Free-As-A-Bird, also known as the "space hot-rodders" or simply the "hot rodders", were a galactic gang only seen in the manga "Farewell, Beloved Falco". None of the members' names have ever been mentioned, with the exception of Katt and Falco. They have only thus far been sighted during the events of the Titania Incident.
Falco was once the head of this team before pulling out to join the newly re-formed Star Fox team during the Lylat Wars. It was also implied that he partly resigned from the team due to a falling out between himself and Katt.
Known Members[]
- Falco Lombardi (leader before joining Star Fox)
- Katt Monroe
- Kool (presumably the leader, who seemed to be romantically interested in Katt). Falco notices that he might be forming a romance with Katt after he saves her from being crushed by the deceased remains of Goras.
- Unnamed male Crocodile/Alligator (presumably a crocodile because the bottom teeth are visible) who is the heavy weapons expert. On the back of his jacket, he has a skull design with the name "Bowsor" in red above it, perhaps a reference to the Mario villain.
- Unnamed male Mouse/Rat (Implied to be "Mouser", as the back of his jacket has the name on it.)
- Unnamed Robot
Technology and Equipments[]
The Hot Rodders gang were somewhat equal to the Star Fox team in terms of personal tech and equipments, owning a decent carrier armed with a radar jammer and transmission tracers, which allowed them to detect signals and retrieve data. Like Star Fox, the gang too were armed with heavy duty weaponry for armed combat purposes.
Titania Incident[]
Four years after the Lylat Wars, Falco received news from Katt and decided to meet up with his old team on Titania. Under attack from a Goras, Katt was rescued in the nick of time by Falco. The Hot Rodders gang at last reveal to their former leader that they intercepted Venomian transmissions and suspect dangerous activity.
Surprised by his behaviour, the Star Fox team followed Falco to Titania, coming across a Cornerian base built to study ancient records. Upon their arrival, they encountered Captain Shears, an officer in the Cornerian Army who informs the Star Fox team that the Hot Rodders are remnants of Andross's army. This deception mislead the two teams into serious conflict with each other. After Fox and Falco came through a dogfight with each other, the Hot Rodders revealed that they had intercepted the Venomians transmissions concerning recreating Bioweapons, only to their horror (and Star Fox's horror) that they were attempting to revive Andross himself. Fox and his team redeemed themselves by stopping Shears' plans and by burying the Andross clone with a Landmaster within the research facillites on Titania. It was at this point when Falco decided to isolate himself from Star Fox temporarily.
In the Super Smash Bros. series[]
While the Hot Rodders team themselves go unnamed, they are referenced in the third and fourth Super Smash Bros. series titles under two of Falco's trophies. The fourth game's trophy relates that Falco was their leader before he joined Star Fox.
Trophy Descriptions[]
- “Tired of the daily grind and monotony of work after the events of Star Fox: Assault, Falco seeks more stimulating adventures with his buddies from his days as a space delinquent. He meets up again with Fox, who is battling a new enemy, the Anglar, on the planet Venom. Falco again vows to fight alongside Fox as a member of the Star Fox team.”
- —Falco (Star Fox Command) Trophy Description
- “A talented pilot and part of the Star Fox team, Falco can be a bit rough around the edges. He once led his own galactic gang before joining up with Fox. In Smash Bros., his ability to jump high and deal damage in the air makes him a powerful threat, and his thrown Reflector can catch foes by surprise.”
- —Regular Trophy Description
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Hot Rodders team's fate is currently unknown, although it is implied that Katt Monroe retired from the team when heeding Falco's final request to Katt.
- It is possible the Hot Rodders was the gang Falco was in before he joined team Star Fox.
- The name 'Free-As-A-Bird' is a possible Reference to The 1995 Beatles Song of the same name.
- Free-As-A-Bird, and Falco's prior affiliation with them, was given an indirect reference in the briefing before the Asteroid Belt mission of Star Fox Assault. Specifically, after Falco confidently stated that Pigma's plan of deterring pursuit by hiding in an asteroid field won't work, Fox asks if an asteroid field is more like an amusement park for a former gang member like Falco, which Falco confirms.
Names in Other Languages[]
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| Japanese | (フリー・アズ・ア・バード) |
| Russian | Свободны как птицы |
References[]
- http://f.starfox-online.net/archives/starFox64Japanese/software/nus_p_nfxj/member/index.html
- http://f.starfox-online.net/archives/starFox64.comReconstructed/falco.html
- List of Super Smash Bros. series Trophies (Star Fox series)
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| Leader(s) |  
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| Member(s) |          
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| Allies |        
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| Others | Free-As-A-Bird • Marcus • Slippy's son • Peppy's granddaughter • Fara Phoenix | |
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           Armoured Arwing • Light Arwing
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| Other Vehicles |       • Roadmaster
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