The Arena

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 in the Kirby series, debuting in Kirby Super Star. It is a Boss Endurance-type sub-game, but is greatly expanded on compared to previous entries. Starting inKirby Super Star Ultra, The Arena appears alongside a more difficult successor, The True Arena.

Games[]

Kirby Super Star & Kirby Super Star Ultra[]

In Kirby Super Star, The Arena lacks a movie that plays by waiting or pressing X on the title screen; in Kirby Super Star Ultra, one was added that features Fighter Kirby practicing his moves (Smash Punch, Vulcan Jab, Rising Break, and Sky Kick) before facing Marx to get the Trophy. In the starting room, Kirby has access to almost all of the game's Copy Abilities (excluding Crash, Mike, Cook, and Paint) from the 20 Copy Essences in the room, which he can also transform into Helpers (excluding Sleep). The starting room is separated into two halves, each with an elevator for quick vertical travel, with Copy Essences to the left and right on each level of the room. At the top of the room is a Warp Star that allows the player to leave and initiate the first round. After a boss is defeated, Kirby (and his Helper if applicable) is taken to the Rest Area. In the Rest Area are two Copy Essences with random Copy Abilities and a Warp Star to travel to the next boss; five Maxim Tomatoes are initially present as well, and consuming one will permanently remove it from future visits to the Rest Area (in Kirby Super Star Ultra a regular Tomato replaces a Maxim Tomato when consumed, with the regular Tomato being replaced by nothing when consumed). The Arena consists of 19 rounds, where all of the game's previous bosses and mid-bosses are fought (as well as a round dedicated to a Waddle Dee with very high stamina; in Kirby Super Star Ultra, this is replaced with Bandana Waddle Dee, who appears in Revenge of the King); the bosses fought in the first 18 rounds are in a random order, while round 19 is always Marx:

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
Main Cannon #2
Heavy Lobster
Reactor
Meta Knight
Computer Virus (Magician, Evil Knight, Great Dragon)
Galactic Nova Nucleus
Waddle Dee
Marx

In Kirby Super Star, clearing The Arena unlocks the Sound Test. In Kirby Super Star Ultra, defeating at least 13 foes unlocks Helper to Hero; clearing The Arena unlocks Megaton Punch and is a prerequisite to unlock The True Arena.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[]

Before entering the starting room, the player(s) select characters to play as; Player 1, however, is restricted to playing as Kirby. The starting room is structured similarly to before, but uses ladders instead of elevators, and is no longer completely separated into halves; here, Kirby has access to all of the game's Copy Abilities except Sleep from the Copy Essences in the room. In the Rest Area, the two random Copy Essences appear to the right instead of one at each side of the room and the Warp Star is instead replaced with a door to travel to the next boss. There are now four Maxim Tomatoes, as well as one Maxim Tomato Box, which can be brought into the boss arena (and out of the boss arena if a player is still holding it after the boss is defeated); as in Kirby Super Star Ultra, once a Maxim Tomato (or the Maxim Tomato Box) is consumed, it is replaced with a regular Tomato, which is not replaced when consumed. The Arena consists of 13 rounds; the bosses fought in the first 10 rounds are in a 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 bosses fought in rounds 11-13 are in a fixed order:

Lor & Magolor
Magolor
Magolor (final form)

Clearing The Arena allows Player 1 to select characters other than Kirby and is a prerequisite to unlock The True Arena.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[]

The starting room is now predominantly horizontal instead of vertical, using Tilt Gondolas for quick horizontal travel instead of elevators or ladders; here, Kirby has access to all of the game's Copy Abilities except Sleep from the Copy Essences in the room. The Rest Area is now separated into two planes, traversed between using a 3D Warp Star; the foreground has the two random Copy Essences to the right, and the background has four Maxim Tomatoes and one Maxim Tomato Assist Star on the left side and the door to travel to the next boss on the right side. Similarly to before, once a Maxim Tomato is consumed, it is replaced with a regular Tomato, which is not replaced when consumed; the Assist Star does not receive any kind of replacement when consumed. Once in a while, Treasure Chests that contain keychains will appear at the foreground. After clearing round 2 and round 5, a Treasure Chest containing a keychain appears on the left side of the foreground in the Rest Area; after clearing round 8, two Treasure Chests containing keychains appear, and after clearing round 9, three Treasure Chests appear. The Arena consists of 10 rounds; the bosses fought in the first 7 rounds are in a 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 bosses fought in rounds 7-10 are in a fixed order:

Masked Dedede→Masked Dedede's Revenge
Queen Sectonia
Queen Sectonia (Flowered)

Clearing The Arena is a prerequisite to unlock The True Arena. Players who enable StreetPass for the game are able to share record times with other players.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[]

Unlike previous iterations of The Arena, all 11 rounds are in a set order; this is likely because in the Japanese version of the game (as well as the Korean version), this mode uses the same name for Boss Endurance, かちぬきボスバトル (Kachinuki Bosu Batoru Boss Battle Tournament). The starting room is separated into two halves—a bottom half and top half—that are predominantly horizontal and are connected by pipes; here, Kirby has access to all of the game's Copy Abilities—except for Sleep, Smash Bros. and UFO—from the Copy Essences in the room, as well as a new Random Copy Essence that rapidly cycles through all of the Copy Abilities (except Smash Bros. and UFO) and disappears upon use. Instead of a Warp Star, Kirby travels through a Warp Window, which instead leads to the Rest Area instead of the first boss. The Rest Area is now visually similar to the first room of Laboratory stages. A Random 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 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

Music[]

Kirby Super Star[]

"The Arena" plays on the title screen and "winner" screen. "Trial Room" plays in the starting room and Rest Areas; this is a remix of "Boss Game Select." "Arena Showdown" plays when fighting a boss where "Boss Battle" would play. "King Dedede's Theme" plays when fighting King Dedede; this is also used for Mt. Dedede. "Vs. Meta Knight" plays when fighting Meta Knight. "Milky Way Wishes: Shooting" plays when fighting Heart of NOVA. "Vs. Marx" plays when fighting Marx.

