Sector X Warp Gates And All Other Exit Paths In Star Fox Explained

Sector X in Star Fox is unique in being a stage with three possible alternative routes available.

One requires the use of Warp Gates, propelling you across the map, while another will lead to Macbeth - both of which can help you reach Venom 2 and the True Ending.

The third and final path leads to Titania, where you must rescue a downed Slippy from the hostile planet.

All outcomes first require you to first reach the branching path just after the checkpoint, where you can then make your way to one of three exits, described as follows.

Sector X To Sector Z Or Macbeth (Four Warp Gates)

To reach Sector Z from Sector X, take the left route at the branching path halfway through the stage.

You’ll then come to a series of Warp Gates. Shoot each one, and after it opens, fly through the middle.
You need to travel through all four to activate the warp.

Know that each one requires a not insignificant amount of shooting, so make sure you take aim nice and early - and don’t be afraid to pull a last-minute brake if you need a little more time.

(If you fail, remember you can pause and restart from the checkpoint, or replay the stage entirely when you return to the map screen.)

After you successfully travel through the ‘special stage’ and the warp, you then have the option of visiting Sector Z at the top of the map, or Macbeth in the middle. Either way, Venom 2 and the True Ending are still open to you.

Sector X To Macbeth Only (Save Slippy From Spyborg)

Another alternative path sees you only travel to Macbeth. To reach this, during the Spyborg boss (reached via the right route at the fork halfway through the level) and make sure Slippy isn’t downed during the Spyborg battle.

Spyborg is fairly straightforward to begin with, requiring you shoot the eyes until it’s downed. However, after a fake-out defeat, as then starts a second phase, and here's where things get tricky.

You must now defeat Spyborg by rapidly firing at the red dot on its head before Slippy is downed. Slippy will announce he’s attempting to scan the boss and move toward it, and you only have a few seconds from that point before Spyborg swipes him away.

You have to be fast, and ideally have upgraded lasers to incur enough damage in time. If successful, Slippy will make it through unscathed, and the route to Macbeth awaits.

Sector X To Titania Only (Slippy Downed By Spyborg)

The only route to Titania requires you fail to save Slippy being downed during the Spyborg encounter.

To manage this, take the right fork at the branching path, progress the Spyborg boss fight as normal (aim for the eyes) then, when it comes to the second phase, take your time (or simply stop firing altogether) so that Slippy gets hit.

Now defeat the boss, and the route to Titania is open. Side note: if you take this route, you cannot get the level's Medal, as one member of the team didn't make it through to the end.

Remember, Sector X is an X-ception in terms of the number of exits available - most stages have just one or two Star Fox routes to choose from.