Gunship

Lore & Background

The Gunship was commissioned as the primary transport for the elite Star Fox squad, a role it has filled faithfully since the team's earliest days. In the original SNES adventure, it is the vessel that ferries Fox, Slippy, and the rest of the crew from one sector to the next, a constant presence in the background while the Arwings do the glamorous work. It is unglamorous, practical, and utterly indispensable—the ship you call when you need to move four fighters, their gear, and a very opinionated dog from one end of the Andromeda sector to the other.

By the time of Star Fox 64, the Gunship has evolved into a fixed base of operations, stationed at the Star Base on the planet Corneria. It is here that the team receives mission briefings, services their fighters, and—on the rare occasion—must defend the ship itself against enemy attack. The Gunship's armament, while modest compared to a dedicated warship, is more than enough to keep a small raiding party at bay, and its presence on Corneria is a visible symbol of the team's readiness.

In later entries, particularly Star Fox Zero and Star Fox: Assault, the Gunship takes a more active role. In Zero, it becomes a fully piloted vehicle, its broad frame and heavy missile loadout making it a slow but devastating platform for close-range brawling. In Assault, it serves as the mobile staging ground from which the team deploys into each new world. Across every iteration, one truth remains constant: the Arwings get the glory, but the Gunship is what keeps them alive.

In Their Own Story

The engine hum was a low, bone-deep thrum that Fox felt in his molars before he heard it. He stood in the narrow corridor of the Gunship, boots magnetized to the deck plating, watching the viewport as the Star Base's hangar lights shrank to pinpricks behind them. Corneria's blue-green curve fell away below, the familiar patchwork of forests and cities giving way to the cold black of open space.

"You're staring at the void again, kid," Peppy said from the pilot's seat, not turning around. His paws rested on the yoke with the easy confidence of a man who had flown this ship through more firefights than he cared to count. "It's not going to stare back. Probably."

Fox snorted. "Probably is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence."

"That's the whole job, isn't it? You fly the shiny little ship, I keep the shiny little ship from becoming space confetti. We're a team." He finally glanced over, and his eyes held the particular warmth of a father watching a son who was about to do something reckless. "Now go get your fighter ready. We've got a sector to cross, and I'd rather do it with all four of you breathing."

Fox grinned, turned, and ran for the hangar bay. Behind him, the Gunship's engines deepened their song, and the stars stretched out like a road that had no end.

Reader's Guide

WELCOME ABOARD, YOU GLORIOUS DISASTER.

Right. So. You're looking at the Gunship. Yes, it's big. Yes, it's ugly. No, you are not allowed to call it ugly to its face, because I will dock you in the cargo hold with the spare missile racks and you will eat your words. It is the most important ship in this fleet and I don't care what the Arwing pilots think.

STATS & ROLE. The Gunship is a heavy transport and mobile command platform. It carries the full Star Fox complement, their Arwings, and enough supplies to keep us off a rock for a week. It also carries a respectable missile loadout and a forward cannon, which means it is not, contrary to popular belief, just a very slow bus. It is a warship that happens to have a couch in the back.

HOW IT FEELS TO FLY. Picture a freight train made of opinions. The Gunship is heavy, wide, and does not care about your tight cornering. You will not be doing barrel rolls. You will not be threading through asteroid gaps. You will be flying in a straight, proud line and letting the missiles do the talking. The controls are responsive enough, but the mass is real. Commit to your turns early or commit to your regrets.

INTRODUCED IN. The original Star Fox on the Super Nintendo, 1993. It has been in the fleet ever since, showing up in Star Fox 64 as the base, in Star Fox Zero as a fully playable vehicle (yes, you can fly it, and yes, it feels like piloting a cathedral), and in Star Fox: Assault as the mobile staging ground.

UPGRADES & UNLOCKS. In Star Fox Zero, the Gunship's missile capacity and shield strength can be improved through in-game progression. In other titles, it is a fixed asset—dock it, brief the team, launch the Arwings, and try not to get shot. Simple. Elegant. Fox-approved.

Now stop gawking and get to your station, kid.

Did You Know?

• In the original 1993 Star Fox on the SNES, the Gunship is the vessel the team travels in between missions, serving as the connective tissue of the entire campaign.
• In Star Fox Zero, the Gunship is not just a background prop but a fully playable vehicle with its own distinct handling, missile armament, and upgrade path.
• Peppy Hailord is the Gunship's most frequent and beloved pilot across the series, often serving as the steady hand at the helm while the younger crew handles the Arwings.
• In Star Fox 64, the Gunship is stationed at the Star Base on Corneria and can come under direct enemy attack, forcing the team to defend their own home ship.