You know that feeling you get when you pass a really long exam, behind the wheel driving test, boot camp :o? Well, that describes it right there.

I wasn't expecting this game to be as frustrating as it was. It was insane! Tell me that those barrages (yes, more than one barrage) of transparent beams constantly spinning & flying at you in Sector X wasn't going overboard.

I single that section out because I still don't know exactly how to anticipate for that.

The last couple of bosses aren't necessarily 'fair game' either.  To call the third Andross 'frustratingly hard' is an understatement. I, no kidding, just beat the 'Level 3' difficulty with no lives, no continues, & very little shield left.  One minor detail could determine whether I would be in absolute bliss or complete antipathy. It was a miracle! There's no emoticon here that can really show my expression. I guess this does:

http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/corky/corkysm60.gif

At my peak I could beat  any path on SF with no deaths with 100 percent enemies killed.  :P

It's one of those games if you die in the middle, you get screwed because you need to build up your power again. >:(

Sometimes I'll purposely miss the checkpoint ring so I can get a twin laser if I ever die on the boss.

By the way, by 'any path' you're not taking the Black Hole are you?

I can select any of the three paths or any combination of the black hole.  The only thing that is unbeatable to me is the bonus round with the wacky slot machine.  Funny how they tossed that in the game.

Yeah, that was a huge joke; and there's no way out of there. ;D It's too bad you don't see Fox's father there like it said.