Super StarFox Weekend Strategies

The game: Super StarFox Weekend was the competition held in 1993 promoting StarFox. The competition took place in thousands of stores across the United States. Special timed cartridges were used to conduct the contest. The scoring system is very different.

Tips for novices: There are some incredibly basic tips that will help anyone hit good scores.

  • Just about anything you do will net you points, so even if your shield is 100% full, collect energy rings anyway.
  • You can't pause the game.
  • Don't forget the twin blasters. You can pick them up on Corneria in the same way you would in StarFox, and this time there's a sound you'll hear every time you fly under an arch.
  • Getting 100% on a stage will give you an extra 20,000 point bonus.
  • Using the boost regularly can yield a few extra seconds by the time you reach the final stage. With some work it's possible to have nearly 1 minute of time for the third stage.
  • Use nova bombs if you know you'll have a hard time hitting a bogey (you want that 100%, after all) or to save time on the Rock Crusher (stage 2 boss), but also remember that you get a bonus for every bomb in reserve after a stage.

    Corneria (Stage 1):

    Corneria is set up much as it is in StarFox, course 1, except expect different enemy patterns. You'll have to save a wingman right away, for example. A nova bomb is still hidden behind a building as it is in StarFox. The boss (Attack Carrier) can be beaten quickly using the same approach you'd use in the real game.

    Asteroid Belt (Stage 2):

    There's no black hole entrance in this stage, but otherwise this is similar to the course 1 Asteroid Belt level in StarFox. Usual techniques apply. You will encounter a friendly object that gives 3 (sometimes 4) yellow supply rings. You may wish to use one nova bomb on the boss (Rock Crusher) as soon as its first laser port battery opens up. This can save a little time for the next stage.

    Stage 3

    Stage 3 borrows the cool music from the Space Armada stage in StarFox, but it's unlike any level in the game. It takes place in space, and you'll first encounter an array of rings. Fly through them for points, of course. Some rings have rotating pods attached. If you can shoot them you'll receive 500 points apiece. Some rings wander aimlessly, but you can shoot them to halt them so you can fly through. Shoot enemies perched on rings and girders to net many thousands of points. Perhaps the coolest items to shoot, though, are small pods. Every time you hit one it will increase in point value (up to 5,000 points), soar upwards and float back down again. Keep shooting at them to maximize your point total. Also, if you kept nova bombs in reserve, consider using them when the timer nears its end. Bogeys are scattered across the level in areas and a good nova bomb blast can help guarantee you get as many as possible before time runs out.