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KPR Susie artwork This article is about the Copy Ability. For other uses, see UFO (disambiguation).

Fly around while using various energy attacks!
— Kirby Battle Royale - Kirby's 25th Anniversary Copy Ability Poll

UFO (spelled U.F.O. in Kirby's Adventure, the Kirby's Dream Course instruction booklet, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, and Kirby: Squeak Squad) is one of Kirby's Copy Abilities. It allows him to pilot a flying saucer. The ability first appeared in Kirby's Adventure.

General Information[]

UFO is a powerful and rare ability that offers permanent levitation and four different attacks. The type of attack UFO Kirby does is based on how long the player holds down B. The longer it's pressed, the stronger the attack will be. Kirby is capable of moving around while charging, but cannot change the direction he is facing (except in Kirby: Planet Robobot). UFO's main limitation is that Kirby cannot go back down through floors while having the ability, even with ladders.

UFO is very difficult to obtain. When it is found, either the UFO or the Copy Essence are generally in well-hidden areas. Kirby can only obtain it from UFOs in five stages in Kirby's Adventure/Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land or through the Mix ability by inhaling two Rockys, and for 10 short seconds in Kirby's Dream Course. The ability is lost when entering the overworld area, or the Central Circle in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror. This behavior was changed in Kirby: Squeak Squad, where it could be taken to any other stage, but more often than not, Kirby has to forfeit the ability because he cannot proceed any further because of UFO's interaction with ladders and floors.

In Kirby: Squeak Squad, should the player attempt to drag a bubble item from the Copy Palette up to Kirby's mouth while in UFO form, Kirby will comically flip upside-down and drop to the ground head-first, and cannot move as long as the bubble is within his mouth until he exhales it or re-swallows it. This will also happen with Ghost Kirby, but instead he will inflate and drop onto the ground. Trying to do this over a bottomless pit spells an instant KO.

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, UFO can be accessed by using the Kirby amiibo from the Kirby amiibo series or by completing the game 100%. The ability acts much like it does in Kirby: Squeak Squad, even retaining the Trajectory Orb, though it now has a new move that allows Kirby to beam up enemies with a tractor beam. This move can be compared to a similar move Kirby performs while in Saucer form in Kirby's Epic Yarn. UFO Kirby can also now pass through soft platforms and ladders, but loses the ability to guard.

U

U.F.O as seen in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

It is also one of the few abilities that may be used in the water (except in Kirby's Dream Course), along with Sword, Parasol, Hammer, Master, Metal, Spear, Bell, and Staff. However, it and Metal are the only abilities to retain their entire moveset when used underwater, unlike the other aforementioned abilities where only certain underwater variations of their attacks are usable.

In Kirby's Dream Course[]

Lets_Play_Kirby's_Dream_Course_part_1B_Demo_Videos_20.mp4

Lets Play Kirby's Dream Course part 1B Demo Videos 20.mp4

In Kirby's Dream Course, the ability grants a (relatively) high degree of control over Kirby's movement, but with a 10-second limitation after it is activated. Unlike other abilities in the game, it cannot be re-activated even if Kirby does not capture another ability. After it is activated, UFO Kirby will fly forward briskly in a straight line without changing his altitude. During this time, his path can be altered at 90-degree angles by pressing left or right on the D-pad. If he touches the ground, he will hug the terrain to follow any slopes upwards. When the timer runs out, if UFO Kirby touches a bumper, or if the B button is pressed to end the ability early, UFO Kirby will "land" by descending to the ground in a straight line. If the player can reach the hole in time, this can be used to drop Kirby straight into it easily.

Moveset []

Move Controls Description Element Damage
Chain Beam Press and release B/A UFO Kirby's basic feature. It is identical to Beam's signature attack, although Kirby can move freely through the attack. Zap 8 per hit
Smart Beam Hold B/A shortly before releasing Kirby fires a ricocheting laser beam. It is identical to Laser's attack. Zap (can light cannon fuses
Kirby: Squeak Squad
)
15
Heat Beam Hold B/A longer before releasing Kirby calls upon the power of his spaceship to strengthen his laser. It slightly stronger than his first laser attack, about equal in power to an inhaled and ejected enemy. However, this Laser cannot ricochet off walls (except in Kirby: Squeak Squad). Sizzle, Zap 23
Piercing Heat Beam Hold B/A even longer before releasing When Kirby conjures up enough power, he unleashes an electrifying energy beam. It is the strongest of his laser attacks. It also goes through walls. In Kirby's Adventure, the blast is in the shape of a star. Sizzle, Zap 34
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Heat Cannon
Hold B SUPER long before releasing Kirby uses most of the ship's power to fire three beams in front and one beam behind him. The large beam is a larger Piercing Heat Beam, while the three smaller ones are that of the Heat Beam. Sizzle, Zap 65 (main projectile), 40 (diagonal projectiles) 34 (backward Piercing Heat Beam)
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Star Guard
None
Kirby: Planet Robobot
B repeatedly
Requires UFO Ability Scroll in Kirby: Squeak Squad. A small ball of electricity orbits the UFO, and causes minor damage to anything it comes into contact with. Zap 15
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Unidentified Flight
Dash + Hold B Kirby disappears and reappears many times in a zig-zag shape forward. None 17 (1st hit), 7 (2nd hit), 17 (3rd hit)
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Mystery Catch
A Kirby creates a tractor beam, sucking in any enemy that can normally be inhaled while normal, similar to that of his Saucer transformation in Kirby's Epic Yarn. None N/A

Flavor texts[]

GameFlavor text
Kirby's Adventure
Hold down the B Button to charge, and then let go! You can attack four different ways!
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror

Kirby: Squeak Squad
Wow! I'm so lucky I copied a UFO! I can do four different moves. It all depends on how long you hold B!
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Unidentified flying object detected! You are very lucky to have managed to copy this ability!

