Gorgon

Gorgon

File:Gorgon.jpg Gorgon, planet Venom's last defense
Location:	Area 6
Methods of attack:	Hyper Beam, Arms, Homing Missiles, fighters
Boss Type:	B

"Dang! DEPLOY IT NOW!!!"

— Area 6 Commander

The Gorgon is one of Andross's deadliest weapons. It is equipped with a powerful superlaser capable of piercing the crust of a planet or destroying large ships such as Cornerian Cruisers or the Great Fox. The weapon can defend itself from starfighters by firing waves of armor piercing missiles or by extending its three tentacles to physically slam into the target ship. The Gorgon also possesses a Dimension Transport System that enables it to phase in and out of reality, something that scientists have thought to be impossible until now. It served as the last line of defense in Area 6.

The Gorgon spins and moves about in a highly erratic manner somewhat reminiscent of an octopus or squid. As such, it can be speculated that Gorgon is one of Andross's advanced bioweapons that incorporates a sea creature as a machine's living brain. The order by the Area 6 commander to deploy Gorgon as a last resort seems to indicate an inability to control it, lending some credence the idea that Gorgon is such a biomechanical weapon.

Weakness

Once it's arms are destroyed, it is forced to open it's body and repair them. It will then release three bonded energy balls to help. Shooting the energy orbs until they are depleted will cause the shield protecting it's core to disappear. Once this has happened, shoot the core until the second shield is gone and it's core is revealed. Shoot the core until the machine is destroyed.

Trivia

• The Gorgon is named after the gorgons, vicious female monsters from Greek mythology. It is said that one who looked upon a gorgon would be instantly turned to stone. Medusa is probably the most recognizable and well-know of the three gorgon sisters. The Gorgon machine could be named so because of the resemblance of its tentacle-arms to Medusa's famous snake-hair.

• When Pigma is infected with the Aparoids and Fused with machinery, he strongly resembles Gorgon, having similar attacks and defense purposes.

• The ability to phase in and out of reality is also shared by the Phantron in the original Star Fox, which shares a similar purpose in that it provides the last line of defence before Venom.

• It is potentially being piloted by either Caiman or the Area 6 commander. It's also possible that it was actually automated and/or not piloted by either character, due to the fact that the Area 6 commander says "Dang! DEPLOY IT NOW!!" shortly before the Gorgon battle.