- “Communications Line, green.”
- —Fox McCloud
Peppy's Communications Channel Icon in 3D.
Developed and used by the Cornerians, Venomians and the Lylat System's population alike, the Communications Channel is a general term in non fiction and science fiction for telecommunications and visual network, the method of a character's contact. This technology has been used in every Star Fox game and spin-offs, differing from highly advanced technology to lower tech throughout the series.
It's continued appearance in the main games and Super Smash Bros. series has made it become a trademark feature in the Star Fox series. The main design of communications is text boxes, displaying static signals followed by the characters cropped heads to indicate varied speech from the game's script to any character's reactions. Every starfighter and vehicle in the Star Fox series is equiped with comm-links to stay in contact on the field of battle, including the Arwing, Landmaster and Blue Marine. Some characters like Fox McCloud are equipped with Comm-link wrist pads for easy contact.
Appearances
Star Fox/Starwing and Star Fox 2
The line opens and closes with static. The Great Fox does not yet make an appearance in the series, making it unknown how General Pepper manages to stay in contact with StarFox. Team Star Fox are seen entering a quick briefing with General Pepper when selecting a level. These differ from the planet status to Pepper's questions about the conditions of his Arwings.
The Communications Channel was set to return in Star Fox 2 before the game was cancelled in favour of the upcoming Nintendo 64.
Star Fox 64/3D
Following the same role as the original title, visual contact with General Pepper is established at the beginning of every mission, to reflect upon the war efforts. The Great Fox is able to stay in touch with General Pepper at his Cornerian Army base, even as far as Venom's orbit. The team mates that are forced to retreat will show wrenches across their Communications Channel as they sign out.
For gameplay purposes, ROB 64 will make contact with the C>>> icon or touch screen to provide item supplies and cover firepower. Andross will use the same technique to hack into the line in Area 6 and on the plains of Venom and tunnels of his palace, offering discouraging threats. In Andross's case, its implied that his accessing the Star Fox Team's communications channel was the result of his telepathy.
Fox McCloud also accessed the communications channel through his Arwing helmet, as evidenced by the ending of the game where he received a message from ROB informing him that the Great Fox's departure levels have been cleared, as he put his hand over the side of the helmet.
Channel Open
- “Keep your eyes and ears open at all times. Your wingmen will often point out a foe's weakness, uncover a hidden path or give you vital clues to the survival of the Star Fox team. Though you may not like to be interrupted in the heat of battle, your wingmen wouldn't do it without good reason.”
- —Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 6
Call for Backup
- “ROB 64 will sometimes contact you via sub-space radio during battle. When you hear a chime and see a yellow icon flash, press the right C Button to open a channel. ROB will send you a Supply Container with an item in it.”
- —Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 16
Andross on Line 1
- “That's not ROB 64 on the com-link, that's Andross! The vile monkey has tapped into ROB's subspace frequency just to taunt yo. Since you're busy with a squadron of fighters (hit them with charged, by the way), just ignore his hail.”
- —Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 103
Star Fox Adventures
The allies of Fox are represented by disembodied heads, projected by Fox's comm-link wrist pad, named by General Pepper as the Communicator. Fox can use the START menu to activate communications with Slippy for gameplay advice, Peppy for his world atlas and historical records and General Pepper to read items, staff upgrades and Tricky's Sidekick Commands. And also to save progress and quit a save file.
Krystal uses her telepathy to contact Fox in the same manner just after he collects her Staff.
When captured by General Scales, Fox must break a hole in the CloudRunner Fortress prison's tower to receive his SharpClaw Disguise from Slippy, as the stone walls block the signal. Due to atmospheric conditions on the planet, some areas like Galdon's cave will receive limited to no reception.
Aside from the above, the Great Fox was also similarly equipped with such a communication channel, although much larger and more grounded. This version also gave holographic displays, as evidenced by General Pepper using a display showing the breaking apart of Dinosaur Planet during the briefing at the beginning of the mission.
Manual descriptions
- “Press START/PAUSE at any time to pause the game and bring up the Communicator, allowing contact with the Star Fox Team.”
- —Instruction Booklet, pg 27
- “Displays you current overall status.”
- —General Pepper
- “Displays the Dinosaur Planet Map. This shows your current location [displayed as a Fox head] together with where you should be heading next [a flashing symbol].”
- —Peppy Hare
- “Displays clues and advice. If you get stuck on a puzzle or task, you can always turn to your friend Slippy.”
