Arwing
In the video game series Star Fox, the Arwing is a fictional prototype aerospace fighter craft, developed by Space Dynamics. Its name originates from that of Argonaut Software, developer of the original Star Fox.
The Arwing is a single-seat swing-wing fighter and is the most powerful fighter in the Cornerian Defense arsenal. The Arwing's most prominent feature is its Gravity Diffusion system, or G-Diffuser. The G-Diffuser serves two purposes:
- Acts as an anti-gravity system to enable maximum maneuverability in an atmosphere.
- Powers the Arwing's shield system.
The Arwing is armed with one standard laser, though it is possible upgrade to twin lasers and then to hyper lasers for greater firepower. The Arwing also carries Nova Bombs as secondary weaponry.
The Arwing throughout the series
Star Fox
The original Arwing, also called the "SFX Arwing" in the Nintendo Power Star Fox comic series, was developed by the Cornerian Defense Engineering Department as the most sophisticated Star Fighter in the galaxy and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons. The Primary Weapon is a Single Laser that can be upgraded to Type-A Twin Lasers and upgraded again to Type-B Twin Plasma Blasters. Secondary armaments include Nova Bombs.
In Part 2 of the Star Fox comic, an updated version of the SFX Arwing is built and piloted by Fara Phoenix. The new model Arwing doesn't seem to be much of an update from the original four but it has better performance and maneuverability as well as being equipped with new systems. Equipped with Hyper Boosters that allow it to outspeed even the old model Arwing, the new model is first painted in a purple color scheme to signify that its new systems are still in testing. It's later painted in the standard white color scheme to signify that testing has finished and the Arwing and its pilot are now part of the Star Fox team.
Star Fox 2 (unreleased)
The unreleased Star Fox 2 features three different variations of the original Arwing:
| Type | Speed | Armor | Laser Charge Speed |
Secondary Weapon/Ability |
Flown By | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General-Purpose Fighter | Medium | 8 units | Medium | Nova bomb | Fox, Falco | Normal |
| Assault Fighter | Slow | 10 units | Slow | Armor repair (1 unit) | Peppy, Slippy | Advanced |
| Interceptor | Fast | 6 units | Fast | Super shield | Miyu, Fay | Beginner |
Each fighter has the ability to pick up a new secondary ability — for example, the Interceptor can pick up and use the Super Shield powerup. However, new abilities replace the old ones for the remainder of the game. Additionally, each Arwing has the ability to transform into a bipedal robot, allowing it to walk, jump, swim, and press buttons. Targeting is generally more accurate in this mode, and the ship retains its special abilities.
Essentially, the Arwings in this game are the most versatile, as they combine the functionality of the Arwing, Landmaster, and Blue-Marine into one.
Star Fox 64
The Arwing introduced in Star Fox 64 was an evolved design from the original version. However it had a basic design and was relatively small, it was not able to come to a complete stop in mid-air because it only had one very primitive G-Diffuser. This version could also handle temperatures up to 9000 degrees, as explained during the team's mission to Solar.
The official Star Fox 64 player's guide provided statistics for the Arwing. It is 18.5 sm in length, 5.5 sm in height, and has a maximum speed in atmosphere of M 4.2. It has a NTD-FX1 plasma engine with G-diffuser, and an armament including T&B-H1 laser cannon and smart bomb launcher.
Star Fox Adventures
The Arwing featured in Star Fox Adventures is about the same as the Star Fox 64 design.
It had a more rounded fuselage and a small storage area so Prince Tricky can come along with Fox McCloud to help him on his quest. Due to a lack of funds, the Arwings in Star Fox Adventures - along with the Great Fox - have been falling into a state of disrepair. The Arwing's special cannons that allowed for homing attacks have broken off, and the wings are shabby and rusted. This version of the Arwing bears strong similarities to the X-wing, particularly the nose.
Star Fox: Assault
The available Arwing introduced in Star Fox: Assault bears much more resemblance to the original Arwing last seen in the original game. This Arwing has a more complex and symmetric, slicker design and was at least two times bigger than its predecessor. It is 45.76 feet long and 22.16 feet high.
This Arwing had a slight salty odor, as noted by players of Star Fox 10,000, 3D wii edition.
