A few game hints I don't think have been published elsewhere

The message title says it all. Here are a few hints for any game players working their way through the game, trying to collect stars and make progress.

Various courses: There are wooden pillars in many stages. Run circles around these and they'll spit out coins. Very useful if you're low on health or going for the 100 coin star in a level.

Tiny-Huge Island 100 coin star: Use the Z-Button Stomp to kill giant Goombas, not a regular jump. A regular jump nets only a single coin. The Z-Button Stomp gets you FIVE coins. Also remember you can travel back and forth between the two islands and gain plenty of coins on both of them.

Whomp's Fortress: When the Whomp enemies try to flatten you, don't kill them right away. Do 5 jumps (not stomps) on their backs. On each jump, a coin will come out - up to 5. After you have gotten these 5 coins, kill them with a stomp. If you followed my advice, it makes these guys worth TEN coins a piece. Very useful when going after the 100 coin star.

Shifting Sand Land - Stand Tall on the Four Pillars - You don't have to use the four pillars. It's possible to just go in the pyramid, get on top of the red box, and hop down to the ledge that will take you to the Eye Rock battle. Most people will find the traditional "pillars" way easier, but this strategy is worth looking into for a skilled gamer.

Big Boo Boss Fights - He doesn't know when to quit. THREE TIMES he threatens you, and he ALWAYS USES THE SAME STRATEGY. Three stomps. That's all it takes to do him in. Like other Boos, he will give chase if you turn your back. Use this to your advantage. Turn your back on him. As he approaches, crouch and do a backflip - and exit the backflip using a Z-stomp. Repeat 2 more times and he's as good as dead.

Cool Cool Mountain 100 Coins Star - Be sure you're playing on Star 1, Slip Slidin' Away (this way there's no penguin at the slide.) Before you do anything else, GO DOWN THE SLIDE and DO NOT USE THE SHORTCUT. Stay near the center of the track and get all the coins you can. If you took my advice, when you get off the slide, you should have close to 75 coins. From there on out, it's easy to find 25 more and earn the star.

Tall Tall Mountain 100 Coins Star - Same strategy as before. Scale the mountain to the slide entrance and go down it before you do any more coin hunting. When you get off the slide, you should have a ton of coins, and from there it shouldn't be too hard to get the rest you need for a star (note that the DS port put a grating at the slide exit so this strategy won't work there.)

All stars in Shifting Sand Land - No matter what star you're going after, always select star 1, In The Talons of the Big Bird. As long as you pick this star, the bird will hold the star, and therefore not be able to attack you. And fear not - you can get ALL of the stars in the level using this trick! (though i think the DS version added a single star where this doesn't work, but it works on all the others fine.)

Tall Tall Mountain Blast to the Lonely Mushroom. The two well-known strategies here are A) the honest way that involves the cannon which is VERY hard to pull off, and B) the equally hard method of long-jumping off the end of the giant log. I have a simpler strategy. Just before the giant log you will find a Fly Guy. Jump off his head and use the spin you gain temporarily to safely hover down to the star's resting place. Could it get any easier?

Tall Tall Mountain Mysterious Mountainside (this DOES NOT work on the DS version due to the grating at the slide exit) - There's a way to get this star WITHOUT EVEN USING THE SLIDE! Basically copy the strategy in the previous "lonely mushroom" section, and use the spin motion from jumping on the fly guy, and glide into the slide exit alcove where the star rests.

Tick Tock Clock - Get A Hand: You don't have to have the clock going for this one! Stop the clock, go to where you got Roll Into the Cage. The star is right BELOW the cage. You can easily kind of jump/fall itno the alcove and get the star.

Lethal Lava Land - Before you get any other stars, get one of the ones in the volcano. This way you'll be able to get a shiny shell and easily cruise around the stage, which will make your subsequent objectives a breeze. Additionally, a lonely little island in the corner of the map near where you start the level has a Wing Cap, which will also make navigation a lot easier. With the usage of either one of these strategies, the Red Hot Log Rolling star can easily be gotten, without even touching the giant log!

Wet-Dry World - Shocking Arrow Lifts! When you get the water level where you want it, get on the platform just before the arrow lifts. Rather than using the arrow lifts, simply long jump to the platform that contains the star.

Bob-Omb Battlefield - there's a warp in the little alcove in the side of the mountain. Using it will take you to an alcove further up the mountain. This will make your trek up to fight the Big Bob-Omb a lot easier, not to mention it's the ONLY shortcut you can use against Koopa the Quick and not get disqualified.

Whomp's Fortress 100 Coin Star: Down the ramp near where you talk to the Pink Bob-Omb is a small ledge with a blue coin block. Stomp it and 4 blue coins appear. That's an instant 20 coins towards your goal. Additionally, the Piranha Plants can be killed if you sneak up on them and punch them before they wake up - netting another blue coin a piece. Combine this with the aforementioned "10 coins from a whomp" strategy, and you'll have no problem meeting your goal here.

