Star KO

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A Star Knock-Out, abbreviated as 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, yell/scream/etc, and eventually disappear as a star. (There is a random chance of a Screen KO instead.)

Exceptions
Members of a computer team (such as the Fighting Wire Frames) don't experience Star Finishes, 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 Finish. The Star Finish is still in this game.

Note: In Super Smash Bros., members of a team (such as the Fighting Polygon Team) do get Star Finished.

Trivia

 * The concept of a Star KO is from a very common anime trope, where a character or characters is struck or blasted high into the air, eventually disappearing as a twinkle in the sky. It was made famous in anime like Pokémon (where this fate befalls Team Rocket in nearly every episode) and Love Hina (whenever Keitaro Urashima is struck fiercely enough).
 * Any conditions on the character are seen in the Star KO, such as if a character is KOd while frozen, or has a Smash Ball when they are KOd. In Flat Zone 2 and Hanenbow, conditions are not aligned with the character (ie. the frozen block and character fly off separately).
 * Giant characters/Tiny characters who are Star KOd remain giant/tiny while falling on the background (their "falling voice" remains deep/tiny as well). On the other hand, Star KOd metal characters appear in normal conditions on the background (inc. voice). The only exceptions are Metal Mario and Metal Luigi in Melee's Adventure Mode. In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when giant/tiny characters gets Star KOd, they will return to normal size.
 * If Kirby has copied someone's abilities and gets Star KOd, he will appear as a normal Kirby while disappearing into the background.
 * Characters holding an item will have it disappear when they are Star KOd.
 * If the conditions are right, one can be hit above the upper blast line, but rather than be Star KOd or hit the front of the screen, they will die as if they got KOd off the bottom. However, its possibility of occurring is extremely rare.
 * Giga Bowser can be Star KO'd if he is hit when above the upper blast line, as the upper blast line activates on hitstun (which he is not immune to).
 * While is 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 a Wario Waft or a Shield Jump.