Kirby's Return to Dream Land/Unused Content

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This page documents content in Kirby's Return to Dream Land that went unused, being cut or altered before the game's release.

Early builds

Main article: Kirby GCN

• Early in Kirby's Return to Dream Land’s development, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata instructed the development team to make the game single-player. The developers, however, felt a strong desire to include multiplayer in the game--so much so that they secretly made an agreement with HAL Laboratory to eventually shift focus to making Kirby's Return to Dream Land a 4-player game.
• During development, the creative team considered calling the game Kirby Wii: Super Friends, in reference to the game's Super Abilities and 4-player co-op.

Unused Data

Unused Copy Abilities and Super Abilities

• Models, images and movements Super Cutter Kirby can be found in the game's files, which would have been a Super Ability based on Cutter. The prospective "Super Kibble" enemy that would have granted Kirby this ability is not found, suggesting an early omission. The models for this ability can be found in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/supercutter.

Super Cutter ability hat

Super Cutter weapon

Super Cutter hat icon

Super Cutter Ability Star texture

Super Cutter Ability Star

Kirby throwing the weapon

Kirby catching the weapon

Kirby throwing the weapon in mid-air

Kirby catching the weapon in mid-air

• Although only one piece of this ability is in the game's files, there was a Super Spark ability planned to be in the game as well, although only its ability star remains in the game's files. Interestingly, the star is colored green instead of teal, similar to the Plasma ability. This may suggest that Spark was originally intended to be replaced with Plasma. This can be located in files/g3d/step/item/spabilitystar/Spark.brres.cmp.

Super Spark Ability Star texture

Super Spark Ability Star

• There is a mysterious normal and super "clock" icon, which may have been either a placeholder or time/space-based Copy Ability. Further research indicates that this clock might have been an ability to turn Kirby back to normal, or simply a dummy texture for the ability star model. The normal ability star is located in files/g3d/step/item/abilitystar/Base.brres.cmp, while the super ability star is in files/g3d/step/item/spabilitystar/Base.brres.cmp.

Ability Star texture for the unused ability

Model of the Copy Essence for the unused ability

Super Ability Star texture for the unused ability

Model of the Super Ability Star for the unused ability

Unused Playable Character Textures

• HR-D3's files hide an unused texture for King Dedede. These textures are completely different from Dedede's playable state, and have an art style extremely similar to that of Kirby Air Ride's. This suggests that these textures are a leftover from Kirby GCN, from when Dedede was piloting or related to HR-D3. These textures are located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/hrd3/Model.brres.cmp.

Dedede's unused body texture

Dedede's left eye

Dedeede's right eye

• Bomb Kirby has an alternate texture for his hat located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/bomb/Hat.brres.cmp. This design appears to be the one that was used in Kirby Super Star up until Kirby Super Star Ultra. This texture isn't compatible with Bomb's regular hat, nor Sword's hat.

The unused texture

Unused Enemies

• There is one known enemy that was cut from the final game: Hearbell, a flower-like object that latches onto or possibly eats Kirby (or the other characters) in a similar fashion to Pacto. This enemy is located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Hearbell.brres.cmp.

The enemy Hearbell

Unused Enemy Textures

• Various early textures of the enemy Walf can be found, which has simpler pupils (which lacks irises), a bald head with no blue cover over it, and a lighter-colored shell. Walf also has 2 unused eye textures. Walf's model is designed to only use one texture for its whole body. The textures can be found in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Walf.brres.cmp.

Unused version of Walf

The unused texture for Walf

Walf's unused open eye

Walf's unused closed eye

• Similarly, the Galbo and Water Galbo enemies have unused textures for their eyes and their body. Like Walf, their models are set up in a way to use only a texture for the whole body, instead of one for the body and one for the eye. The textures for the regular Galbo are located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Galbo.brres.cmp, while Water Galbo's are inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Wgalbo.brres.cmp.

Galbo's unused body texture

Texture for Galbo's eye

Texture for Galbo's damaged eye

Texture for Galbo's closed eye

Water Galbo's unused body texture

Texture for Water Galbo's eye

Texture for Water Galbo's damaged eye

Texture for Water Galbo's closed eye

• The enemy Needlous has an unused texture depicting an earlier design for it. The stripes are less detailed and his eyes are lower quality. Strangely, these textures are found inside Broom Hatter's files, in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Broom.brres.cmp.

