Meta Knightmare Returns

Meta Knightmare Returns File:Meta Knightmare Returns Logo.png Logo for Meta Knightmare Returns Details Type(s) Time Attack - Solo Levels 6 Players 1 Appears in Kirby: Planet Robobot

“

Fight new bosses and tougher enemies while Kirby takes a nap!

”

— Meta Knightmare Returns intro text

Meta Knightmare Returns is an Extra Game which is unlocked after completing the Story Mode in Kirby: Planet Robobot. It stars Meta Knight, having him run through all the stages of the Main Game in a continuous time attack with limited recovery items and enhanced foes.

This is the third title of the "Meta Knightmare" time attack series, the first two being Meta Knightmare from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land and Meta Knightmare Ultra from Kirby Super Star Ultra.

Story

The story is effectively an alternate version of the Main Game story, where Meta Knight leads the attack on the invading Haltmann Works Company instead of Kirby, who the player is informed is still taking his nap. Meta Knight battles through all the areas, damaging the legs of the Access Ark, then climbing inside to deal with its president. Once this is done, Meta Knight poses in triumph, presuming his task complete, when he is spotted by the mother computer, Star Dream, who was observing the battle, and now declares Meta Knight to be the new admin. As part of the initiation, Star Dream pits Meta Knight against two of its most powerful clones, Dark Matter Clone and Sectonia Clone. When they are defeated, Star Dream summons Galacta Knight from across dimensions to challenge its new admin, but Galacta Knight deals a decisive slash to the computer as soon as he is freed. With difficulty, Meta Knight defeats his magenta rival, sealing him away once more.

Gameplay differences

Meta Knight runs through a continuous stream of stages in each level, with no overworld map to use, and few recovery items to be found along the way. Many of the areas that feature the [[Robobot Armor|Robobot ArmTemplate:Or]] in the Main Game are skipped, though Meta Knight is capable of destroying numerous obstacles with his sword that in the Main Game only the Robobot ArmTemplate:Or would be able to, such as Iron Balls and giant metal blocks.

In-between each level, Meta Knight can find rest areas in the docking bay of the Halberd which will save the player's progress and fully heal Meta Knight. Continuing a game will place Meta Knight back at the last save point used. When a level is complete, the time taken to complete it will be shown to the player with the overall time kept in a top time scoreboard once the game is finished.

Bosses

Enhanced versions of all Bosses and Mid-Bosses previously encountered in the Main Game are re-fought in this mode (though only up to President Haltmann, also excluding Mecha Knight+ and the ones faced using the Robobot ArmTemplate:Or). After Meta Knight defeats President Haltmann 2.0, he is given a triad of new bosses to face.

Meta Knight encounters the following bosses through his run:

• Clanky Woods 2.0 (including chase sequence)
• Holo Defense API 2.0
• Susie 2.0
• Stock Mecha Knight
• Dedede Clone 2.0
• Dedede Clones & D3 2.0
• President Haltmann 2.0
• Dark Matter Clone
• Sectonia Clone
• Galacta Knight Returns

Moveset

The following table lists Meta Knight's standard moveset in Meta Knightmare Returns:

Meta Knight's Moveset in Kirby: Planet Robobot
Skill	Image	Button Execution	Skill	Image	Button Execution
Overhead Slash	}}	B}}	Up Thrust	}}	↑ + B}}
Knight Beam	}}	B at full stamina}}	Meta Spin Slash	}}	Hold B, and then release}}
Meta Triple Slash	}}	B twice after Overhead Slash}}	Mach Tornado	}}	Hold B, and then release + ↑}}
Meta Multithrust	}}	B after Meta Triple Slash}}	Sky Knight Sword	}}	Hold ↑, and then B}}
Piercing Slash	}}	Dash + B}}	Underwater Spin	}}	B while underwater}}
Knight Spin	}}	Dash + B in midair}}	Meta Condor Dive	}}	Dash + ↓ + B in midair}}
Meta Chop and Thrust	}}	B in midair}}	Shuttle Loop	}}	↓↑ + B}}
Down Thrust	}}	↓ + B in midair}}	Hover	}}	A in midair}}

Meta Points

When Meta Knight defeats foes, he gains spheres of energy called Meta Points from them, which automatically fly to him. Gaining a certain amount of points is necessary to perform special moves (detailed below). Meta Knight can also find bubbles containing large quantities of points inside them, usually from side-chambers, or as a gift from Bandana Waddle Dee. Meta Knight can hold up to 50 Meta Points, which will not reset unless the game is quit and continued from a save point.

Meta Knight's Special Moves
Move	Image	Description	Meta Points Needed
Meta Quick	}}	Meta Knight speeds up for a short amount of time. Does not stack with Invincible Candy.	8
Heal	}}	Meta Knight recovers all of his stamina.	10
Galaxia Darkness	}}	Time stops as Meta Knight sweeps his cape forward and the screen goes dark. After a short time, a flash of light sweeps across the screen in a horizontal line across Meta Knight's position, dealing large damage to all foes in its path. This is directly taken from his same Final Smash in Super Smash Bros. series.	18
Meta Knightmares	File:Meta-Knights.png}}	Time stops and Meta Knight jumps off of the screen. His four Meta-Knights swoop across the stage, then all five land in the foreground and do a triumphant pose, with an explosion in the background. This deals severe damage to all foes on screen, with power similar to the fully charged Crash ability.	35

Trivia

• Due to his absence in the games they appeared in, Meta Knight has never fought Dark Matter nor Queen Sectonia before this mode, though instead, he fights their clones.

Gallery

• PR MetaKnightmareReturns Results.jpg

  The results screen, featuring the Meta-Knights with the main man himself.

• MKR Patched Plains.png

  Meta Knight relaxes in stage 1.

• MKR Resolution Road.png

  Look both ways before crossing the street.

• MKR Resolution Road2.png

  Meta Knight enters an odd-looking factory of some sort.

• MKR Resolution Road3.png

  Meta Knight goes gambling in an oversized casino.

• MKR Overload Ocean.png

  It was supposed to be a 3-hour tour...

• MKR Overload Ocean2.png

  Meta Knight takes a short class in chest-finding.

• MKR Overload Ocean3.png

  Meta Knight walking in a winter wonderland.

• MKR Overload Ocean4.png

  Meta Knight ventures to the bottom of the ocean.

• MKR Gigabyte Grounds.png

  Meta Knight wonders what's in the giant blender.

• MKR Rest Area.png

  One of the rest areas that also functions as a checkpoint.