Cool Cool Mountain - Wall Kicks Will Work: Wall kicks WILL work, but the spindrift descending helicopter trick will work even better. jump on him (he's on the "snowman's body" wooden ledge) and ride him down to where the star is.

Big Boo's Haunt 100 Coin Star - You need to play on a star after the first one to complete this zone, I recommend Star 2. Boos can be stomped for a kill, which will get you a blue coin. Mr. I's can be ran around in a circle and killed, which also nets a blue coin. There are a ton of coins AROUND the house as well as inside of it, and a few in the trap basement. Plus 8 red coins, worth 2 a piece. With all these opportunities, you should have no difficulty raking in 100 coins. Play on the "Big Boo's Merry Go Round" star (2), and there will be even more Boos to attack on the merry go round area, each netting 5 coins a piece (and you can just retreat through a door when Big Boo shows up.)

Hazy Maze Cave - Swimming Beast in the Cavern - Many people claim to have difficulty getting this star once they get on the swimming beast. Well, there's a trick! The beast will ALWAYS swim in the direction you are facing, when you're on its head. Use this strategy to reach the star at the center of the room, as well as the ledge that will take you to the metal cap course.

Hazy Maze Cave 100 Coin Star - this is one of the tougher 100 coin stars to get, but my advice is this - leave no stone unturned. There are a lot of areas with coins that are easy to overlook. This includes a coin circle around the "swimming beast" star, a blue coin block in the maze itself, the 8 red coins, and the coins in the upper rafters on the "a-maze-ing emergency exit!" star (just don't make one of those the last of the 100 or you'll never get to the star.) Also make sure you don't accidentally exit to the metal cap course, coins gained there don't count toward your goal, and you'll lose your 100 coin progress if you end up there.

Lethal Lava Land 100 coin star - Don't forget about coins inside the volcano! (but save those ones for last.) Make sure you play on a star 5 or 6 so you can use the shiny shell to get around the course easily and explore every island. Do this, plus use the wing cap. By utilizing these two strategies, you should have no difficulty getting all of the stars on the overworld part of the map. And if you've gotten a pretty good haul of coins and can find no more on the overworld (don't overlook any island or region up there!), go on into the volcano to finish the job.

Shifting Sand Land atop the pyramid exterior star - Don't waste time trying to climb the pyramid. Talk to the bob-omb buddy, get a wing cap, hop in the cannon, and just shoot yourself over there.

Shifting Sand Land 100 coin star - Don't overlook coins in the pyramid, but get all of them OUTSIDE the pyramid first. To do this, be sure you get all of the red coins (a wing cap and cannon will really help), and look EVERYWHERE on the land (this includes the Tox Box maze and the pyramid entrance/exterior ledges. Once you've gotten them all, there are plenty of zones with coins in the pyramid. And don't forget about the blue coin block just past the entrance!

Wing Cap Course 8 red coins - Make sure you get the coins AS YOU ENTER THE COURSE, and get the ones HIGHEST UP FIRST. You won't be able to fly back up to the high ones on your own power from the tower peak, so make damn sure you get the highest ones WHEN YOU ENTER.

Princess' Secret Slide under 20 seconds star - Don't believe the hype - NEVER try jumping off the side of the slide as a shortcut, this will actually slow you down more than it will help. Just hold straightforward on the stick and go as fast as you can, dodging obstacles and making turns where applicable. Alternatively, you can try going down the slide on your belly, which gives you less control but seems to make you go faster.

Jolly Roger Bay 100 Coin Star - You need to be playing on a star beyond Star 1 to complete this mission, so that you can get the red coins on the ship. Don't forget about the other red coins (4 are in clams under the water, 1 atop a climbing pillar near the red bob-omb), and make sure to rake the whole ocean for coins - there's a spiked pillar near a cliffside by the ship that has a circle of coins around it in the water, not to mention a blue coin block in the underwater cavern that too many gamers tend to overlook.

Dire Dire Docks 100 Coin Star - The hardest 100 coin star of them all. DO NOT MISS A SINGLE COIN. You need EVERY COIN IN THE LEVEL to make this work. Before you move out of the first cavern with the sharks, rake the floor for all the coins you can. Get all the "ring" coins in the corridor that connects the two main chambers, get all of the red coins, and for the love of god, don't overlook that blue coin block! If a coin disappears on you or you miss the blue coins when you activate the block, start the level over. You can't win without them. And another thing - don't get sucked out of the level through the trapdoor.

Snowman's Land - In The Deep Freeze - People make this one so much harder than it needs to be. Get inside the little ice maze, simple double jump, grab onto the top of the ledge, and fall into the hole with the star. You DO NOT need to shoot yourself on top of the maze with a cannon!

Snowman's Land 100 coin star - Lots of coins to be gotten in this level. Money Bags (there are two of them here) will give you a ton of coins when killed, you can use the shiny shell to get all of the red coins, and there are a TON of coins in the igloo people tend to forget.

