Star KO

Characters fly away from the main stage as they are turning into a star, demonstrated in Lylat Cruise.

A star knock-out or star finish, abbreviated as star KO, is a type of KO. When characters are knocked beyond the upper blast line (save for a few exceptions, see below), they fly through the background, away from the stage, yell/scream/etc., and eventually disappear as a star (there is a random chance of a screen KO instead, where characters hit the camera). This takes the longest duration out of any KOs.

Any conditions on the characters are seen in the Star KO, such as if the characters are KO'd while frozen or has a Smash Ball when they are KO'd. In Flat Zone 2 and Hanenbow, conditions are not aligned with the character (i.e. the frozen block and character fly off separately).

Giant/tiny characters who are star KO'd remain giant/tiny while falling on the background (their "falling voice" remains deep/tiny as well). On the other hand, star KO'd metal characters appear in normal conditions on the background (inc. voice). The only exceptions are the Metal opponents in Melee's 1 Player modes. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when giant/tiny characters gets star KO'd, they will return to normal size, unless the characters are playing in Giant Brawl.

Exceptions

Members of a computer team (such as the Fighting Wire Frames) do not experience star KOs, instead undergoing the usual colorful explosion (though it can happen in Event Match 37). Also, in the beginning of the second trailer for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Kirby uses his up smash to knock Mario and Link off the top of the screen, but the usual colored explosion occurs, instead of a star KO. The star KO is still in this game.

Note: In Super Smash Bros., members of a team (such as the Fighting Polygon Team) do get star KO'd.

Bonuses

• Star KO: Star KO an opponent.
• Solar being: Get star KO'd.
• Shooting Star: Finishing the match while getting star KO'd.

Origin

Star KO's are possibly based off the Pokemon anime's "Team Rocket". Whenever Team Rocket has been beaten by an explosion or something with a great powerful force, they will fly into the air, then once they are far off in the distance a star will appear while Team Rocket say their catch phrase "we're blasting off again!". The star that appears is the same in appearance, sound and even the tumble animation the team go through before turning into the star.

Trivia

• If Kirby has copied another character's abilities and gets star KO'd, he will appear as a normal Kirby while disappearing into the background. An exception is Super Smash Bros., where he keeps his ability.
• If the opponent sent upward touches a Starman and gets star KO'd, the opponent will appear as a invincible character while disappearing into the background.
• While it is generally impossible to self-destruct as a star KO, there are a few ways: one can stand on a platform above the upper blast line or get launched upwards by Pikachu's Quick Attack in the highest platform of Hyrule Castle, Wario's fully charged Wario Waft, or Jigglypuff's shield jump.

See Also

• Screen KO