Expert Mode

Expert Mode
Statistics
Other Name(s):	Extra Mode
Gameplay
Type:	Harder difficulty
Appearance(s)
Game(s):

“Extra Mode
If you win a medal in every mission, you'll enable the Extra Mode. The Extra Mode gives you access to the Landmaster tank in the Vs. Mode, a sound test feature, an interesting trick for your N64 and last, but certainly not least, a set of expert missions. The Extra Mode features will be automatically added to your main menu, and you won't have to do anthing special to get to them. The expert missions have the same layaouts as the normal missions, but there are more enemies to defeat, and some enemies will be tougher and smarter than before. As a bonus, you'll also notice that a certain dashing young pilot is wearing some very cool shades-much like his father's!”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 120

Expert Mode is a more difficult version of the Main Game in "Star Fox 64". Expert Mode plays exactly the same as the Main Game with a few notable exceptions, notably more difficult than the normal game (hence the name), it is unlocked by earning every Mission Medal in the Main Game. Expert Mode is opened by turning the Main Game's select bar left or right. Since Expert Mode is different from the Main Game, none of the Medals previously awarded will appear on the missions. The player can re-earn all of the medals in Expert Mode. The Hit Point requirements are exactly the same as the Main Game's. Because there are more enemies, it may prove easier to get a higher score. However, all teammates must still survive to earn a medal, and they take much more damage than before.

Differences from Main Game

• Fox wears a pair of sunglasses similar to his father's, but this is purely aesthetic and does not affect the gameplay. They appear when Fox speaks on the Communications Channel and closeup shots of him during Mission cutscenes but do not appear in the ending cutscene or the stills after the credits.
  • In addition, Fox's name does not appear next to his icon.
• The Arwing will lose one if not both wings when it collides with an object with a single hit instead of the normal three, altogether making for a more challenging experience. 
• More damage will be received from the same shots.
• More enemies appear in certain positions in each mission. Enemies that didn't normally attack before are bound to attack on sight.
• Some power-ups will be replaced by lesser power-ups or absent altogether.
• At Sector Y, ROB will make contact with Fox offering a "Good Luck".
• After the Staff Credits, a still image appears on-screen. When completing Venom via Bolse, an image of every main character in the form of disembodied heads appears along with a thanks. When completing Venom via Area 6, the still appears as the Star Fox Team. The 3D re-release alters the image to have Fox give the player a thumbs up, instead of talking into his wristpad.

Sound Test

Just like Expert Mode on the main menu, Sound Test is unlocked by earning every Medal in the main game and switched round with the sound options. All 45 music tracks can be listened to, with an equaliser bar chart added for dramatic effect.

“The expert sound test allows you to pick any of the musical themes in the game and play them. An equaliser display allows you to view the sound levels of each piece.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 120

Logo Trick

“You can move the number 64 on the title screen using the Control Stick. The team will watch in surprise and fascination as you move the number across the screen.”

—Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 120

Rewards

• Gaining every medal in Star Fox 64 unlocks an alternative title screen. In Star Fox 64 3D, This new title screen requires every medal to be collected in Score Attack.
• In addition to playing the main game in Expert Mode, there is also an "Expert Mode" option for the sound settings. This mode is a sound test which allows the player to listen to tracks of music from the game.
• After gaining every Medal, Pilot Mode is unlocked for use in Multiplayer.

Gallery

Every main character in the game. (Star Fox 64).

The ending image in Star Fox 64's Expert Mode via Area 6 and Venom II.

Every main character in the game. (Star Fox 64 3D).

The ending image in Star Fox 64 3D's Expert Mode via Area 6 and Venom II.

Comparable

• In "Assault", while gameplay is much the same, there are three settings of Medals: Bronze, Silver and Gold, which will impact the difficulty of gameplay, adding more challenging Hit Score requirements to achieve the specific Mission Medal.
• In "Zero", akin to the Expert Mode in "Star Fox 64", scanning a Falco amiibo will enable the option of an alternative gaming experience in the Main Game, changing the familiar blue/white Arwing into a black/red version which can fire even stronger lasers but at the expense of lower defensive capabilities.
• In "Star Fox 2", the Main Game can initially be played in Easy and Normal difficulties, which after playing both versions will unlock the option to play a Harder set Missions.

• In "Command", when watching the game's possible ending "Goodbye Fox", Fox wears sunglasses much like he did in the Expert Mode of "Star Fox 64".

References

• NINTENDO POWER Star Fox 64: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Redmond, WA, Nintendo of America. 1997.
• Star Fox 64.com