Mode 7

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Screen shot of a demonstration of Mode 7 on a Game Boy Advance
Demonstration of Mode 7 on a SNES

Mode 7 is a texture mapping mode, the SNES - console and Game Boy Advance - Handhelds . In mode 7 it is possible, among other things, to rotate and scale a background layer. By changing the position and scaling line by line, a simple effect of spatial depth can be created, which is mainly used in racing games, flight sequences or even accessible maps. In contrast to textured polygons - as made possible by the Super-FX-Chip - only the representation of a flat or curved plane can be implemented. Additional details or bumps, for example hills or forests, cannot be represented vividly, but only indicated by shading.

Mode 7 is described in some SNES and Game Boy Advance documents (“technical docs”).

Selection of games that Mode 7 use
Chrono trigger
F-Zero
Final Fantasy VI
Illusion of time
Pilot wings
Secret of Evermore
Secret of Mana
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Super Turrican 2
Terranigma
Contra 3
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (map overview)
Sonic Battles
ActRaiser
Super Castlevania IV
The Legend of Mystical Ninja

function

The Super NES console has eight graphic modes, numbered 0 through 7, to display background layers. The last mode (BG mode 7) contains a plane that can be scaled and rotated. This graphics mode was particularly suitable for racing games such as F-Zero and also often for displaying overview maps in role-playing games, for example in the classic Final Fantasy VI by Square Enix . With this effect, the developers were able to create the illusion of an expansive world that extends beyond the horizon.

Individual evidence

  1. Brian J. Wardyga: The Video Games Textbook. History. Business. Technology. CRC Press, Boca Raton 2019, ISBN 978-0-8153-9091-6 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search).