Whether you played Star Fox 64/Lylat Wars back in the 90s on the N64 or not, you might have been playing through the game and wondering how to unlock some of the other paths you can see on the map of the Lylat System.
N.B - There are some spoilers ahead, so only read on if you're willing to find out information about the game ahead of time!
One of the best bits about this game is the arcade nature of the main campaign. I've been playing it through on release day (June 25th, 2026, for those of you reading from the future) and have already completed the bottom branch of the game, getting to Venom via the Meteo, Fichina, Sector X, Titania, and Bolse.
How you get to different planets in the Lylat System will depend on whether you meet certain criteria on a level. Different routes open up depending on your actions (or lack of them), so sometimes not completing an objective fully can take you on a different path. Everything helps you experience the game differently every time you play.
Sometimes the criteria can be defeating an enemy within a time limit, and sometimes, in the case of getting to Sector Y, you need to keep one of your squad in the action. There will be a moment in the first level on Corneria where Peppy tells you to speed up to help Falco. You've only got a short amount of time to get three enemies from taking Lombardi down, so boost ahead and use a well-aimed bomb to help him out.
Once he's safe, sound, and back to being sarcastic again, he'll challenge you to slalom the stone arches over the next body of water. If you make it through all 7 of them, he'll automatically veer you off through a waterfall when you reach the next pass.
In the video below, Falco had already been shot down, but you can still see the alternative boss for this level flying over the waterfall, giving you some indication as to the fact that there's an alternate route to be accessed here.
Once through the waterfall (which you can only access if Falco is still in your team, thanks to his keen eyes), you'll meet some other enemies in a mountain pass, before coming to a vast expanse of water.
Instead of entering all range mode in this boss battle like the 'standard' mech battle if you follow the main course, you'll fight the Attack Carrier Captain head-on. Just shoot his loading bays when they open to let missiles out until all three of them have been destroyed, and he'll sink into the water never to bother you again.
Once you head back to The Great Fox for the cutscene, new dialogue and scenes will trigger, giving you the choice to head down to Meteo and tackle the asteroid field, or head up to Sector Y to battle some monkey droids!
You can check out how to access all of the alternate routes and how to pick up all the medals on a level by accessing the level achievements section from the main map of the Lylat System when you're in campaign mode. This is a new thing - we had to just figure it out back in the day, so count yourself lucky that it's here to help now!
