Star Fox Zero Ace Pilot Competition (UK)

Star Fox Zero on Wii U is, at its heart, an arcade game with missions designed to be replayed and mastered in the pursuit of optimum speed-runs and high scores. To celebrate this fact we’re setting a challenge for all UK pilots as we go in search of the UK’s number one Star Fox Zero Ace Pilot!

The challenge? We want you to beat a Total Personal Best of 3000 hits across all of Star Fox Zero’s missions.

Every UK pilot that manages to beat this score and submit their pictorial proof via Twitter, using the hashtags #StarFoxZero and #AcePilot, before 12th June 2016 will receive a limited edition certificate and have their name immortalised here on Nintendo.co.uk!

The pilot with the highest overall score will claim both this certificate and a Star Fox Zero prize pack including…

Star Fox Zero canvas print
Fox amiibo
Falco amiibo
Star Fox Zero Collector’s Edition Prima Strategy Guide
Star Fox Zero T-Shirt
You’ll need to master the Arwing, the Landmaster and everything in-between to beat this score so we’ve put together a few pointers below to help get you on the right flight path. Other than that, well, good luck!

Tip 1 – Unlock every stage, explore every path

Before you’ll be able to beat the target of 3000 hits you’ll need to unlock every mission! This means working out the routes to those teleporters, chasing those pesky members of Team Star Wolf when they appear and generally picking stages apart until you’re confident you know where the best hit opportunities lie.

Tip 2 – Shoot everything

While the enemies shooting at you pose the obvious threat have you tried shooting, as an example, the Andross face that adorns the front of the long ship that appear in Sector Alpha, the Dorisbys? Or the debris chucking Garuda that lurks outside the second phase of the Corneria mission? There are lots of additional hits to be found throughout stages so it pays to try your lasers on everything at least once.

Tip 3 – Earn your +1 Hits

Did you know that you earn additional hits if enemies are eliminated in the ‘splash damage’ of your charge shot? As an example, if you were to lock on and shoot the enemy in the middle of a line of three the enemies to its left and right would be taken out by ‘splash damage’ and award you a bonus hit each. Additionally, take down a ‘crashing’ foe with your lasers and you’ll earn another one hit! Suddenly that group of three enemies goes from three hits to eight, and that’s before you consider holding the L Button to disable your lock-on and destroy groups of ships from splash damage alone…

Tip 4 – Medals and scores aren’t mutually exclusive

If you’re chasing a high score then you don’t need to collect medals. Perhaps an odd tip to give, but one worth remembering. A precise trigger finger should be your primary concern, don’t let those shiny gold rings distract you from your goal!

Tip 5 – Practise makes perfect

You won’t be setting ground-breaking scores on your first attempt, so don’t lose heart! Sometimes speed is the key to earning additional hits (for example, disabling Granby in the mission ‘Reunited With a Friend’ with speed will earn you a massive +30 hits), and mission familiarity will ensure you can intercept challenges quickly, and often be rewarded for it. Give it your all, and you will find success.