Needlous' unused texture

Needlous' model with the unused texture

• The Coconuts Bonkers can throw have some alternate textures that can depict it as more cartoony or more realistic. The textures are located in files/g3d/step/weapon/bonkers/Coconutbomb.brres.cmp.

The cartoony Coconut texture.

Model render of the Coconut with the cartoony texture.

The realistic Coconut texture.

Model render of the Coconnut with the realistic texture.

• The Flamer enemy's body texture strangely hides an eye. Unlike Walf and the Galbos, Flamer's model is designed to use a texture for its body and one for its eye. While the body texture is used, the eye hiding in it is not. Elec doesn't have this oddity. The texture is inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Flamer.brres.cmp.

The eye in Flamer's texture

• The enemies Cappy, Craby, Hot Head and Waddle Doo all have an unused "hurt" texture. The textures in question would display when they got damaged or grabbed, but because of a naming error in the animation they're supposed to show up, they go unused. All of these enemies have these expressions properly used in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.

Cappy's unused damage texture

Cappy's model with the unused texture

Craby's unused damage texture

Craby's model with the unused texture

Hot Head's unused damage texture

Hot Head's model with the unused texture

Waddle Doo's unused damage texture

Waddle Doo's model with the unused texture

• Similarly, the enemy Togekuki has an unused texture that shows him with an angry expression. This texture is located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Togekuki.brres.cmp.

Togekuki's angry texture

Togekuki's model with his angry expression

• Likewise, the enemy Tick has an unused "evil" texture. This expression has been used in most of the games Tick appeared prior Kirby's Return to Dream Land when Kirby was slightly above it. This expression also is accompanied by an unused animation. The data of these files is inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Tick.brres.cmp.

Tick's unused texture

Tick's unused animation

Unused Boss Textures

• Whispy Woods has some unused bushes with a more cartoony art style and a texture for his body that isn't compatible with his model. The textures are found in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/whispy/Model.brres.cmp.

Whispy's unused body

The first set of Whispy's bushes

The second set of Whispy's bushes

• Goriath has unused textures depicting him with red fur and darker skin. These textures are found in his normal and EX files, so it's unknown for what version they were meant for. The textures also have the peculiar prefix of "Tamarin". These textures are located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/goliath/Model.brres.cmp.

Goraith's model with the unused textures

Goriath's unused body texture

Goriath's face

Goriath in the middle of blinking

Goriath blinking

Goriath's angry closed eye

Powered up Goriath's face

Powered up Goriath in the middle of blinking

Powered up Goriath blinking

Unused Item Textures

• Inside HR-D3's files, there is a Warp Star texture. This is most likely a leftover from the cancelled Kirby GCN, as HR-D3 was going to be powered by the Warp Star, or at least a piece of it, as evidenced by his concept art. Like with Dedede's unused textures, this graphic can be found inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/hrd3/Model.brres.cmp.

The unused Warp Star texture

The Warp Star model with the unused texture

Unused Models

• Inside files/g3d/step/gimmick/Doorcover.brres.cmp, there lies what appears to be a golden cover for Doors. It has just one animation that consists on the door cover shining.

Model render of the Door Cover.

The Door Cover's animation.

• The ice-based Sphere Doomers have an unused model for an icy object called "Ice Blizzard". It was supposed to be used as a weapon of sorts. The object also has an unused animation, and can be found in files/g3d/step/effect/lowper/IceBlizzard.brres.cmp.

The animation of the icy object.

• Magolor has an unused "weapon" of sorts, called "Bubble" internally. Its only animations consist of it inflating and deflating. This model is located in files/g3d/step/effect/mahoroabattle1/Bubble.brres.cmp.

Magolor's bubble.

• Bizarrely, the motion files for the Mike Copy Ability have a hidden Kirby model. The textures don't display properly on the model, but they're exactly the same as regular Kirby's. This model is located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/mike/Motion.brres.cmp.

The Kirby model on Mike's animations folder.

Unused Miscellaneous Graphics

• A single placeholder graphic for Water's icon can be found in files/lyt/step/game/ability_icon/Water.brres.cmp. The text can be translated to "temporary".

The temporary graphic.

• An image with various pieces of Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land artwork are found inside a folder for the tutorial windows that occasionally pop up in the first stages of Cookie Country. They explain how Kirby's Inhale mechanic works. The image can be found in files/lyt/step/game/GuideBoard.arc.cmp.

The unused graphic.