Kirby Super Star Ultra[]

"The Arena" plays in "The Arena" movie and the starting room. "Arena Showdown" plays when fighting a boss where "Boss Battle" would play. "Rest Area" plays in the Rest Areas; this is a remix of "Float Islands," and is also used on the File Select Screen, ??? and Rest Areas in The Great Cave Offensive, Meta Knightmare Ultra, and The True Arena. "King Dedede's Theme" plays when fighting King Dedede; this is also used for Mt. Dedede and Mt. Dedede Sky. "Giant Boss Battle" plays when fighting Dyna Blade or Wham Bam Rock; this is a remix of "Castle Lololo," and is also used when fighting Wham Bam Jewel. "Heavy Lobster" plays when fighting Heavy Lobster. "Vs. Meta Knight" plays when fighting Meta Knight. "Galactic Nova" plays when fighting Galactic Nova Nucleus. "Vs. Marx" plays when fighting Marx; this is also used when fighting Marx Soul.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[]

"Road to Victory" plays on the title screen and when fighting a boss where the music "Blazing! Boss Battle" would play. "Taking a Break" plays in the starting room; this is a remix of "Rest Area." "Dreaming of Clouds" plays in the Rest Areas; this is a remix of "Grape Garden," and is also used in certain stages of Nutty Noon. "Fight! Mid-Boss Battle" plays when fighting Mid-Boss All Stars 1; this is also used when fighting mid-bosses on Planet Popstar. "Mid-Boss Battle in Another World" plays when fighting Mid-Boss All Stars 2; this is also used when fighting mid-bosses on Halcandra. "Grand Doomer" plays when fighting Grand Doomer; this is also used during the first phase against HR-D3. "VS Sphere Doomer" plays when fighting Sphere Doomers. "Guardian Angel: Landia" plays when fighting Landia. "Fly, Kirby!" plays when fighting Lor & Magolor. "Welcome Your New Overlord" plays when fighting Magolor in his first form. "C-R-O-W-N-E-D" plays when fighting Magolor in his second form; this is also used for Magolor Soul. "Congratulations!" plays after clearing The Arena; this is also used when ranking 1st in a sub-game.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[]

"The Arena" plays on the title screen. A remix of "Bubbly Clouds" plays in the starting room; this was used as the main menu theme for Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition. "Arena Showdown" plays when fighting a boss where "Bouncing Boss Battle" would play. "Helper's Rest" plays in the Rest Area; this is a remix of "Ripple Star: Stage Select." "Revenge of the Enemy" plays when fighting Masked Dedede; this is also used when refighting bosses in Royal Road, and is a variation of "Spring Smash Factory." "Dedede's Royal Payback" plays when fighting Masked Dedede's Revenge; this is also used when fighting Shadow Dedede, and is a remix of "The Masked King." "Sullied Grace" plays when fighting Queen Sectonia in her first form. "Fatal Blooms in Moonlight"/"Moonstruck Blossom" plays when fighting Queen Sectonia in her second form; this is also used for Soul of Sectonia's first form. "Congratulations!" plays after clearing The Arena.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[]

"Outlaw Driver" plays on the title screen and starting room; this is also used when controlling Wheel Mode in Stage 4 of Rhythm Route. "Flight of Azure" plays in the Rest Areas before Clanky Woods, Holo Defense API, Susie, Mid-Boss All Stars 1, and Mecha Knight; this is also used when controlling Jet Mode in Stage 2 of Resolution Road and Stage 4 of Gigabyte Grounds. "VS. The Wicked Company" plays when fighting most bosses. "Stadium: DRAG RACE" plays when fighting Mid-Boss All Stars 1 and 2. "Pristine Office March" plays in the Rest Areas before Dedede Clone, C.O.G.S., Mid-Boss All Stars 2, and Mecha Knight+; this is also used in certain stages of Access Ark. "Dedede's Tridimensional Cannon" plays when fighting Dedede Clones & D3. "Inner Struggle" plays when fighting Mecha Knight+. "Loveless Command" plays in the Rest Area before President Haltmann; this is also used in the "My Name is Haltmann" movie. "Crazy Rolling in Money" plays when fighting President Haltmann. "Apocalyptic Reboot" plays in the Rest Area before Star Dream; this is also used in the "Apocalyptic Wish" movie when Star Dream is reactivated. "VS. Star Dream" plays when fighting Star Dream's first phase. "Intermezzo Without a Leader" plays when fighting Star Dream's second phase. "First Cry of a Newborn Star" plays before Star Dream's third phase."Vagrant Counting Song of Retrospection" plays when fighting Star Dream's third phase. "Grand Sun Stone Dance" plays after clearing The Arena.

Trivia[]

The All-Star Mode that debuted in Super Smash Bros. Melee is similar to The Arena, where the player has to fight every character using limited resources. Super Smash Bros. Brawl also features 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 and obtain Copy Abilities in Rest Areas, 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 shooting 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.