You know, when I first heard about the new Starry system, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical—another collectible mechanic? Really? But after spending about twenty hours with the game, I can honestly say that unlocking those little glowing creatures has become one of my favorite parts of the experience. The game's new stages are absolutely littered with Starries, and if you want to unlock your winning streak with these 7 lucky nine strategies that work, you've got to approach them with a mix of patience, curiosity, and a little bit of obsessive attention to detail. Let me walk you through what I've learned, step by step, so you can make the most of your playtime and maybe even beat my high score of 87 Starries in a single stage.
First off, don't just rush through the levels thinking you'll come back later—trust me, that almost never works out. I made that mistake early on, and I ended up having to replay three or four stages just to find the ones I'd missed. The game gives you Starries for simply completing a stage, which is nice, but the real treasure is in the hidden ones scattered around. I remember one stage where I thought I'd explored every nook, only to spot a Starry tucked behind a moving platform I'd ignored. My advice? On your first run, slow down. Take your time to look under every bush, behind every background element, and even in spots that seem completely out of bounds. I've found that using the game's zoom feature helps a lot—just pan the camera around, and you might spot a glimmer in the distance. For more experienced players, I found it super fun to thoroughly scour stages and try to get them all, or as many as I could, on my first try. It's like a mini-game within the game, and it honestly adds hours of replay value.
Now, here's where things get a bit tricky: Nintendo, being Nintendo, gates your progress behind your current Starry count. Yeah, it's one of those old habits they just can't shake, and it can be frustrating if you're eager to move forward. But honestly, I think it's a clever way to encourage replayability. There's plenty of reason to replay stages to find all of the little creatures, especially since some only appear under specific conditions—like defeating enemies in a certain order or completing a hidden objective. For example, in one water-themed stage, I had to avoid touching any hazards for a full minute to trigger a Starry spawn, which I only figured out on my third attempt. If you're like me and get stuck, don't sweat it—just head back to your home base and chat with that friendly Waddle-Dee. I've visited him at least a dozen times, and he's always got solid tips on hunting down any that you're missing. It's a lifesaver, especially when you're down to your last few and starting to pull your hair out.
Another thing I love is how the game keeps the excitement going with the gacha mechanic, thanks to another Waddle-Dee who revives it with trophies of the new environments and crystalized enemies. This gives you something to spend those shiny new Starry coins on, and let me tell you, it's addictive. I've probably blown through 500 coins already, just trying to collect all the crystalized enemy figures—they're like little souvenirs of your battles, and they look awesome in your base. My strategy here is to save up until I have at least 100 coins, then do a big pull; it feels more rewarding than spending them as you go. Plus, some of these trophies can give you hints or bonuses in other stages, so it's not just for show. I once got a trophy that subtly highlighted hidden paths in later levels, which helped me snag an extra five Starries I would have otherwise missed.
But let's get into the nitty-gritty of those 7 lucky nine strategies—because yes, there are ways to optimize your approach. One of my favorites is what I call the "spiral search": start from the center of a stage and move outward in widening circles, checking every interactive object. It sounds simple, but it's saved me from missing Starries in cluttered areas multiple times. Another strategy is to pay attention to sound cues; sometimes, Starries emit a faint chime when you're close, so I always play with headphones on to catch those subtle hints. Then there's the timing-based approach—some Starries only appear if you complete objectives within a set time, like under 3 minutes, so I'll often do a speedrun first to unlock those before going back for a thorough exploration. Oh, and don't forget to use your abilities creatively; I've used character moves to reach seemingly impossible spots, and it's led to some of my biggest hauls, like finding 3 Starries in a single hidden alcove.
Of course, not every strategy works for everyone, and that's part of the fun. I've had moments where I followed a guide to the letter and still missed one, only to stumble upon it later when I was just messing around. That's why I always recommend mixing methods—maybe start with a focused search, then switch to a more relaxed exploration if you're feeling stuck. And if you're really struggling, remember that it's okay to take breaks; I once put the game down for a day, came back, and immediately spotted a Starry I'd overlooked because my mind was fresh. Overall, the key is to stay persistent but flexible, and before you know it, you'll be racking up Starries like a pro.
In the end, whether you're a completionist or just in it for the fun, these approaches can seriously boost your game. From my experience, sticking to these 7 lucky nine strategies that work has not only helped me unlock new areas faster but also made the whole journey more enjoyable. So go ahead, dive back in, and see how many Starries you can collect—I bet you'll surprise yourself. Happy hunting