• Various unused, lower-quality icons for the Challenge Doors inside the Lor Starcutter are strangely found inside the Halcandle Armor Dee's texture files. Many other graphics are found inside it as well, but they are all used. Interestingly, there's also an unused icon for a Ninja Challenge, meaning a Challenge for the Ninja Copy Ability was considered or even in the game at some point, but it got scrapped. According to the icon's file name, it was the 4th Challenge the player could take on. The texture can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/HalcandleArmorDee.brres.cmp.

Unused icon for the Sword Challenge.

Unused icon for the Hi-Jump Challenge.

Unused icon for the Whip Challenge.

Unused icon for the Water Challenge.

Unused icon for the Bomb Challenge.

Unused icon for the Wing Challenge.

Unused icon for the Item Challenge.

Unused icon for the scrapped Ninja Challenge.

Unused Animations

Playable Characters

• Kirby has a handful of unused animations, and can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/normal/Motion.brres.cmp. These animations can depict him in the following situations:
  • Sliding on a slope and standing up after sliding
  • Teetering slowly near a ledge
  • Hanging on ropes and struggling to stay on ropes

Kirby sliding on his back.

Kirby standing up after sliding on his back.

Kirby sliding on his face.

Kirby standing up after sliding on his face.

Kirby teetering.

Kirby teetering while having something in his mouth.

Kirby teetering while having the Parasol Copy Ability.

Kirby hanging on a rope, similar to the Waddle Dees that hang from them.

Kirby struggling to stay on a rope.

• Beam Kirby has many unused animations that are mostly earlier versions of his attacks in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/beam/Motion.brres.cmp. They show him:
  • Performing what appears to be an early "Revolution Beam".
  • Doing a slightly slower "Cycle Beam" that can be charged.
  • Attacking around him by circling his wand over him.
  • Simply standing.

Kirby performing what appears to be a Revolution Beam.

Kirby stopping the Revolution Beam.

Kirby starting the Cycle Beam.

Kirby starting to charge the Cycle Beam.

Kirby charging the Cycle Beam.

Kirby performing the Cycle Beam.

Kirby stopping the Cycle Beam.

Kirby starting up his unused attack.

Kirby starting up the charge of his unused attack.

Kirby charging his unused attack.

Kirby performing the unused attack.

Kirby standing.

• Bomb Kirby has various unused animations that depict him throwing bombs in unique ways, and one animations where he charges up his bomb. These are in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/bomb/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby throwing a bomb on the ground.

Kirby throwing a bomb in the air. This animation is similar to one animation found in the trailer for the cancelled Kirby GCN.

Kirby throwing his bomb downwards in the air.

Kirby charging up the bomb in mid-air.

• Ninja Kirby has 2 unused animations for missing the grab from Air Drop. Kirby will inmediately grab the opponent if an Air Drop is performed or attack if he wasn't close enough, rendering these animations unused. They're located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/ninja/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby failing to grab something.

Kirby missing the grab in mid-air.

• Sleep Kirby has just one unused animation that depicts him yawning after getting the Ability. It can be found in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/sleep/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby yawning.

• Spear Kirby has a set of unused animations for an attack that somewhat resembles his Down Smash Attack from the Super Smash Bros. series. Like Beam Kirby, Spear's animations also contain an animation of Kirby simply standing, but now with an angry expression. They can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/spear/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby starting up the attack.

Kirby attacking.

Kirby ending the attack.

Kirby angrily standing.

• Like Sleep, Stone Kirby has an "Ability get" animation. In this case, Kirby jumps up and transforms in the air. This animation can be found in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/stone/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby transforming after the getting the ability.

• Tornado Kirby has an animation of him getting dizzy after performing a standard Tornado Attack. He also has a test animation that merges the Tornado Attack and the dizzy animation. These animations are inside files/g3d/step/chara/hero/kirby/tornado/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kirby spinning while dizzy.

Tornado's test animation.

• Meta Knight has an unused idle animation that makes him sit to then examine his sword. Meta Knight also has various more animations that make him perform Galacta Knight's "Freed" animation, but with many side effects. These animations can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/meta/normal/Motion.brres.cmp.

Meta Knight's unused animation.

Meta Knight performing Galacta Knight's animation.

Meta Knight performing Galacta Knight's animation in the air.

An extremely long Meta Knight animation that incorporates Galacta Knight's animations.

A longer variation of the animation shown before.

An "aerial" version of the animations shown before.

A longer version of the unused "aerial" animation.

