| “ | One of the natives of Shiver Star, Emp is scared of his own shadow and will run at the first sign of Kirby. Let him run away.” |
| — Description • Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Official Strategy Guide (Prima) |
Emp is an enemy that debuts in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It gives the Ice ability when inhaled.
Physical Appearance[]
Emp is a black, penguin-like creature with a large, orange beak and two white, circular eyes with black pupils. It has a white belly and two flat, yellow feet, and also sports a spiky black haircut on the center of its head.
Behavior[]
Emp stands idle until Kirby gets close to it, at which point the enemy panics and attempts to flee by sliding on its belly. After sliding for a short distance, Emp will get up and proceed to run away; if it hits a wall while running, it will simply turn around and continue fleeing. While Emp does not have any ice-based abilities, it does grant the Ice ability when inhaled.
Etymology[]
"Emp" is most likely derived from "Emperor," a species of penguin. This is rather unusual, as Emp doesn't actually live up to his name and is instead rather afraid of Kirby, nor does he even resemble an Emperor Penguin. His name might also be a derivative of the word "imp," which could refer to his cowardice and short stature.
His Japanese name, ハヤマ (Hayama), is a reference to Japanese singer Peggy Hayama (ペギー葉山), who was once mistakenly called "Penguin Hayama" (ペンギン葉山).
Trivia[]
- Emp, along with some Waddle Dees in Kirby's Epic Yarn, is one of few enemies that run away from Kirby simply out of fear. Most others run for different reasons.
- Emp's spiky haircut bears resemblance to that of a Rockhopper penguin.
Artwork[]
Gallery[]
.png "Screenshot (95).png (15 KB)")
