Vehicle Controls — Landmaster & Blue-Marine
Last updated: June 2026
Landmaster — Ground Tank Controls
The Landmaster appears on Fichina and Titania, replacing Arwing flight with tread-based movement across ice and desert terrain. Nintendo rebuilt both stages for Switch 2 with wider arenas and destructible cover, but the control philosophy remains: you are a slower, heavier platform with a rotating turret and a boost hop instead of a barrel roll.
Movement and Combat
- Left stick — Drive forward, backward, and turn. The Landmaster has momentum; release the stick to drift slightly on Fichina ice.
- Right stick — Aim the turret independently of the hull. Essential for hitting Spyborgs legs while kiting around pillars.
- A — Machine-gun fire. Hold to charge a heavier round that pierces shielded targets.
- Y — Mortar-style smart bomb arcing over cover. Detonate with a second Y press.
- ZR / ZL — Boost sprint or hard brake. Boosting into enemies on Titania staggers Gorilla for bonus hits.
- Double-tap L or R — Hop dodge. Use it to clear floor mines and Slippy's hazard markers on Fichina.
Fichina Strategy Notes
Fichina is a defense mission: Andross forces assault generator pillars while you patrol in the Landmaster. Let every pillar survive until the timer expires and you branch to Titania instead of Sector X — a key fork on the easy route map. Prioritize turret snap-aim on incoming missiles; the gunner role in co-op mouse mode excels here because the pilot can circle pillars while the gunner tracks aerial targets.
Titania Rescue Run
Titania swaps ice for sand dunes and introduces burrowing enemies. Boost up ramps to reach Slippy's crash site faster and keep medal pace above 150 hits. The Gorilla boss demands charged shots on its exposed back panel — brake with ZL to stabilize aim when it leaps. Completing Titania routes you toward Bolse on most paths.
Blue-Marine — Submarine Controls
Aquas is the lone Blue-Marine stage on the hard route. Fox dives beneath the ocean in a compact sub with slower pitch control and torpedo-heavy arsenal. The stage is all-range underwater: schools of enemies circle Bacoon's lair and bioluminescent flora hides secret ring chains for medal chasers.
Underwater Handling
- Left stick — Throttle and dive/climb. Vertical movement is sluggish by design — plan paths early.
- Right stick — Fine-tune aim and camera in all-range sections.
- A — Short-range laser burst effective against swarms near the hull.
- Y — Homing torpedo. Primary damage source against Bacoon's tentacles and shell segments.
- ZR / ZL — Boost / brake through current tunnels. Currents on Aquas push you toward hazards if you ignore the meter.
- Double-tap L or R — Barrel-roll equivalent underwater — a quick flip that deflects torpedoes from Sarumarine escorts in later replay.
Bacoon Boss Tips
Bacoon spans the arena center. Destroy each tentacle with torpedoes, then focus charged laser fire on the exposed core when it roars. Smart bombs clear minnow swarms that regenerate shield segments. Aquas feeds directly into Zoness; stealth there determines whether you reach Sector Z and the true ending.
Vehicle Comparison Table
| Vehicle | Stages | Primary Fire | Special Maneuver | Medal Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landmaster | Fichina, Titania | A — machine gun / charge | Hop dodge (double L/R) | 200 / 150 |
| Blue-Marine | Aquas | Y — homing torpedo | Underwater flip | 200 |
| Arwing | All other missions | A — laser / charge | Barrel roll (double L/R) | Varies |
Switching Between Vehicles
You never manually select vehicles from a hangar — the game assigns them per stage based on your route branch. Replaying missions from the stage select screen (unlocked after first completion) lets you practice Landmaster and Blue-Marine independently for Challenge mode objectives and Expert medals. Control presets from the main controls list carry over, including Legacy boost mapping on ZR/ZL.
Pair this guide with controls training before attempting Expert Aquas or Fichina pillar defense. For multiplayer, vehicle stages support the same pilot/gunner split described in campaign co-op.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Fichina (Mission 3 on easy/medium paths) and Titania (Mission 5) are full Landmaster stages. Both require tank movement, turret aim, and boost management distinct from Arwing flight.
Aquas is the only Blue-Marine mission, reached on the hard route after Sector Y and high hit counts. You fight Bacoon underwater with torpedoes instead of lasers.
No. The Landmaster uses a hop dodge by double-tapping L or R, which briefly lifts the tank and avoids mines. Timing replaces the Arwing barrel roll on ground missions.
Yes. ZR boosts and ZL brakes on Landmaster and Blue-Marine, drawing from the same blue meter shown in the Arwing HUD. Empty the bar and you crawl until it refills.
Press Y to fire homing torpedoes underwater. They track large targets like Bacoon segments and schools of bioluminescent enemies. Laser fire still works at close range with A.
Yes. In local co-op, the pilot drives while the gunner uses Joy-Con 2 mouse mode for turret aim on Landmaster, or torpedo targeting on Blue-Marine. See the co-op mouse guide for setup.
Fichina and Aquas require 200 hits; Titania requires 150. Wingmates must survive — check medal requirements for Expert Mode thresholds.