View source for Mode 7

{{short description|Graphics mode on the Super NES video game console}}
{{About|the graphics mode of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System|the video game developer and publisher|Mode 7 Games|other uses|Mode 7 (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed | date=January 2017}}
[[File:Mode 7 Test-0000.png|thumb|right|This basic [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] demo uses Mode 7.]]
'''Mode 7''' is a [[graphics mode]] on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] [[video game console]] that allows a background layer to be rotated and scaled on a scanline-by-scanline basis to create many different depth effects.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1996|title=The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: Mode 7|url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-015/page/n37/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=15|page=37}}</ref> It also supports wrapping effects such as translation and reflection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-15 |title=Random: Discover How Mode 7 Works On Super NES, In Just 10 Minutes |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/03/random-discover-how-mode-7-works-on-super-nes-in-just-10-minutes |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The most famous of these effects is the application of a perspective effect on a background layer by scaling and rotating the background layer in this manner. This transforms the background layer into a two-dimensional horizontal [[Texture mapping|texture-mapped]] plane that trades height for depth. Thus, an impression of three-dimensional graphics is achieved.

Mode 7 was one of Nintendo's prominent selling points for the Super NES platform in publications such as ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' and ''Super NES Player's Guide''.<ref>{{Citation|title=Super NES Player's Guide|url=https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Players_Guide_SNES|publication-place=Redmond WA, USA|publisher=[[Nintendo]]®|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref>  Similar ''[[wikt:faux|faux]]'' 3D techniques have been presented on a few 2D systems other than the Super NES, in select peripherals and games.

==Overview==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2023}}
The Super NES console has eight graphics modes, numbered from 0 to 7, for displaying background layers.  The last one (background mode 7) has a single layer that can be scaled and rotated. Two-dimensional affine transformations can produce any combination of [[translation (geometry)|translation]], [[scaling (geometry)|scaling]], [[reflection (mathematics)|reflection]], [[rotation (mathematics)|rotation]], and [[Shear mapping|shearing]]. However, many games create additional effects by setting a different transformation matrix for each scanline.  In this way, pseudo-perspective, curved surface, and distortion effects can be achieved.

Mode 7 graphics are generated for each pixel by mapping screen coordinates to background coordinates using an [[affine transformation]] and sampling the corresponding background color. The 2D affine transformation is specified for each scanline by 6 parameters: <math>
a
</math>, <math>
b
</math>, <math>
c
</math>, and <math>
d
</math> ( which together define the matrix <math>
\mathbf{M}
</math>), and <math>
x_0
</math> and <math>
y_0
</math> (which define the vector <math>
\mathbf{r}_0
</math>, the origin). Specifically, screen coordinate <math>
\mathbf{r}
</math> is translated to the origin coordinate system, the matrix is applied, and the result is translated back to the original coordinate system to obtain <math>
\mathbf{r}^\prime
</math>.

In 2D matrix notation:

<math>
\mathbf{r}^\prime = \mathbf{M} (\mathbf{r} - \mathbf{r}_0) + \mathbf{r}_0
</math>

<math>
\begin{bmatrix} x' \\ y' \end{bmatrix}
 =
\begin{bmatrix} a & b \\ c & d \end{bmatrix}
\left(
\begin{bmatrix} x \\ y \end{bmatrix}
- \begin{bmatrix} x_0 \\ y_0 \end{bmatrix}
\right)
+ \begin{bmatrix} x_0 \\ y_0 \end{bmatrix}
</math>.

All arithmetic is carried out on 16-bit signed fixed point numbers, while all offsets are limited to 13 bits.  The [[radix point]] is between bits 7 and 8.

== Usage in games ==
This graphical method is suited to racing games, and is used extensively for the overworld sections of role-playing games such as [[Square (video game company)|Square]]'s popular 1994 game ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. The effect enables developers to create the impression of sprawling worlds that continue toward the horizon.

A particular utilization technique with Mode 7 allows pixels of the background layer to be in front of sprites. Examples include the second and fifth stage of ''[[Contra III: The Alien Wars]]'', the second and fifth stage of ''[[Jim Power: The Lost Dimension in 3-D]]'', the introduction screen of ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose]]'', when a player falls off the stage in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', some cinematics in ''[[Super Metroid]]'', and in some boss battles in ''[[Super Mario World]]''.

Mode 7-type effects can be implemented on the Super NES without the hardware acceleration of Mode 7, such as ''Axelay''{{'s}} rolling pin vertical scrolling; and then it uses Mode 7 in one boss and in the end credits sequence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upsilandre.over-blog.com/2023/02/axelay-et-le-mode-7.html|title=Axelay et le mode 7|website=upsilandre retrogaming | language=fr | access-date=March 2, 2023}}</ref>

Many Mode 7 games were remade for [[Game Boy Advance]] using effects implemented by software.

The [[Sega Genesis]] has no hardware-native feature comparable to Mode 7. However, as in ''Tales of Phantasia'' and ''Star Ocean''{{'}}s sprite effect add-ins, some comparable technical feats were programmed entirely in software, as in ''[[Dick Vitale's "Awesome, Baby!" College Hoops]]'' and ''[[Zero Tolerance (video game)|Zero Tolerance]]''.<ref name="EGM67">{{cite magazine |title=Special Effects |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=67|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=February 1995 |pages=20, 26}}</ref> The [[Sega CD]], an add-on for the Genesis, added scaling and rotation support on hardware level, as used by ''[[Sonic CD]]'' and ''[[Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit]]''. Similarly, such [[Amiga]] games include ''[[Mr. Nutz: Hoppin' Mad]]'', ''[[Lionheart (video game)|Lionheart]]'', ''[[Obitus]]'', and ''[[Brian the Lion]]''.

