| ANIMAL | With 44- Across, Nintendo series hinting at the letters where the starred clues' answers intersect (Bonus: Read these letters clockwise) |
| CROSSING | Nintendo series hinting at the letters where the starred clues' answers intersect (Bonus: Read these letters clockwise) |
| JUSTATRIM | Salon request that hints at the letters to write (or imagine) above the starred clues' answers |
| DANTES | (and 4 Across) Nintendo fares badly with classic tale (6,7) |
| XOXO | Affectionate sign-off ... or a pattern hinting at the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |
| COMPASS | Device hinting at the directions that were added to the starred clues' answers |
| THEME | This puzzle's has a bonus if you read the letters where the lovers cross in order by column |
| RAMP | What each circled model in this puzzle ascends or descends, and what's spelled by the letters where the models cross |
| FRUITMACHINE | One-armed bandit hinting at answers to asterisked clues (5,7) |
| OVERMYHEAD | "I don't get it," and where the starred answers might be found |
| LOOKOUTPOST | Beware of letters where the sentry stands (4,3,4) |
| GOODWILLTOALL | Message hinting at a similar one found, literally, in four areas of the puzzle |
| ATTHEDROPOFAHAT | Without warning, and where the starred answers get tricky |
| WATER | Its chemical formula hints at the letter change behind each starred clue's answer |
| ALLABOUTEVE | 1950 Bette Davis film hinting at something found 15 times in this puzzle |
| INSINUATING | Could be suiting Nina to be hinting at something bad (11) |
| IPUTASPELLONYOU | Much-covered 1956 Screamin' Jay Hawkins song ... hinting at what happens three times in this puzzle's solution |
| HOBNOBS | Oaty biscuits whose name combines a word for a stovetop and one hinting at their bumpy texture (7) |
| FZERO | Nintendo series with high-speed racers |
| MARIOPARTY | Nintendo series with board game elements |
