corneria
• Orbital Gate (Arwings/Wolfens only)
• Aparoid City
• Great Fox (Arwings/Wolfens only)
• Titania Desert
• Zoness Sea Base (Pilots only)

Unlockables[]

The following unlockables can be obtained by meeting the required conditions listed.

• Katina Outpost: Complete the Katina: Frontier Base Mission.
• Inner Sargasso Hideout: Complete the Sargasso Space Zone: Hostilities Revisited Mission.
• Outer Sargasso Hideout: Complete the Sargasso Space Zone: Hostilities Revisited Mission.
• Fichina: Complete the Fichina: Into the Storm Mission.
• Planet Sauria: Complete the Sauria: Reunion Mission.
• Corneria: Complete the Corneria: War Comes Home Mission.
• Orbital Gate: Complete the Orbital Gate: Incoming Mission.
• Aparoid City: Complete the Aparoid Homeworld: Breaching the Defenses Mission.
• Specials On/Off Play 5 Versus Mode matches.
• Missile Launcher: Play 5 Versus Mode matches.
• Missile Launcher Bout: Play 10 Versus Mode matches.
• Peppy Hare: Play 15 Versus Mode matches.
• Gatling Gun: Play 20 Versus Mode matches.
• Crown Capture: Play 30 Versus Mode matches.
• Titania: Play 40 Versus Mode matches
• Sure-Shot Scuffle: Play 50 Versus Mode matches.
• Simple Map 4: Play 60 Versus Mode matches.
• Fireburst Pod: Play 75 Versus Mode matches.
• Booster Pack: Play 90 Versus Mode matches.
• Booster Packs Brawl: Play 110 Versus Mode matches.
• Zoness Sea Base: Play 130 Versus Mode matches.
• Wolfen: Play 150 Versus matches.
• Predator Rocket: Play 170 Versus Mode matches.
• Cluster Bomb: Play 200 Versus Mode matches
• Booster Pack & Launcher Tilt: Play 230 Versus Mode matches
• Simple Map 5: Play 260 Versus Mode matches
• Wolf O'Donnell: Collect all Ally Medals in Mission Mode.

In Star Fox Command, Versus Mode is very simplistic. The Arwing II is the only playable ship, each one has its G-Diffusers highlighted in different colors to tell players apart.

Rules []

When an opponent is defeated, they leave behind a star, which increases a player's score once collected.

Power ups[]

• Twin Laser: Increases laser count by one.

• Plasma Laser: Increases strength of shots fired.

• Time bomb: A Smart Bomb with a 5-second delay.

• Supply Ring: Increases health.

• Stealth: Makes players invisible on screen and radar.

Stages[]

• Stages are selected randomly.

• City: A city with buildings. Buildings cause damage if hit.

• Mountains: A green landscape with canyons and rivers.

• Ocean: A flat arena above water, very simple.

• Space: A space-like arena.

• Fichina Mountains: Snowy mountains on the planet Fichina.

Battle Mode serves as Star Fox 64 3D's multiplayer component and has been completely reworked for the Nintendo 3DS. Battle Mode can either be entered in single player or a lobby can be hosted in which other local players can join via download play. Players are given the option to display live video of themselves in game using the 3DS's inner facing camera instead of the respective Star Fox pilot. Like the original game, up to four players can compete in a match, however, empty slots can now optionally be filled with AI controlled enemies. Unlike the original game, however, the option to unlock and choose between the Landmaster and the Rocket Launcher via obtaining medals has been removed, and as of now the only playable vehicle is the signature Arwing.

Arwings are now distinguishable by different ship, laser, boost, and power-up coloration. Additionally, in contrast to story mode, barrel rolls now fill up the boost meter slightly. Any player or AI opponent with a score higher than the player will be marked with a crown. Three different gametypes are available: Survival, Points Battle, and Time Battle. In Survival, every player has only one life; if multiple players are left when the time runs out, the round will proceed to sudden death. In Points and Time Battle players battle to a set score and time limit, respectively. Each gametype can be customized to an extent.

• Time/Points Limit: Time can be set to 2, 3, or 5 minutes in Survival mode and 3, 5, or 7 minutes in Time Battle. In Points Battle no time limit is present and the match will instead end at 3, 5, or 7 points.
• Items: Can be set to either Classic or Power-Ups.
• COM: Enable AI controlled Arwings and select difficulty. Available options are Off (only when other players are present), Normal, Advanced, and Expert.
• Stage: Macbeth, Meteo, Corneria, Venom, or random selection.
• Player Icons: Choose whether enemy icons are displayed Always or only when enemies are Nearby.
• Shield Gauge: This option only affects the player and serves as a handicap function to new players, or provide a greater challenge for more experienced players. Can be set to Normal, Small, or Large.

Power-Ups[]

When Items is set to classic, only items that were present in the original game will be at the players' disposal. These include the star, silver rings, wing repair, laser upgrade, and smart bomb. When toggled to Power-Ups, mystery boxes not unlike Mario Kart's items will be scattered throughout the map. In addition to smart bombs now being a possible outcome, there are several different unique weapons available from these boxes.

• Force Field: Protects the user from any incoming projectiles. The player can still take impact damage from colliding with other Arwings or buildings.
• Cloak: Renders the player completely invisible, including on radar.
• Smart Bomb
• Dead Weights: Releases multiple sandbur-like objects that latch onto enemy ships to slow and weigh them down. If you find yourself under the effect of Dead Weights, pressing L and R rapidly in succession detaches them more quickly.
• Supernova: Launches a massive ball of energy that can be guided to some extent with the circle pad.
• Homing Missiles: Launches a flurry of missiles that lock on and pursue any players in sight.
• Transposer: Upon activation the user will switch places with a nearby enemy, which can be used as a method of confusion or trapping.
• Stealth Mines: Releases multiple floating mines behind the Arwing. These mines stay invisible until in close proximity.
• Firebird: An extremely rare power-up. Upon activation the user's Arwing becomes engulfed in flames and inflicts instant death on anyone the user boosts into. Whilst this power-up is activated, the user's laser(s) are temporarily disabled.