In Other Languages[]

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language Name Definition, etymology and notes
Flag JP U.F.O Same as English
Flag USA U.F.O.
Kirby's Adventure

UFO
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Acronym for Unidentified Flying Object.
Flag GER U.F.O.
Kirby's Adventure

UFO
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Same as English. Acronym for Unbekanntes FlugObjekt, which translates to "Unidentified Flying Object."
Flag FR
(General)
OVNI
Kirby's Adventure

O.V.N.I.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Translates to UFO.
Kirby's Adventure

Translates to U.F.O.
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Acronym for Objet Volant Non Identifié, which translates to "Unidentified Flying Object."
Flag IT U.F.O. Same as English.
Flag ESP
(General)
OVNI Translates to UFO. Acronym for Objeto Volador No Identificado, which translates to "Unidentified Flying Object."

Trivia[]

  • In Kirby's Adventure and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, UFO can be copied in the first stage; Kirby has to find a hidden area to find a UFO flying down, and he can inhale it for the UFO Ability.
  • A glitch in Kirby's Adventure allows the player to take UFO into any stage like by obtaining it in a previously-beaten stage, pressing start and select simultaneously, and exiting the stage.
  • In Kirby's Adventure, UFO Kirby is not affected by water. This changed in subsequent games, where water slows him down. However in Kirby: Planet Robobot, UFO is still capable of "dashing" underwater.
  • In Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, when Kirby reaches "1" in the Goal Game, a Kirby in a UFO will fly over and give him a 1UP.
  • Kirby's UFO is affected by Spray Paint, much like the Magic ability's hat. More specifically, the hull is the color that would be Kirby's shoes and the rest is the color that would be Kirby's body despite it being shown gold in the official artwork.
    • In Kirby: Planet Robobot, however, the UFO now accurately displays the gold body color in game.
  • In Kirby & The Amazing Mirror and Kirby: Planet Robobot, the UFO ability is the only normal Copy Ability not to have a Copy Essence. For the former, this is because it was not allowed to be taken out of the level it was obtained in, similarly to Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. In the latter, its lack of a Copy Essence seems to be a carryover from previous games, up to the ability's presence in the game's Ability Testing Room being the actual UFO enemy if the respective game file has 100% completion.
  • If Kirby is using his UFO ability while calling for assistance in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror, the Cell Phone will be replaced by a communication dish.
  • In Kirby: Canvas Curse, UFO Kirby is drawn in Paint Panic.
  • In Kirby: Squeak Squad, if a bubble item is sent to UFO Kirby's mouth, he will inflate and drop on the ground and remain motionless until the item is either swallowed or discarded; this happens with the Ghost ability as well.
  • UFO in Kirby: Planet Robobot is the second ability in the series which must be unlocked by clearing a certain condition in-game (without the use of amiibo), with the first being Ghost in Kirby: Squeak Squad.
  • In the overworld of Kirby: Planet Robobot, Kirby walks as he does normally even when he has the UFO ability; the only way to tell he has it is by his golden hat.
    • Similarly, when Kirby gets on a Teleporter, a 3D Warp Star, travels through a tube, enters a door, enters a cutscene, or enters Goal Game while having the ability, he loses the vehicle for a short period.
  • In the 25th Anniversary Poll that ran on the Official Kirby Website, UFO was unveiled on November 6, 2017 to have been the fourth place winner.[1]
  • In most games, although it says the player needs to hold B to charge up attacks, the same results happen whenever the player holds A and release it.
  • This is one of the few abilities to change the appearance of Kirby's hands. Others include Ghost, where Kirby's hands become ghost-like, Animal, where his hands have claws, Burning, where his hands catch flame, and ESP, where his hands hold psychic energy.
    Ufoparttime

    Jobski

  • Jobski, the main character of Part Time UFO, an iOS/Android/Switch game developed by HAL Laboratory under the HAL Egg brand, bears a strong resemblance to UFO Kirby. He most closely resembles the ability's original appearance in Kirby's Adventure, except with an added antenna.
  • Kirby's UFO design, with a wide base and half orbs underneath, is based on the flying saucer design purportedly photographed by George Adamski. This design is considered the de facto design of flying saucers, especially in Japan. Its authenticity is refuted, however, as it has been claimed to simply be a surgical lamp with three light bulbs installed.

Videos[]

Artwork[]

Gallery[]

Sprites[]

Other Ability Icons[]

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