Stars and ink

In Wall-X, clearing a stage isn't the whole story; how little you drew to do it matters too. Stars are awarded by the ink you use, and you need stars to unlock the next Level.

The star rule

Every stage has an ink limit. Limits in the game range from 1.5 to 5.8 metres; most stages sit between 2.4 and 3.8 metres. When you clear a stage, your stars depend on how much of the limit you used:

Your best result on each stage is kept: clear it later with less ink and your stars go up, while a worse result never lowers them. When you clear a stage you also see where you rank among the players who used the least ink on it.

How ink is measured

• Ramp, spring and booster: the real length of the path you drew. A shaky or curly line costs more than a straight one.
• Wind: only the straight distance between the arrow's tail and tip.
• Erased drawings: give their ink back. What counts is what's on the field when you release the ball.

Techniques for 3 stars

1. Clear first, then trim

Don't aim for 3 stars on your first try. Clear the stage with a comfortable drawing and see the ball's path. Then trim the drawing step by step, raising the power each time to keep the same path.

2. Let power do the work

Shot power is free; ink isn't. A fast ball gets enough height off a short ramp. Try a short, steep tip instead of a long, gentle ramp.

3. Use what's on the field

Triangles, rocks, igloos, rubber blocks and mushrooms can stand in for your ramp or spring. Most 3-star solutions use an obstacle as a tool.

4. Bounce it in at the end

Rather than aiming the ball at the hole from far away, redirecting it at the last moment with a very short spring right before the hole is often the cheapest route.

5. Draw straight

Because ink is measured by line length, of two ramps that do the same job the straighter one is cheaper. Draw steadily, in one movement.

For why stars matter, that is how Levels unlock, see Levels and progress.

More in this section

• The Wall-X physics engineThe game in numbers: dimensions, speeds, materials and how shots are verified on the server.
• Levels and progress10 Levels, 500 stages. Levels unlock with stars; here's how many you need.
• First stepsFor beginners: the first 15 stages and the habits that matter.