• King Dedede has an "Underwater Wheel" attack that consists of him spinning his hammer around him while inside a body of water. In-game, he simply swings his hammer vertically downwards to attack his opponent. King Dedede also has a test animation that is very similar to the animation featured when he rides Landia. These animations are in files/g3d/step/chara/hero/dedede/normal/Motion.brres.cmp.

The King attacking underwater.

The King's test animation.

Enemies

• Broom Hatter has animations for sliding on slopes. They can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Broom.brres.cmp.

Broom Hatter sitting to slide.

Broom Hatter sliding.

Broom Hatter standing up.

• Chilly has animations for jumping and an alternate idle animation. The unused idle animation can be seen in the trailer for Kirby GCN around 0:44. The animations are inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Chilly.brres.cmp.

Chilly starting a jump.

Chilly jumping.

Chilly's unused idle animation.

• Como has an unused animation for an attacking. It also has an animation that detaches its back spike from its torso. The animations can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Como.brres.cmp.

Como attacking.

Como's unusual unused animation.

• Kabu has animation for teleporting. Ever since Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kabu hasn't been able to teleport. These animations are in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Kabu.brres.cmp.

Kabu disappearing.

Kabu reappearing.

• Needlous has an unused idle animation. In-game, Needlous is always in constant movement, so this idle animation is rendered unused. This can be found inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Needlous.brres.cmp.

Needlous' unused idle animation.

• Noddy has a walking animation, something it hasn't been able to do since Kirby Super Star Ultra, excluding Forgotten Land. This animation can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Noddy.brres.cmp.

Noddy slowly walking.

• Togekuki has an unused attacking animation found in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Togekuki.brres.cmp.

Togekuki attacking.

• Scarfy has animations for jumping and falling. In-game, Scarfys don't jump for obvious reasons. These can be located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Scarfy.brres.cmp.

Scarfy starting a jump.

Scarfy jumping.

Scarfy falling.

Scarfy landing.

• Sir Kibble has a short walking animation. As an enemy, they have been unable to walk ever since Kirby: Squeak Squad. This animation can be found in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/SirKibble.brres.cmp.

Sir Kibble walking.

• Poppy Bros. Jr. has lots of animations related to it riding its bomb and walking, as well as an unused idle animation. They have been unable to stand on anything or walk after Kirby Super Star Ultra. These animations are located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/PoppyJr.brres.cmp.

A Poppy Bro. walking forwards.

A Poppy Bro. walking backwards.

A Poppy Bro. walking forwards on top of a bomb.

A Poppy Bro. walking backwards on top of a bomb.

A Poppy Bro. falling with a bomb.

A Poppy Bro. landing on a bomb.

An unused idle animation.

• Waddle Dees have animations for sliding on slopes, just like Broom Hatters. These animations are inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/Dee.brres.cmp.

A Waddle Dee starting to slide.

A Waddle Dee sliding.

A Waddle Dee standing up.

• The Halcandran Waddle Dees also have the exact same unused animations as the regular Waddle Dees, but they also have a couple of unused "cheering" animations imported from the regular Waddle Dees. These animations are in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/HalcanDee.brres.cmp.

A cheerful Halcandran Waddle Dee.

A Halcrandran Waddle Dee waving.

A Halcandran Waddle dee starting to slide.

A Halcandran Waddle Dee sliding.

A Halcandran Waddle Dee standing up.

Mid-Bosses

• Dubior has unused animations for an unused teleportation ability. It also has a test animations that use the teleporting animations. These animations are located inside files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/dubior/Motion.brres.cmp.

Start-up animation for the move.

Dubior spinning to teleport.

Dubior disappearing.

Dubior reappearing.

Dubior's test animation.

• Gigant Edge has 2 unused damage animations. Since mid-bosses don't flinch, they go unused. These animations are located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/gigantedge/Motion.brres.cmp.

Gigant Edge wildly flinching.

Gigant Edge flinching.

• Kibble Blade also has various damage animations, although it has one more. They're located in files/g3d/step/chara/enemy/zankibble/Motion.brres.cmp.

Kibble Blade wildly flinching.

Kibble Bade flinching.

Kibble Blade struggling.

Unused Music

Please note that all of the BGM documented here was found in DATA/files/snd/iuk_sound/stream

• A completely unique arrangement of the theme "Over the Hills" goes unused. It's titled "KbyW_HEITI1" hides inside the game's files.

