This article is about the sub-game that debuted in Kirby Super Star. For other uses, see Arena (disambiguation). |
This article contains information that does not coincide with the main series canon. | (Similar) |
“ | When the pink hero takes flight, when the blue knight slices, when the bandana wearer kicks, when the king's hammer swings… lesser warriors become dust!” |
— The Arena • Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe |
The Arena is a sub-game debuting in Kirby Super Star similar in concept to the Boss Endurance sub-games from previous games in the Kirby series, but vastly updated. Since The Arena's appearance in Kirby Super Star Ultra, it has always appeared alongside a similar, more difficult sub-game, The True Arena.
Games[]
Kirby Super Star & Kirby Super Star Ultra[]
Before Kirby can fight any enemies, he starts in a room where he can choose a Copy Ability from a Copy Essence with two elevators for quick travel. In each rest area, there are five Maxim Tomatoes that replenish Kirby's health entirely. The music that plays in the battles is different than the normal boss theme, with the exception of bosses with unique themes that keep theirs, while the music that plays in the rest areas, in addition to the starting area, is the same one that plays in the ability rooms of Dyna Blade. Kirby is allowed to take a Helper in at will, though the player should note that the presence of a Helper on-screen gives the boss more health. It should also be noted that Kracko Jr. is the only boss not to appear in The Arena. There is also a Warp Star in that very room. When Kirby hops on it, he will go to fight any of the following enemies in random order, except for Marx, who is always last:
- Whispy Woods
- Lololo & Lalala
- Kracko
- King Dedede
- Mid-Boss All-Stars #1 (Chef Kawasaki, Bonkers and Bugzzy)
- Dyna Blade
- Fatty Whale
- Mid-Boss All-Stars #2 (Poppy Bros. Sr., Mr. Frosty, Iron Mam and Jukid)
- Chameleo Arm
- Wham Bam Rock
- Twin Woods
- Combo Cannon
- Heavy Lobster
- Reactor
- Meta Knight
- Computer Virus (Magician, Evil Knight, Great Dragon)
- Galactic Nova Nucleus
- Arena Waddle Dee
- Marx
In between enemy fights, Kirby will be taken to a rest area where he can access two randomly-generated Copy Essences, along with a limited number of Maxim Tomatoes (starts with five Maxim Tomatoes) that will not respawn (or be replaced) after being eaten. If the player beats this sub-game, the game's Sound Test feature will become available as a reward.
The Arena from Kirby Super Star Ultra is identical with a few minor changes: if Kirby picks a Maxim Tomato in the rest area, a regular tomato, which restores less health and will not be replaced further, will replace it the next time he visits the area. The save area theme, a remix of the Float Islands theme, plays in the rest area instead of the Dyna Blade ability room theme, with a different title screen theme and a new cutscene whose music, which is the same as the original game's Arena title screen theme, continues into the starting area. Additionally, the joke Waddle Dee is replaced with Bandana Waddle Dee, who behaves mostly the same.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[]
This variant is almost identical to Kirby Super Star’s The Arena. The starting area music is Taking a Break, which is also a remix of the Float Islands theme. Dreaming of Clouds, which plays in certain levels in Nutty Noon, plays in the rest area. In addition to the four Maxim Tomatoes, there is an extra one inside a box, which Kirby can take with him into a battle; after using up a Maxim Tomato, a regular one takes its place at the next rest area, and nothing takes the regular tomato's place once it is used. The main boss theme is a new one that uses the leitmotifs from A Visitor from Afar and Sky Tower: Road to Victory. Up to four players can play this sub-game. After The Arena is beaten once, the player unlocks Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Bandana Waddle Dee as playable characters for the sub-game; this means the player can play it without Kirby being present at all.
The first ten bosses are fought in random order:
- Whispy Woods
- Mid-Boss All-Stars 1 (Gigant Edge, King Doo, Bonkers)
- Mr. Dooter
- Fatty Puffer
- Goriath
- Mid-Boss All-Stars 2 (Kibble Blade, Moundo, Water Galboros, Dubior)
- Grand Doomer
- Metal General
- Sphere Doomers (Spark, Regular & Fire, Ice)
- Landia
The last three are fought in a fixed order:
- Lor & Magolor
- Magolor
- Magolor (final form)
Kirby: Triple Deluxe[]
This variant is nearly identical to Kirby's Return to Dream Land’s The Arena, with a few changes: The room with every Copy Essence stretches horizontally rather than vertically, with two Tilt Gondolas for quick travel instead of two ladders. The rest area is now on two planes; the foreground contains two Copy Essences, and the background contains food items and the door. Kirby can travel between the two planes with a 3D Warp Star. One of the five Maxim Tomatoes is contained inside an Assist Star. Once in a while, Treasure Chests that contain keychains will appear at the foreground. A remix of Kirby Super Star's Arena's title screen theme plays in the title screen, whereas a remix of the Ripple Star Select theme plays in the rest area, and a remix of the Arena battle theme from Kirby Super Star plays in the main battles. Players who enable StreetPass for the game will be able to share record times with other players.
