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Formula Star
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| “ | This machine is incredibly powerful when touching the ground and boasts a very high top speed. When racing this machine, you should try to maintain its top speed! | ” | — Kirby Air Ride North American instruction booklet, page 34 |
TheFormula Star is a star-typeAir Ride Machine that appears inKirby Air Ride andKirby Air Riders. It is best known for its high top speed at the cost of low maneuverability.
Appearance[edit]
The Formula Star is a machine composed of a sleek, neon-blue ovaloid body, with white propulsion units at each side and a floating crescent-shaped spoiler at the back. It is relatively large in comparison to other vehicles. These propulsion units have a singular blue stripe on the side that connects to the thrusters. WhenBoost Dashing, it leaves behind sleek light blue trails from both of its propulsion units. InKirby Air Ride only, the main body will gradually glow brighter light-blue when it charges during a Boost.
InKirby Air Riders, the Formula Star looks much the same as it did in the previous game, though it does appear slightly less "glossy". The jets from its propulsion units are white with hints of orange flame while in normal motion, though they temporarily become blue after a boost charge, as in the previous game. When the boost button is being held, the thrusters turn red and emit red trails behind them. In normal motion, each thruster emits a long white trail behind itself. While the Formula Star is in the air, subtle trails of air can be observed coming from the tips of its spoiler. Additionally, the underside of the spoiler has the word "Formula" written on it.
Mechanics[edit]
The Formula Star is a star-type machine with an incredibly high top speed, the highest of all standard Air Ride Machines. However, this is offset by its slow acceleration and handling, making it difficult to reach top speed. When driving at high speeds, it turns extremely slowly, so it must slow down to properly take turns. It can travel somewhat fast in the air, though it has practically no gliding ability. It also has average HP, offense, defense, and weight, though struggles greatly at close-quarters combat due to its low maneuverability.
These factors make the Formula Star best suited for racing-focused stadiums, especiallyDrag Race, where it is almost always a top contender.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby Air Ride[edit]
| “ | The best top speed of all! Keep moving... | ” | — Formula Star's flavor text inKirby Air Ride. |
InKirby Air Ride, the Formula Star is one of the standard machines that can be used in theAir Ride andCity Trial game modes.
This iteration of the Formula Star has a top speed of 42.86 mph (68.98 km/h). However, both of the two legendary machines in City Trial can vastly outperform this. It can be decent in Air Ride, due to gaining large benefits from Boost Pads (which often appear at the ends of courses), though it is a poor choice for City Trial, as it has great difficulty in maneuvering to pick up items and gains very little benefit from Top Speed patches. Other machines, like theWagon Star can reach much higher and more maintainable speeds. Despite these flaws, it remains a solid choice for Drag Race stadiums.
How to unlock[edit]
To unlock this machine for use inAir Ride mode, the player must beatFrozen Hillside'sTime Attack in under 03:14:00 with any machine.
InCity Trial, the Formula Star can occasionally be found randomly throughout the city and be mounted like most other air ride machines. It is always available in Free Run as well.
Kirby Air Riders[edit]
| “ | If it can maintain momentum and avoid slowing down, its top speed is second to none! | ” | — Formula Star's flavor text inKirby Air Riders. |
InKirby Air Riders, the Formula Star reappears as one of the standard machines that can be used in all game modes. It maintains a similar niche, boasting incredible top speed and solid HP, but highly lackluster acceleration and turning. However, its turning capabilities have been noticeably improved since its last appearance. At base and when ridden byKirby, it can reach an impressive top speed of 42 mph (67 km/h) on the ground, though doing so requires a long straightaway due to its aforementioned acceleration. The Formula Star is additionally one of the few machines that moves slower in the air than on the ground, as (also with Kirby) it jumps off of ramps at around 33 mph (53 km/h) and will sharply slow down if it exceeds this limit when it leaves the ground. As such, it is advised to avoid ramps with this machine. It can fall at speeds of up to 43 mph (70 km/h) when ridden by Kirby.
InCity Trial, the Formula Star receives much more benefit from Top Speed patches than it did inKirby Air Ride. This change, alongside the improvements made to its turning, make it a solid contender across numerous game modes, especially in City Trial rounds where the Stadium can be selected and its weaker Stadiums (Air Glider,Dustup Derby, etc.) can be avoided. Like in the previous game, Formula Star excels at straightforward racing Stadiums, namelyDrag Race and the newly introducedBeam Gauntlet. It also does well inNebula Belt due to the long straightaways contained in that course.
How to unlock[edit]
The Formula Star can be purchased with 14,400Miles in theMiles Shop. It can also be unlocked in theChecklist. Once unlocked through either of these means, it can be used in any game mode besidesRoad Trip, though it still can appear and be used during certain City Trial events, or during online City Trial matches before the player unlocks it. Any additional Formula Stars bought or unlocked can be customized inMy Machine.
- Air Ride:Galactic Nova (Laps) - Finish without touching the energy columns around Nova's core
- Top Ride - Finish without crashing into any walls
In Road Trip, the Formula Star can be obtained by jumping onto it on the road in eitherBoiler Boulevard orThe Farthest Reach. If it is not obtained this way, it may be purchased at a shop.
Update history[edit]
| Version | Adjustment details |
|---|---|
| Version 1.2.0 |
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InKirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]
| “ | And now let me present our first Air Ride Machine! Formula Star! When the Formula Star gets revved up, there's no stoppin' it! | ” | — N.M.E. Sales Guy, inAir-Ride-in-Style - Part I |
The Formula Star appears inKirby: Right Back at Ya!, specifically inAir-Ride-in-Style - Part I andPart II, where it is ridden by one of theAir Riders. It is the first Air Ride Machine thatKirby commandeers and learns to pilot, though he notably never rides it inFright to the Finish.
Gallery[edit]
Artwork fromKirby Air Ride
Ripped model from the game's data
The Formula Star as seen in theCity Trial ending.
The Formula Star icon fromKirby Air Riders
Gummy of the Formula Star
My Machine decal of the Formula Star's icon, fromKirby Air Riders
The Formula Star's idle animation fromKirby Air Riders
The Formula Star in the Retirement screen inKirby Air Riders
Artwork ofKirby on the Formula Star fromKirby: Right Back at Ya!
Alternate artwork fromKirby: Right Back at Ya!
Kirby learning how to ride the Formula Star inKirby: Right Back at Ya!
Kirby inhaling water while riding the Formula Star inKirby: Right Back at Ya!
Two Kirbys riding the Formula Star inFind Kirby!! Big Gathering at the Party!
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | フォーミュラスター[1][2] Fōmyura Sutā | Formula Star |
| English | Formula Star[1][2] | Most likely derived from the term "formula racing" |
| Chinese | 方程式之星[2] fāng chéng shì zhī xīng | Formula Star |
| Dutch | Formulester[2] | Formula star |
| French | Formula Star[1] Étoile formula[2] | - Formula star |
| German | Formual Star[1] Flitzer-Stern[2] | - Speedster Star |
| Italian | Formula Star[1] Stella formula[2] | - Formula star |
| Korean | 포뮬러스타[2] pomyuleoseuta | Formula Star |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Estrela Fórmula[2] Formula Estrela[3] | Formula Star |
| Spanish | Formula Star[1] Estrella bólido[2] | - Fireball star |
References
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