Filip Hautekeete and Peter Vermeulen created a demo showcasing an emulated interpretation of the Mode 7 graphics mode found in the Super NES to test the hardware capabilities of the [[Atari Jaguar]].<ref name="TRH">{{cite podcast|host1=Dan Wood|host2=Ravi Abbott|url=https://theretrohour.com/the-atari-jaguar-with-bill-rehbock-the-retro-hour-ep139/|title=The Atari Jaguar with Bill Rehbock – The Retro Hour EP139|publisher=The Retro Hour|date=September 14, 2018|time=50m55s|access-date=2018-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180917215537/https://theretrohour.com/atari-jaguar-bill-rehbock-ep139/|archive-date=2018-09-17|url-status=live}}</ref> Impressed with the demo, [[Atari Corporation]] decided to make a game that combined ''F-Zero'' and ''Super Mario Kart'' with a "cutesy" atmosphere, becoming the starting point of ''[[Atari Karts]]''.<ref name="TRH"/>

==Selection of Mode 7 games==
{{sources needed|section=true|date=February 2025}}
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* ''[[7th Saga]]''
* The ''[[ActRaiser]]'' series
* ''[[Aero the Acro-Bat]]''
* ''[[Aim for the Ace!#Video game adaptations|Ace o Nerae!]]''
* ''[[Accele Brid]]''
* ''[[Al Unser Jr.'s Road to the Top]]''
* ''[[Axelay]]''
* ''[[Bastard!!#Video games|Bastard!!]]''
* ''[[The Brainies]]''
* ''[[Brett Hull Hockey 95]]''
* ''[[Carrier Aces]]''
* ''[[Contra III: The Alien Wars]]''
* ''[[Chrono Trigger]]''
* ''[[D-Force]]''
* ''[[Demon's Crest]]''
* ''[[DinoCity]]''
* ''[[Drakkhen]]''
* ''[[Exhaust Heat]]''
* ''[[F-Zero (video game)|F-Zero]]''
* ''[[Flying Hero|Flying Hero: Bugyuru no Daibouken]]''
* ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]''
* ''[[Final Fantasy V]]''
* ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''
* The ''[[Ganbare Goemon]]'' series
* ''[[HyperZone]]''
* ''[[Illusion of Gaia]]''
* ''[[Jurassic Park (SNES video game)|Jurassic Park]]''
* ''[[Kat's Run: Zen-Nippon K Car Senshuken]]''
* ''[[Kirby Super Star]]''
* ''[[Legend (1994 video game)|Legend]]''
* ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''
* ''[[Super Air Diver|Lock On]]''
* ''[[Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals]]''
* ''[[The Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse]]''
* ''[[MechWarrior (1993 video game)|MechWarrior]]''
* ''[[Mega Man 7]]''
* ''[[Mohawk & Headphone Jack]]''
* ''[[Mr. Nutz]]''
* ''[[NCAA Basketball (video game)|NCAA Basketball]]''
* ''[[NHL Stanley Cup (Super NES)|NHL Stanley Cup]]''
* ''[[Pilotwings (video game)|Pilotwings]]''
* ''[[Power Rangers Zeo: Battle Racers]]''
* ''[[Psycho Dream]]''
* ''[[Rendering Ranger: R2]]''
* ''[[RoboCop 3 (video game)|RoboCop 3]]''
* ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire]]''
* ''[[R-Type III: The Third Lightning]]''
* ''[[Run Saber]]''
* ''[[Secret of Evermore]]''
* ''[[Secret of Mana]]'' and ''[[Trials of Mana]]''
* ''[[Skyblazer]]''
* ''[[SOS (1993 video game)|SOS]]''
* ''[[Space Megaforce]]''
* ''[[Star Ocean (video game)|Star Ocean]]''
* ''[[Stargate (1995 video game)|Stargate]]''
* ''[[Street Racer (1994 video game)|Street Racer]]''
* ''[[Super Adventure Island]]''
* ''[[Super Castlevania IV]]''
* ''[[Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts]]''
* ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''
* ''[[Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars]]''
* ''[[Super Mario World]]''
* ''[[Yoshi's Island|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''
* ''[[Super Metroid]]''
* The ''[[Super Robot Wars (series)|Super Robot Wars]]'' series
* ''[[Super Scope 6]]''
* The ''[[Super Star Wars]]'' series
* ''[[Super Tennis]]''
* The ''[[Super Turrican (disambiguation)|Super Turrican]]''<!--Intentional link to DAB page--> series
* ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]''
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time|Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time]]''
* ''[[Terranigma]]''
* ''[[Tony Meola's Sidekicks Soccer]]''
* ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]''
* ''[[Sky Mission|Wing 2: Aces High]]''
* ''[[Yoshi's Safari]]''
* ''[[The Legend of Bishin|Zoku: The Legend of Bishin]]''
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Ray casting]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Computer graphics}}
{{Super Nintendo Entertainment System}}

[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]
[[Category:Texture mapping]]
[[Category:Video game development]]