- —Slippy Toad
- “Select the Memory Card to save the current game.”
- —Memory Card
- “Select the Quit icon to exit the current game.”
- —Quit
- “!!! The Communicator also allows tour teammates to get in touch with you. look for the STAR/PAUSE symbol on-screen and press it as soon as it's displayed.”
- —Instruction Booklet, pg 27
- “NOTE: Krystal only has the Memory Card and Quit options. Also, atmospheric conditions on Dinosaur Plnet sometimes provent you from getting full access to the Communicator options. Continue you journey and keep trying; you'll get through eventually!”
- —Instruction Booklet, pg 27
Star Fox: Assault
Named as the Communication Window in the manual, there is less static and more fluent, cleaner transmissions, allowing a higher reception between Fox and his allies and enemies. Fox reads his Arwing's signal before departing the Great Fox as green, indicating a clear transmission. This time, any heavily damaged team mates will display a red reitre stamp across their comm link icon.
When arriving at the Sargasso Hideout, one of the criminals hacked into the Communications to warn them off the territory. However, upon learning their identities as the Star Fox Team, they decided to instead block them from leaving and attack them.
The Aparoid Radar Jammers play a crucial role during mission 7 when communications between the Star Fox team and General Pepper are disrupted by Electromagnetic pulses. Only after destroying the Radar Jammers are the communications rebooted.
Manual description
- “This shows message text and the face of the character contacting you. During the missions, it will also show vehicle endurance or physical health of you team-mates.”
- —Instruction Booklet, pg 12
Star Fox Command
The Communications Channel is still featured and performing the same as it has done in previous games. The Great Fox II is the centre of cutscenes and communications. Choice of gameplay routes are made after watching conversations.
Star Fox (Wii U)
An unblurred image of Shigeru Miyamoto playing a possible test of the game has revealed Falco reciting a quote from Star Fox 64, using his icon from Star Fox 64 3D.
Other Appearances
Super Smash Bros. series
Fox, Falco and Wolf have secret taunts on the Star Fox stages which activate Easter egg in game transmitted conversations. There can be only one per match. The Corneria and Venom stages use brighter Lylat Wars style icons while the Pleiades-class Cruiser stage uses newer icons matching recent character looks. These are halted if the character has been KO'd.
Snake from the Metal Gear series has a similar communication device to communication channels, called the Codec or radio. As such, he can also perform this action on his own stage. Slippy will gently hack into Snake's personal channel on the Shadow Moses Island to give him details about Falco.
Star Fox (WarioWare: Smooth Moves)
Fox, Falco, Peppy and Slippy appear in their SNES designs, offering piloting tips and player encouragement.
Star Fox 64 manga
The Communications Channel appears in the Star Fox 64 manga, performing like it does in the games. In the very begining, General Pepper projects himself from the Communicator to grab Fox by the throat in desperation of aid against Andross's leigons. This humourous form of contact actually predates the form of contacts used years later in Star Fox Adventures.
Farewell, Beloved Falco
The Manga begins with Katt sending an distorted S.O.S signal to Falco as she's being attacked by Goras. After rejoining with his old gang of rogues, Falco finds that the Hot Rodders have aquired Venomian Transmissions with their data tracers. Deception from Captain Shears led to the Star Fox Team attacking the Hot Rodders, only to have their signals blocked with the use of a Radar Jammer.
Gallery
Other Info
- Even character deaths are taken into the games script, as seen when Fox, various Cornerian and Venomian soldiers perishes. The channel remains open even when Fox's allies react to his death.
- In Star Fox Command, characters are highlighted in blue and static tint when communicating with the Great Fox II, a possible reference to the Star Wars series.
- In Star Fox: Assault, contacts with General Pepper are immediately lost just after he pleaded "Please Fox, I'm already..." followed by Pepper turning to see his ambush. Pepper's quote "Its about time you showed up Fox! You're the only hope for our world!" resembles Princess Leia's plea to Ben Kenobi. These may be more references to the Star Wars franchise.
- Slippy will react to Snake getting KO'd in the same manner as his allies, and when Fox is downed in his own games.
References
- NINTENDO POWER Star Fox 64: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Redmond, WA, Nintendo of America. 1997.
- Star Fox Adventures (Instruction Booklet)
- Star Fox: Assault (Instruction Booklet)
- Star Fox: Farewell, Beloved Falco
- http://sfc.krystalarchive.com/text/missionList.html