All-Range Mode is a gameplay feature that has appeared in all Star Fox series games except "Star Fox" and "Adventures". In this variant mode, the vehicle can move freely within the confines of a large arena to engage in combat, granting the ship its full maneuverability.
Gameplay[]
While most of the games takes place in "Corridor Mode," which forces Fox's vehicle down a fixed path straight forward through the environment towards the opposing boss at the Mission goal, some stages of the games, including many bosses, take place in "All-Range Mode" by comparison (as does Versus Modes).
In the games, the Arwing can fly anywhere in an All-Range Mode arena, until it reaches the edge of the Radar, where it will automatically perform one new maneuver in All-Range Mode: an Immelmann up-and-over to change direction. In-game, this is called a U-Turn. which can be performed exclusively within the confines of All-Range Mode.
To aid with gameplay, the All-Range Mode vehicle is accompanied by the useful Radar system for detecting the map position of enemy force commanders and supporting ships, as well as teammates that are active.
Appearances[]
- “All-Range Mode:
Some missions and parts of missions are flown in All-Range Mode, which places you within a large, 3-D battlefield. You have complete freedom of movement in this mode, but you'll turn around automatically if you reach the edge of the map” - —
- “In the All-Range mode, you'll be in a square-shaped area and you'll be able to fly anywhere you want. The Arwing will automatically U-turn if it gets to the edge of the playing field. Radar appears in the bottom right corner of the screen. Objects on the field or the location of the boss will appear on the radar. NOTE: In some areas, both modes exist.”
- —
Three of the bosses also have Fox switching to All-Range Mode to confront the enemy. When he does so, he usually calls out the mode, except for when fighting Andross's brain, in which case he taunted Andross about showing his true form.
After Fox's commands and alternating of the Arwing's wings (or in the case of Andross's brain, taunting Andross for showing his true form), the gameplay is changed instantly into the 3-D battlefield. In addition, some levels, such as Fichina, Katina, Bolse, Sector Z, and the first part of Venom Hard Path, also are done entirely in All-Range Mode, while other levels, such as the Easy path for Corneria, Sector Y, and the Andross's brain boss fight on Venom Hard Mode have the player automatically transitioning between rails and All-Range Mode.
In all of Star Fox 64's Multiplayer levels, the Arwing, Landmaster and Pilot use All-Range Mode. When a character reaches the edge of the radar, they will spawn on the opposite side of the arena.
- “This is a free-flying combat mode played over a square-shaped zone. If your Arwing reaches the edge of the combat zone, it will automatically do a U-turn.”
- —Star Fox 64 3D; Instruction Booklet
All-Range mode appears within the following stages:
Level | Moment |
---|---|
Corneria | Granga Battle |
Sector Y | Shogun Warriors & Shogun Battle |
Katina | Entire Level |
Fichina | Entire Level |
Sector Z | Entire Level |
Bolse | Entire Level |
Venom II | Wolfen II & Andross's Brain |
MultiPlayer | All Stages |
- “All-Range Stages
Stages where you control Fox and move around a contained area are all-range stages. You clear these stages by destroying a set number of targets. You can also pilot Arwings and drive Landmasters on some all-range stages. When you change weapons in Pilot Mode, the name of the new weapon is displayed.” - —
Performing the same role as before, All-Range mode returns within the following missions:
Level | Moment |
---|---|
Katina Outpost | Entire Level |
Sargasso Hideout | Entire Level |
Fichina | Entire Level |
Sauria | Entire Level |
Beltino Orbital Gate | Entire Level |
Aparoid Homeworld | Aparoid City & Aparoid Queen's 1st form |
Multi Player | All Stages |
All-Range Mode is used throughout the entire game save for the final boss battle, the Anglar Emperor and when pursuing an Anglar Missile. Since elements from "Star Fox 2" were carried over to this game, it adopts the similar style of gameplay from previous titles.
When the Mission map appears, it will trigger an intro where the playable starfighters will be launched from the Great Fox, unless other starfighters show up eventually as gameplay progresses. Turns are taken to create a flight path on the map for the playable starfighters to engage hostile enemies and reach bases; when the icon of a starfighter touches an objective it will bring up a choice of battles to enter.
In a battle, the starfighter can fly anywhere within the confined area but will make an automatic U-turn if it reaches the edge of the arena. The objective is to pilot around the area and shoot down enemy units to retrieve their cores which can be magnetically attracted to the ship by using a barrel roll. If the starfighter is required to take down a mothership, it will be position in the center of the area and will only be attackable after gaining all the enemy cores first. The ship fuel is indicated by a ticking timer that will restrict the amount of time a starfighter can stay flying and will result in the ship crashing if time runs out. Deflecting firepower will add time to the clock while any destroyed enemies and obstacles may drop Fuel Cell pickups to replenish lost time.All-Range Mode comes to Star Fox Zero. Like as usual, this occurs during mini bosses down to the stage's boss. The first time this is seen is during the opening mission; Planet Corneria. Fox again calls for the command to switch over to All-Range mode after saying: "Switching to all-range mode! Let's take the offensive!"
All-Range Mode is frequently used in Star Fox 2 and made it into most Star Fox games that followed.
Trivia[]
- Although All-Range Mode was first introduced in Star Fox 64, a similar mechanic was utilized for the Great Commander boss in the original Star Fox.
References[]
- NINTENDO POWER: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Redmond, WA, Nintendo of America. 1997.
- .com
- 1997 Instruction Booklet; PAL
- 2004-05 Instruction Booklet
- 2006 Instruction Booklet
- 2016 Instruction Booklet
Characters | ||
Supporting Characters | Vivian Hare • General Pepper • Marcus • Slippy's son • Peppy's granddaughter | |
Bosses | ZaZanga 9 • Splitter • Devil Shark • Octopod • Biobrain • Star Wolf (Wolf, Panther and Leon) • Death Crab • Pigma Dengar • Solar Satellite • Killer Bee • Dune Worm • Monarch Dodora • Grunner • Arrow Head • Anglar Emperor | |
Enemies | Anglar Starfish • Elite Fighter • Anglar Missile • Anglar Mothership | |
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Protagonists | ||
Antagonists | ||
Arwing • Armoured Arwing • Light Arwing | ||
Bosses | Mirage Dragon • Tektron • Hunter Fantron • Space Blade • Algy • Pigma • Leon • Wolf • Andross | |
Enemies | Moth Glider • Planet Missile • Night Fang • Hal Bird • Skull Toad • Sky Kicker • Spread Missile • Brain Spoiler • Spiral Kite • Cannon Bomber • Prison Bow • Turtle Missile • Station Missile • The Spinners • Metal Boomerang | |
Corneria • Satellite Defense Platform • Titania • Meteor • Fortuna • Macbeth • Venom • Eladard • Cannon Betrayer • Secret Base • Astropolis • | ||
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