Battle of the planet!

Somewhere out there, across the vast expanses of this world, a war is raging in the skies.

It's a battle for supremacy; to become the greatest pilot the planet has ever seen. Think you're up to the task? Read on and discover if you have what it takes to tackle Star Fox Command's Wi-Fi mode.

Star Fox has 'done' multiplayer before, of course; beginning back in 1997's Lylat Wars and continuing on Nintendo GameCube in 2005's Star Fox Assault. But not only does Star Fox Command on Nintendo DS represent the series' handheld debut but also it marks the first time you can hook up with players anywhere in the world and engage in thrilling aerial dogfights.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Whether you choose to play online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection or offline with local wireless link-up, the gameplay is the same; therefore you can practise your skills offline before heading online and challenging the planet's best pilots.

Like all good online shooters, Star Fox Command features a ranking system. In the 'Battle Royale' online mode you begin at rank 'Z' and must battle your way up to the top-gun 'A' ranking by taking part in 'best of three' matches; shooting down opponents and collecting stars that they leave behind. Of course, this is easier said than done.

You can play online against up to three opponents, who could be anywhere in the world. Each game consists of three rounds that take place in a randomly selected choice of arenas - outer space, ocean, city, valley or mountains - some of which have their own natural hazards such as skyscrapers to dodge or canyons to weave in and out of.

Each player pilots an identical (but differently coloured) Arwing and begins at a different corner of the map, giving everyone an equal chance of grabbing one of the power-ups that lie near the centre of the play area; including weapon upgrades (Twin Laser, Plasma Shot), a cloaking device that renders your ship invisible for a short time, and a Time Bomb that explodes after a brief countdown - giving your opponents a small opportunity to escape.

Additionally you have at your disposal all the moves available in the single-player game, such as loop-de-loops and U-turns, executed by a simple tap of the touch screen. You'll need them, too, because all players have the ability to lock on to an opponent and fire shots that can't be blocked by spinning your ship. If you're the one being locked onto, you'll receive a warning that gives you a few precious milliseconds to perform evasive manoeuvres.

While you play, Fox's helpful robot ROB 64 offers an on-screen commentary; informing players of the arrival of new power-ups and announcing when a player has been shot down or when a star has been retrieved.

Stars hold the key to winning a match; shoot down a player and grab his star to score a point. However you mustn't take too long to claim your prize because another player could nab it first. Sneaky players will use this scavenging tactic to their advantage.

And speaking of sneaky players, Star Fox Command punishes people who drop out of matches by docking points from their ranking. To be the best at this game means playing fairly.

Of course, if you don't want to play a ranked match then there are also options to play online in 'friendly' matches against up to three opponents. You can choose to battle only against players on your Friend Roster or simply blast off against randomly-picked players that match your skill level.

Local wireless connection

You can get exactly the same action offline as online, with the only difference being that you can challenge even more players - up to five - and games aren't ranked. You can also set a handicap to even the odds between players of different skill levels.

Plus, there are no restrictions for players who don't own a copy of the game. Even if you share one Game Card between five players the experience is the same as if everyone has a copy. If you want to challenge an offline player to an online match later on, you can also swap Friend Codes wirelessly; easily adding a pal to your Friend Roster.

Star Fox Command's multiplayer mode is fast, fluid and, most importantly, fun. The arenas are large enough for fancy aerial acrobatics but small enough to keep the combatants within range. The impressive 3D graphics also have a decent draw distance, meaning you can see your target when they're merely a dot on the horizon.

For Star Fox fans it's a far cry from those early days of Star Wing on Super Nintendo, when the idea of 3D multiplayer battles on a handheld - with players anywhere in the world - was the stuff of science fiction.

For online game veterans, particularly those who are looking for a new challenge after Metroid Prime Hunters, Star Fox Command's multiplayer mode is a stellar shooter experience.