Tall Tall Mountain - There are two ways to ascend the mountain - the obvious "log rolling" way and the less obvious "green cliffside" way. The cliffside is MUCH easier, so if you're ascending, this is the way to do. But if you're going for the 100 coin star, be sure to go on BOTH paths and get all the coins both present.

Wet Dry World 100 Coin Star - Easiest 100 coin star in the game. You DON'T even need to go to the "downtown" area! The blue coin block will get you 35 coins instantly. There are a few lesser enemies to kill. There are standard coin blocks, and at least two of are the kind that will give you a LOT of coins. Start as shallow as the water gets and work your way up. If you explore the first section of the level fully, gradually raising the water and heading upward, you should have no trouble getting 100 coins. And hell, if worst comes down to it, you CAN always go downtown.

Wet Dry World - Ok, this strategy IS on a lot of sites, but its worth repeating. Backflip into the painting as high as you can, and you'll start with the water level HIGHER than the normal maximum. This way you can easily swim over to the grating that leads downtown, passing by the obstacles of the stage's first part. Very useful when you're going after the latter two stars in the level. It's also useful for the Top O' The Town star.

Tiny Huge Island - Koopa the Quick - The secret to winning this race is LONG JUMPS. Use them nonstop until you come to the Windswept Valley, and at this point, simply RUN, making NO JUMPS. If you used enough long jumps prior to the windy zone, you should have enough of a lead to win the race.

Tiny Huge Island - The Tip Top of the Huge Island - you may have learned by now, tiny island is a lot less threatening than Huge Island. So start on tiny island, and don't even go to huge island until you've reached the warp pipe halfway up the side of the peak. You'll avoid nearly every major obstacle in the level, and be home free before you know it.

Tiny Huge Island - Wiggler's Red Coins - PATIENCE is the name of the game here. Every time you even THINK about making a jump, adjust your camera angles to the best possible view. I strongly recommend mastering the fine arts of Wall Kicks and Long Jumps before you even attempt this star; they'll be your best friends here. And if you fall down a seemingly bottomless pit to what could likely be your death, try wall-kicking to save your life and get out of the chasm. Doesn't often work, but never hurts to try. And if you're having a hard time getting to the cave where you attempt to get the star, USE THE CANNON to get there. Makes your life a whole lot easier.

Tiny Huge Island - Make Wiggler Squirm - All you have to do is stomp the guy to win, and avoid his "attacks", if they can even be called such. Just ALWAYS have your camera zoomed out as far as possible, this will give you the best view of the overall battlefield.

Tick Tock Clock - Unless you're going after the 100 coin star, timed jumps on moving bars star, or the Stomp on the Thwomp star, ALWAYS STOP THE CLOCK (go in when the big hand is on 12.) It will cut the difficulty of the level way down.

Tick Tock Clock 100 coin star - Go in when the big hand is on 3. The clock will be moving, but not so fast that it's going to frustrate you. It's necessary to have the clock moving to get every coin. Don't overlook the blue coin block, the red coins, coins enemies give you, and above all, don't be afraid to trek to the very top. If you overlook the peak area near where you got Stomp on the Thwomp, you'll miss out on a lot of coins.

Rainbow Ride - Big House in the Sky - The first time you pass through the Big House, crouch with Z. You'll duck under the fireplace flames and take no damage. This WILL NOT work the second time through, though!

Rainbow Ride - When you start the level, DO NOT take the carpet. Turn around and do a long jump to the pillar behind you. Saves you time, it's safer than the carpet, and above all, it will put you in a position to easily go after any star in the level.

Rainbow Ride - Tricky Triangles - One word - Backflips. It's hard to control backflips, but work with them. They can make this star a LOT easier.

Rainbow Ride 100 Coin Star- One of the toughest ones, my main piece of advice is DON'T FALL DOWN. There's no ground here and a single slip-up will cost you. My advice here is simple. GO EVERYWHERE IN THE LEVEL, and DON'T OVERLOOK THE RED COINS AND THE BLUE COIN BLOCK (you'll need to have mastered wall kicking to get all of the blue ones, so start practicing.) Your searches for the stars in this level took you all over the stage, so try to remember every star, and the coinage opportunties available on each route. There aren't a whole lot of coins, but there are more than enough. Also, make sure you don't get yourself stranded somewhere.

Bowser in the Sky - after the first pinwheel lift, backflip to the ledge above. A nice little shortcut that will allow you to skip a brief but frustrating section.

Wing Mario Over the Rainbow - When going from ledge to ledge, ALWAYS USE THE CANNONS, and ALWAYS GET A FRESH WING CAP. If you're on a ledge with no cannon, your next jump/flight had better be to a ledge that has one. That's the secret to success. ALWAYS frequent ledges with wing cap blocks and cannons. Oh, and don't fall to your death.

Hope these strategies helped all you Mario 64 fans out there!