It has touch pad controls and is able to come to a complete stop in mid-air thanks to its four G-Diffuser engines. It is also the first and thus far only Arwing version to have a wing walker riding along, allowing the pilot to engage targets to the front while the wing walker dealt with threats to the side or rear in a fashion reminiscent of a WW2-era ball turret gunner. Of course, the Arwing becomes less manoveurable while carrying a wing walker, unable to roll or make sharp turns to avoid causing the gunner to fall off.
Star Fox Command
In this game, Fox pilots the Arwing II, the first official upgrade to the original Arwing (not including the original fighter's numerous redesigns). While Peppy continues to fly the Assault version of the Arwing, other prominent characters have new, unique fighters such as Slippy's Bullfrog, Falco's Sky Claw, and Krystal's Cloud Runner. The Arwing II's stats are identical to the Arwing's except the Arwing II lacks twin lasers and has a 2 second time bonus rather than 3. The Arwing II's laser's can be upgraded in certain paths to twin or plasma, and in other paths it can obtain a Multi-lock.
Nova Bombs
A Nova Bomb is a weapon on the Arwing. In later games in the series, they are simply called "Smart Bombs" (or just "Bombs").
Nova Bombs produce a large blast radius that is devastating to fighters and causes damage to stronger vehicles, such as fleet ships. To add to its effectiveness, the Nova Bomb is a smart bomb that can lock onto enemies and hit them directly. They are also referred to as smart bombs because they do not damage members of the Star Fox team. Nova Bombs can also be remotely detonated.
Throughout the series the weapon has been essential to defeat some enemies. The Sarumarine submarine on Zoness in Star Fox 64 could only have its cannons blown off with Nova Bombs. Andross in Star Fox Adventures could only have his weakness exposed by one. Andross's inhaling attack could also be stopped with a Nova Bomb.
The maximum number of Nova Bombs that can be carried by the Arwing has varied throughout the series. In Star Fox, the player started with three but could carry a maximum of five. This remained true in Star Fox 2, although the Nova Bomb could be replaced with a stronger shield or a shield recharger. In Star Fox 64, the Arwing also started with three but could carry a maximum of nine. In Star Fox Adventures, the Arwing could only carry three and the player started without any. In Star Fox: Assault, the player again started without any bombs. The maximum number is nine. In Star Fox Command, the Arwing only carries two bombs, while other ships carry one to three.
In Star Fox: Assault, a variation of the Nova Bomb called a Cluster Bomb (also called "C-bombs" due to the large C) is unlockable for use in multiplayer matches. Rather than one large explosion, the cluster bomb gives off several grenades, giving out several small explosions, similar to fire burst pods.
In Star Fox Command, players can choose precisely where the Bomb will detonate by using the DS stylus to drag and drop a bomb icon onto the radar screen. A Bomb will then be fired and explode when it reaches that position.
The vehicles capable of carrying Nova Bombs are the Arwing fighter, the Wolfen, and the Landmaster tank, although this function was removed from the Landmaster in Assault. Additionally, all fighters in Star Fox Command can carry at least one bomb.
Appearances in other games
Aside of the Star Fox series of games, Super Smash Bros. has Arwings flying around the Sector Z stage as an obstruction that shoots at the player. Its sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee has an Arwing trophy. Arwings also appear in the Corneria and Venom levels, using their lasers to injure players. A scale model of the spacecraft can be obtained in Animal Crossing, as well as Animal Crossing: Wild World, where if it is examined, it will play a few notes from the training mission in the Super NES version of Star Fox. There is also a small model of an Arwing in the inn of the volcano level in Super Mario RPG.
In Stunt Race FX an Arwing flies over the race track and drops powerups for the player. The 2WD vehicle also resembles an arwing.
The G-diffuser systems can also be found in F-Zero racers and one vehicle is modeled after an Arwing and the pilot who drives it shares the same name as Fox McCloud's father, James McCloud (F-Zero X).
Also, in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a miniature Arwing enemy was discovered by a hacker named JayTheHam from GSCentral, in the game's code. From this, they made a code which made the enemy appear in Kokiri Forest. The Arwing would occasionally attack, and could be easily defeated. Upon hitting the ground, the Arwing would explode, and leave behind flames which would die down quickly. Why this enemy existed in the first place is unknown, but it could well have been a test enemy that was left in the final code or it was a joke enemy.
In WarioWare: Smooth Moves three levels resembling those from the original game is made playable with the Wii Remote. The player tilts and twists the controller to steer, and presses A or B to fire.
References
- Star Fox 64 Player's Guide
- Star Fox: Assault
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