"Do a Barrel Roll!"

—Peppy Hare

The Barrel Roll is a maneuver usable throughout the Star Fox series.

A Barrel Roll is an aerial maneuver in which a winged flying machine, such as an Arwing, makes a complete rotation on its longitudinal axis while following a helical path, approximately maintaining its original direction. It is sometimes described as "a combination of a loop and a roll". The G-force is kept positive (but not constant) on the object throughout the maneuver, commonly not more than 2-3 G, and no less than 0.5 G.^[1]

However, the Arwing does not do a Barrel Roll in Star Fox series, except in Star Fox: Assault. Instead, the Arwing performs a maneuver called a rapid Aileron Roll.

The Aileron Roll is an aerial maneuver in which the aircraft does a full, 360 degree, revolution about its longitudinal axis. When executed properly, there is no appreciable change in altitude and the aircraft exits the maneuver on the same heading as it entered. This is commonly one of the first maneuvers taught in basic aerobatics courses.^[2]

Contents 1 Star Fox 2 Star Fox 64 3 Star Fox: Adventures 4 Star Fox: Assault 5 Star Fox Command 6 Star Fox 64 3D 7 Star Fox (WarioWare: Smooth Moves) 8 Trivia 9 References

Star FoxEdit

In the original Star Fox, the player must press L or R button twice to do a Barrel Roll.

Star Fox 64Edit

In Star Fox 64, the player must press either the Z or R button twice to execute a Barrel Roll.

Star Fox: AdventuresEdit

In Star Fox Adventures, the player must press L or R until it clicks to do a Barrel Roll.

Star Fox: AssaultEdit

In Star Fox: Assault, the player has to press the L button, and use the Control Stick to adjust the direction of the Barrel Roll. This is the only time the Arwing executes the actual Barrel Roll maneuver. The Arwing can peform quicker, more constant Barrel Rolls, making it more effective, but enemy firepower can still break through as soon as the ship regains straightness.

Star Fox CommandEdit

In Star Fox Command, the player must drag the stylus side-to-side rapidly in opposite directions to initiate the Barrel Roll. The move then continues as long as the player doesn't tap the screen or the Boost Gauge does not run out. All playable ships can perform the Barrel Roll, depending on how good their boost meter works. This time, the Barrel roll creates a magnetic field which can attract collectable items and Anglar hives. When fighting a mothership or chasing a missile, the starfighters can perfom a constant Barrel Roll, which the player steers them through red gates to destroy the mothership or missile.

Star Fox 64 3DEdit

In Star Fox 64 3D the player must press the L or R buttons twice to do a barrel roll.

Star Fox (WarioWare: Smooth Moves)

The Arwing from the WarioWare: Smooth Moves microgame is unable to perform the Barrel Roll along with most other Arwing trademark techniques, likely in order to make gameplay more difficult and focus on the stage boss.

TriviaEdit

• On the internet, "Do a Barrel Roll!", a phrase by Peppy Hare in Star Fox 64 has become a popular internet meme (leading to a easter egg on Google, where one must type in either "do a barrel roll" or "z or r twice", which will result in the whole Google-website doing a 360 degree spin).

• In one episode of of the TV show Donkey Kong Country, the character Funky Kong says "Barrel Roll'n and Roll'n the Barrel" and then says "Peppy".
• Both Fox and Falco use the Barrel Roll technique during their dogfight during the manga Farewell, Beloved Falco. Falco points out that the Arwing is at its most vulnerable just after the Barrel Roll move has finished, this is because the ship needs a few split seconds to make the next one.

ReferencesEdit

1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrel_Roll
2. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileron_roll