Kirby (series): Difference between revisions

Spin-off titles divert from the main series in a similar manner to Sub-Games, but are much larger in scope and entirely separate titles. These titles often experiment with other genres, and are generally not considered to be [[canon]] with the main series. The most prominent spin-off titles include ''[[Kirby Air Ride]]'' - a full-fledged racing game, ''[[Kirby: Canvas Curse]]'' - a 'touch platformer' where Kirby has to be guided using the [[Nintendo DS]] stylus, and ''[[Kirby's Epic Yarn]]'' - a more traditional platformer, but with fundamentally different mechanics to that of the main series.

These are the thirteen main platformers in the ''Kirby'' series. They are most easily distinguished through the use of the full series name, "Kirby of the Stars", in their Japanese, Korean, and Chinese titles. These games are traditional platformers that feature Kirby's signature [[inhale|inhaling]] action and (starting with ''[[Kirby's Adventure]]'') [[Copy Ability]].<ref name="DreamFriends">[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks/Iwata-Asks-Kirby-s-Adventure-Wii/Iwata-Asks-Kirby-s-Adventure-Wii/1-The-Three-Lost-Kirby-Games/1-The-Three-Lost-Kirby-Games-230159.html Iwata Asks about ''Kirby's Return to Dream Land'', UK translation: "(Editor's note: the main Kirby series refers to the set of games that, in Japanese, have "Star Kirby" in their title. In these games, Kirby uses his signature Copy Ability of inhaling enemies to absorb their powers.)"]</ref><ref>[https://kotaku.com/kirby-star-allies-developers-explain-how-they-improved-1833813511 Kotaku interview with Shinya Kumazaki about ''Kirby Star Allies''; when asked about Dream Friends, he mentioned that "The rule was to select one character from each title in the main action games over the years, the so-called core Kirby games, the equivalent to numbered sequels."]</ref><ref name="Tenth">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160110174846/https://miiverse.nintendo.net/posts/AYMHAAACAAADVHj2Znm1dQ Miiverse post mentioning that ''Kirby: Triple Deluxe'' is the "tenth traditional Kirby platformer"]</ref>

Whether [[#Remakes, compilations, and ports|remakes]] count as individual entries in the main series seems to vary. The developers stated in a [[Miiverse]] post that they consider ''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'' the tenth mainline ''Kirby'' game, which would exclude the two previous remakes.<ref name="Tenth"/> Furthermore, when it was decided that ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'' would include one [[Dream Friend]] from each mainline game, remakes were excluded.<ref name="DreamFriends"/> However, the internal codename of ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]'' is "Kirby15", which counts the two prior remakes of main series games (as it would be the thirteenth mainline game otherwise).

|Inconsistently but occasionally known as ''Kirby's Fun Pak'' in European languages.

|Known as ''Kirby's Adventure Wii'' in European languages.

|Known as ''Kirby's Ghost Trap'' in European languages. Based on ''[[wikipedia:Puyo Puyo|Super Puyo Puyo]]''. Never saw a release in Japan.

|A successor to ''[[Team Kirby Clash Deluxe]]''.

|A successor to ''[[Kirby Fighters Deluxe]]''.

|Includes 15 different minigames based on ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]''. Licensed medal throwing Kirby game by [[wikipedia:Atlus|Atlus]].

|Mentioned in the Japanese version of ''[[Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition]]''. Licensed Kirby game by Atlus.

|[[File:KPN_Namco_Arcade.jpg|100px]]

|Licensed Kirby game distributed by Bandai Namco. The machine underwent a location test at namco Lazona Kawasaki between December 24, 2021 and January 10, 2022.<ref>{{twitterlink|bnam_jp|1474213240351588352|wbsnap=true}} for the announcement; {{twitterlink|bnam_jp|1474214497531281410|wbsnap=true}} showing the test machine in action</ref> Later in 2022, Bandai Namco announced the game would roll out first to namco locations starting on October 24, 2022<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoZUxtx4bzE 【BNAM公式】10月24日より順次稼働「星のカービィ ぱくぱくグルメレース」 PV - YouTube]</ref><ref>{{twitterlink|bnam_jp|1584389215776870400|wbsnap=true|wbtime=20231008190847}} of the namco rollout announcement; {{twitterlink|bnam_jp|1584417429710458881|wbsnap=true|wbtime=20231008190755}} calling back to the location test</ref>, followed by a more general rollout across game centers nationwide starting on November 16, 2022.<ref>{{twitterlink|bnam_jp|1592714072285319169|wbsnap=true|wbtime=20231008191131}}</ref><br>The overall object of the game is to lob as many balls and (less abundant) Maxim Tomatoes as possible into Kirby's mouth, in two rounds (with points doubled for the second round) and a bonus "[[Goal Game]]".<ref>[https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/kirby/ Official website for ''Kirby: PakuPaku Gourmet Race''] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20221024034317/https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/am/vg/kirby/ Wayback Machine snapshot])</ref> The machine features a voiceover and clips of Kirby's voice, as well as music from ''[[Kirby Super Star]]'' including the [[Gourmet Race (theme)|Gourmet Race theme]] and the [[Invincible Candy (theme from Kirby's Dream Land)|Invincible Candy music]].<ref>The Gourmet Race theme features prominently in promotional material for the game; other audio elements like the Invincible Candy theme are evident in unofficial videos of gameplay ([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrsvsvFm074 from the Kawasaki location test] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxKfQUGqb5k after official rollout]).</ref>

For 30 years, the original ''[[Kirby's Dream Land]]'' had been the bestselling ''Kirby'' game of all time. Its sales numbers were surpassed by ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]'' by the end of September 2022.<ref>https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2022/221108_8e.pdf</ref>

|''[[Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn]]''

*Originally, the English ''Kirby'' logo used a proprietary font, which was seen from ''[[Kirby's Dream Land]]'' to ''[[Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble]]''. ''[[Kirby: Right Back at Ya!]]'' introduced a new English logo based on the Helvetica Rounded Bold typeface, which was adopted with ''[[Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]'' and used for most games up to ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary, another new English logo debuted with ''[[Kirby and the Forgotten Land]]'', using the Seurat Pro EB typeface.

*So far, the platform with the most original ''Kirby'' games is the [[Nintendo 3DS]], with seven entries (nine if counting remakes).

Generic 2000s Kirby logo.png|The general logo for the ''Kirby'' series, used from ''[[Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land]]'' up until ''[[Kirby Star Allies]]''