Star KO

A Star KO is a type of KO. When a character falls off the top of the screen (save for a few exceptions, see below), they fly through the background, and eventually disappear as a star. Rarely, the character will fall in front of the stage. In SSB, they simply fall past, but in SSBM, they will bump against the screen.

Exceptions

Members of a computer team (ie the Fighting Wire Frames) don't experience Star KO's, instead undergoing the usual colorful explosion. In addition, in the beginning the second trailer for SSBB, 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. However, gameplay videos confirmed that the Star KO returns.