The first seven bosses are fought in random order:
- Flowery Woods
- Paintra
- Mid-Boss All-Stars 1 (Grand Wheelie, Bonkers, Hornhead)
- Kracko
- Mid-Boss All-Stars 2 (Mr. Frosty, Flame Galboros, Gigant Edge, Blocky)
- Coily Rattler
- Pyribbit
The last three bosses are fought in a fixed order:
- Masked Dedede/Masked Dedede's Revenge
- Queen Sectonia
- Queen Sectonia (Flowered)
Kirby: Planet Robobot[]
The Arena in this game is drastically changed from the normal format of The Arena. Unlike previous games, all 11 rounds are in a set order of bosses fought. The Copy Ability select room spreads out vertically, with pipes connecting individual rooms. The ultimate room contains a new Roulette Copy Essence and a portal leading to the first rest area. The rest area is now on a circular plain leading to a building containing the door to the next round. It is implied that one very tall building is being climbed throughout The Arena, as the first rest area is on the ground, and as the rounds go by, the player traverses higher into the sky, until they are in space at the final rest area. A Roulette Copy Essence can be found (except on Rounds 7 and 11, as those are fought with the Jet and Halberd Robobot Armor modes, respectively), as well as a new Assist Star for each round. Before Rounds 2, 6, and 11, a Maxim Tomato Assist Star is given, before Round 10, an Energy Drink Assist Star is given, and before every other round, a Cherry Assist Star is given. In addition, stickers are given in specific rounds: one before Rounds 2, 6, and 10, and 2 before Round 11. The music changes overtime as well, with it starting out as Flight of Azure, then changing to Pristine Office March after Round 5, then changing to Loveless Command after Round 9, and finally changing to Apocalyptic Reboot after Round 10.
The Arena is unlocked after finishing Story Mode. As with Kirby: Triple Deluxe, players who enable StreetPass for the game will be able to share record times with other players.
The bosses are fought in a fixed order:
- Clanky Woods
- Holo Defense API
- Susie
- Mid-Boss All Stars 1 (Kibble Blade, Blocky, King Doo, & Dubior)
- Mecha Knight
- Dedede Clone/Dedede Clones & D3
- C.O.G.S. (Resolution Road version)
- Mid-Boss All Stars 2 (Security Force, Miasmoros, Bonkers, & Telepathos)
- Mecha Knight+
- President Haltmann
- Star Dream
Related Quotes[]
“ | THE FINAL CHALLENGE! In his toughest battle yet, the Pink Wonder faces his strongest enemies.” |
— The Arena • Kirby Super Star |
“ | Why can't people stop fighting? When the pink terror raises his fist, even the strong tremble in fear...” |
— The Arena • Kirby Super Star Ultra |
“ | Every boss you've fought is here! You think you can take them all?” |
— Game Mode Explanation • Kirby Super Star Ultra |
“ | When the pink hero takes flight, when the blue knight slices, when the bandana-wearer kicks, when the king's hammer swings…lesser warriors become dust!” |
— The Arena • Kirby's Return to Dream Land |
“ | When the mighty pink puffball pounces, even the strongest bosses will fall. Will you stand victorious at the end of it all?” |
— The Arena • Kirby: Triple Deluxe |
“ | In The Arena, you've got to win to survive. These bosses are about to find out why they call Kirby the pink demon.” |
— The Arena • Kirby: Planet Robobot |
Trivia[]
- The All-Star Mode in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl is similar to The Arena, where the player has to fight every character using limited resources. Super Smash Bros. Brawl also introduced a Boss Battles mode, which is even more similar to The Arena than All-Star Mode is, featuring the bosses of Adventure and Classic Modes fought randomly until the final boss of Adventure Mode is fought last. Seeing as how HAL Laboratory also made the first two Super Smash Bros. games, it is possible that these two modes were based on The Arena.
- Kirby & The Amazing Mirror’s Boss Endurance sub-game is greatly inspired by The Arena. Unlike other versions of Boss Endurance, this one allows Kirby to choose a Copy Ability at the beginning, recover HP with Maxim Tomatoes, view which opponent is next before battle, fight groups of mid-bosses, and summon CPU help.
- Kirby: Triple Deluxe and Kirby: Planet Robobot’s variants of The Arena are the only versions of the sub-game that do not support multiplayer.
- Kirby: Triple Deluxe’s The Arena is the only one lacking a boss that is defeated in a "shoot 'em up" sequence.
- In Kirby: Planet Robobot, the player cannot choose to use all Copy Abilities without using amiibo. This is because the Smash Bros. and UFO abilities are not present as Copy Essences, nor do they appear in roulette Copy Essences.