Pause
Pause refers to the action of suspending the action of a video game, usually using the 'Start' button. When done, the game will either freeze in place or take the player to a menu, from which the player can either resume the game again, quit the level/stage being played, or manage any number of other menu options included with the title. Pausing is typically done in normal sections of gameplay where the player has control of the actions of their character. As such, it is not usually possible to pause during cut-scenes, though pressing the 'start' button during one may bring up a prompt to skip the cut-scene in question.
In the context of the Kirby series, the pause function has taken on a variety of different looks and options. In the original Kirby's Dream Land, pausing froze gameplay and stopped the music until the start button was pressed again. Starting with Kirby's Adventure, however, pausing usually takes the player to a menu and lowers the volume of the music instead of muting it. In these menus, there is often one or more pages explaining the playable character's move-set, which tends to include flavor text and controls for Copy Abilities and secondary characters. In later titles, pausing during a Boss battle will often allow the player to read a description of that boss, or to read backstory relating to the boss.
Trivia
- If the player waits a brief amount of time while Kirby's Dream Land is paused, Kirby will start dancing in place.
- Kirby: Planet Robobot is the only game to have a unique song play on the pause menu, titled "Mother's Intuition".
- Starting from Kirby Super Star Ultra, flavor text is written in the pause menus, providing brief descriptions or backstory of the boss the player is currently fighting. This continued from Kirby's Return to Dream Land through Kirby Star Allies. Although, Kirby and the Forgotten Land doesn't provide any flavor text in the pause screen, opting instead to provide select collectable figurines descriptions.
- While the main gameplay of Kirby Star Allies and Kirby and the Forgotten Land are locked to running at 30 FPS maximum, the pause menu (as well as other menus) runs at a smoother 60 FPS.
Gallery
The story mode pause menu from Kirby: Triple Deluxe
The story mode pause menu from Kirby: Planet Robobot
The battle pause menu from Kirby Battle Royale
The story mode pause menu from Kirby Battle Royale
