Overview
The floor rushes toward you. Mode 7 was the Super Nintendo’s showcase feature—hardware-accelerated rotation and scaling of a single background layer. Racing games created the illusion of 3D tracks. RPGs displayed rotating world maps. The effect defined the SNES era and gave Nintendo a clear technical advantage over competitors.
Fast facts
- Platform: Super Nintendo (exclusive).
- Function: Background rotation and scaling.
- Effect: Pseudo-3D visuals.
- Limitation: One background layer only.
How Mode 7 works
| Step | Process |
|---|
| 1 | Flat texture stored in VRAM |
| 2 | Hardware applies transformation matrix |
| 3 | Each scanline calculated independently |
| 4 | Result: rotated/scaled output |
Technical capabilities
| Feature | Hardware support |
|---|
| Rotation | Any angle |
| Scaling | Zoom in/out |
| Perspective | Simulated via scaling |
| Per-scanline | Different transformation each line |
Famous Mode 7 games
| Title | Use |
|---|
| F-Zero | Racing track |
| Super Mario Kart | Track surface |
| Pilotwings | Flight perspective |
| Final Fantasy VI | World map, airship |
| Contra III | Rotating stages |
F-Zero showcase
| Effect | Implementation |
|---|
| Track rushing | Scaled floor |
| Turns | Rotation |
| Speed sense | Rapid scaling |
| Horizon | Background layer |
Limitations
| Constraint | Effect |
|---|
| Single layer | Only background 1 |
| No sprite scaling | Sprites unaffected |
| Memory | Texture size limits |
| CPU cost | Per-scanline calculation |
Workarounds
| Technique | Purpose |
|---|
| Pre-scaled sprites | Fake sprite scaling |
| Careful design | Hide limitations |
| DSP chips | Enhanced effects |
Competition comparison
| System | Equivalent |
|---|
| Mega Drive | None (software only) |
| PC Engine | None |
| Neo Geo | None |
| SNES | Hardware Mode 7 |
Legacy
| Impact | Significance |
|---|
| SNES identity | Defining feature |
| Racing games | Genre showcase |
| Technical benchmark | Competitive advantage |
| Nostalgia | Era-defining effect |
See also