Star Fox 64's multi-player mode allows two to four players to dogfight in three different modes and arenas. The screen is always split into quadrants, with the unused quadrants (in the case of a two or three player game) displaying dramatic camera angles of the battle.
The three different modes each offers a different challenge. In Point Match, the first player to amass a certain number of kills (the goal can be set from 1 to 5) wins. Battle Royale mode is a fight to the finish, where the last animal standing wins. Finally, Time Trial challenges you to shoot down more drones than the other players in a certain amount of time (1 to 5 minutes). If you shoot down another player, you will reset their score.
Point Match and Battle Royale can be fought in the skies of Corneria or in the hydrogen clouds of Sector Z. Time Trial takes place on Katina or Sector Z. When you play in VS. Mode, you'll usually only have access to the Arwing fighter as your vehicle. However, if you get medals in every mission, you will be able to play the game in Expert Mode, and this will allow you to use Landmaster tanks in VS. Mode. Once you earn medals in every mission playing in Expert Mode, you will be able to use Rocket Launchers in VS. Mode. In order to earn the medals, you must destroy a certain number of enemies in each stage while keeping your wingmen alive through the mission.
In each battle mode game, a single Twin Laser power-up and Bomb will appear at random in the arena. The player with the Twin Lasers has a huge firepower advantage over the other players, so be sure to head straight for the power-up when it appears. Likewise, a well placed Bomb will really put the hurt on your opponent's shield. There are many strategies in the multi-player games and each one plays differently. The VS. Mode is a great feature that really complements the Main Game of Star Fox 64.