• Two remixes for the songs "Cave Expedition" and "Sky Tower" are present inside the game's stream folder, but go unused. They are called "st_wado02" (with wado meaning Waddle Dee) and "st_castle2" respectively. The used melodies are called "st_doukutu" (with doukutu meaning "Cave") and "st_castle".

"st_wado02" "st_castle2"

• King Dedede's theme from Kirby's Super Star Stacker is present in the files, but nowhere to be heard in-game. It's named "IUK_LP_DEDEDE3".

• There exist 2 variations for the fanfare that plays when entering a Dimensional rift. The first one has an eerie instrumentation, while the second one is closer to the one present in the final game.

First variation, named SuperCcopy_Break. Second variation, named SuperCcopy_Break3.

• There is an unused fanfare called "fanfare_GCK". As indicated by the name and instrumentation, this is a leftover from the first incarnation of Kirby GCN. This specific fanfare was used in all of the games after 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure.

• Three unused variations of the theme that plays when using the Ultra Sword against the Grand Doomer are found. These variations last half the length of the used theme and only use the guitar heard in the second half of the final song, albeit with more reverb.

Titled "SuperCopyBoss01". Titled "SuperCopyBoss02". Titled "SuperCopyBoss07".

• The Challenge Stage themes have unused variations that remove the beginning of the song.

First variation. Second variation.

• Magolor's final boss theme, "C-R-O-W-N-E-D", has an unused variation named "LassBoss2_0419". The main difference between the two is that the unused version has more reverb, slightly different instruments and intro.

• There are many unused songs inside the game with a prefix that goes by "KbyW". The songs appear to be earlier versions of songs already in the game. These songs were all composed by Jun Ishikawa, a long-time composer for the Kirby series.

Early Sphere Doomer theme, titled KbyW_BOSS_TYU_M_2.

Early theme for stage 4 of White Wafers, titled KbyW_CACTUS1.

Early theme for stage 3 of Cookie Country, titled KbyW_CANYON1.

Early theme for the underwater section in stage 3 of Onion Ocean, titled KbyW_CAVE1

Early theme for Nutty Noon's hub, titled KbyW_COLD1_forstrm.

Early theme for White Wafers stage 1, titled KbyW_COLD2.

Early theme for the gray Another Dimension areas, tilted KbyW_CONGA1.

Early theme for Raisin Ruins's hub, titled KbyW_FISH1.

Early theme for stage 3 of Egg Engines, titled KbyW_FUNK1.

Early theme for stage 3 of White Wafers, titled KbyW_HEN1.

Early theme for various puzzle rooms, titled KbyW_MINE1.

Early theme for stage 2 of Onion Ocean, titled KbyW_MIZU1

Early theme for stage 4 of Onion Ocean, titled KbyW_RAIN1

Early theme for stage 3 of Raisin Ruins, titled KbyW REGG1.

Early theme for the Challenge Stages, titled KbyW_ROCK1.

Early theme for Onion Ocean's hub, titled KbyW_SAMBA1.

Early theme for stage 2 of Egg Engines, titled KbyW_TECH1.

Early theme for stage 5 of White Wafers, titled KbyW_TOU1.

Early theme for the title screen of Challenge Stages, called KbyW_TRAINING1.

Early theme for the outside of the Lor Starcutter in Halcandra, titled ST_KbyW_BOSSMAE2.

This box contains speculation that should not be taken as fact.
End of speculation

The songs prefixed with "KbyW" may come from the last cancelled Kirby game with the pop-up book art style. Songs in "modern" Kirby games that were composed by Jun Ishikawa are prefixed with the game's internal codename. For example: Kirby's Return to Dream Land's codename is "Iuk"; Magolor's theme, "Under My Control", is called "IUK_LP_LASTBOSS1" internally. Songs that come from the first incarnation of Kirby GCN are prefixed with "st_", like "st_orch", the theme of The Arena. "KbyW", however, is not a codename used to refer to Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and may instead come from the last cancelled Kirby game, since "KbyW" may stand for "Kirby Wii", and the only screenshot for that game had the Wii's widescreen proportions. "KbyW" music continues to show up in games after Kirby's Return to Dream Land, such as the music for the Shrine of Passwords in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, called "BGM_LP_LMKbyWURANAI1.dspadpcm" internally.

End of speculation

Unused Sound Effects

• Two Magolor death screams lie within the game's stream folder. The final game uses slightly more gruesome screams.

Scream for Magolor's first form, caled M1_Danmatu01. Scream for Magolor's second form, called M2_Danmatu01.