Invader III, or Fighter III (ワイターIII) in Japan, were a class of starfighter used by the Venomian Army during the Lylat Wars.
Appearance
These fighters were a vast improvement over the previous series (Invader I and Invader II), being highly maneuverable, fast, well armored, and having intelligent and more ruthless pilots. Invader III's can go up against even Arwings and put up a competent showing.
Enemy Recon
- “The Invader III is the latest version of a ship first seen on Fichina. If they give you lost of trouble, take out most but not all of the first squadron. If you destroy them all before the first missile arrives, another squadron will appear just as the missile does, making thing doubly dangerous.”
- —Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 97
All pilots, scramble!
- “In this All-Range area, Andross's forces are piloting the improved Invader III fighter, which is faster and tougher than its predecessors. They'll try to lure you away from Great Fox and your wingmen, but stay in close so you can help them on a moment's notice. If your'e having trouble tracking enemies, switch to the wide-angle view. Keep targets in view as you fire your charged lasers. If you lock on to an enemy, but it flies off the screen as you fire, you may not get the hit. Once the first squadron is destroyed, another will fly in, but usually not before the first missile appears in the sector.”
- —Official Nintendo Power Player's Guide, pg 96
History
Invader IIIs are first seen in the Battle of Sector Z, where they make an attempt to ambush the Star Fox team. As part of a plan to cripple the Great Fox and ultimately weaken Star Fox's dominance in the Lylat Wars, the fighters escort six Copperhead missiles to be used against the gargantuan mothership. However, despite their advancements, the Invader IIIs were unable to take down Star Fox and defend the missiles. If one of the Copperheads are allowed to hit the Great Fox, the player automatically goes to Bolse. Alternatively if all six fail to reach their target, the player is able to access Area 6. The majority of the fighters are thought to have been obliterated by Fox and his comrades although a remaining few are said to have survived and retreated, as emphasized by a quote at the end of the mission by Peppy Hare.
Other Models
- Earlier within the war, pilot Katt Monroe had stolen an Invader III prototype from the Venomian Army and heavily modified it as her personal star fighter to use throughout the conflict.
- “Katt Monroe is an expert pilot and an occasional ally of the Star Fox team. The Cornerian military considers her a bit of a nuisance but acknowledges that she has been useful in the fight against Andross. Intel reports state that Katt was once ambushed- and her ship crippled- by an Androssian patrol, and that because of this incident, she has dedicated herself to Andross's defeat. Katt currently flies a heavily modified Invader-class fighter, dubbed The Catspaw, apparently stolen from one of Andross's bases. When asked about this by her close friend, Falco, Katt allegedly replied, "Just be glad I'm on your side, fly boy."”
- —Lylat Datalink, Katt on the wing, pg 98
References
- NINTENDO POWER Star Fox 64: Official Nintendo Player's Guide. Redmond, WA, Nintendo of America. 1997.