[Topic Ufficiale] Kirby | Switch | 2018

Kirby Star Allies – Story and Characters

• The game starts as the usually peaceful Planet Pop Star is thrown into turmoil by a mysterious dark power, coming from a remote place in the galaxy. There, mysterious lights scatter as a result of an equally mysterious ritual, and one of them ends up in Dream Land: the Demon Heart. Will Kirby and his friend manage to save their homeworld from this deep space menace?

Here’s the main characters appearing in the game:

• Kirby - a round little fella, who travels around the world, and loves eating. If someone is in trouble, he always go and help them. He's a hero who has saved Pop Star, Dream Land, and many other places and worlds;
• Dedede - a self-proclaimed King, who lives in a castle on Mount Dedede. He's stood in Kirby's path many a times, and the two have fought many battles against each other. He became all macho-like due to the baleful influence of the Demon Heart. His castle ends up in a sorry state with his rampaging around;
• the Three Generals (English name TBC): the three generals seemingly linked to the mysterious ritual that led to the Demon Heart crashing in Dedede's castle. They're enveloped in mystery, and no one really knows anything about them. They arrived on Pop Star following the orders of a certain someone;
• Meta Knight - a solitary knight who is always training to become stronger. He also falls under the baleful influence of the Demon Heart, and the dark ambitious hidden in a corner of his heart resurface.

Kirby Star Allies – Copy Abilities
Here's a video showcasing the 4 new Copy Abilities introduced in Kirby Star Allies:

• Artist - use various art-related moves to defeat enemies;
• Spider - use spider web to catch enemies, or attack them directly;
• Staff - use a staff to move around enemies, and hit them on the head (or any other part of their body, really);
• Festival - defeat enemies by celebrating with your friends (literally).

What would a Kirby game be without the traditional copy abilities? By sucking enemies in, Kirby can steal their abilities, and then use them to interact with the world and/or defeat other enemies. Depending on the Copy Ability you're using, you're not going to go through levels the same way.
And Kirby Star Allies has a lot of Copy Abilities: 28 in total, a record for the series! Besides the 4 new Copy Abilities mentioned above, there's also returning ones from past Kirby games, including:

• Cleaning, Suplex, Yo-Yo, Plasma, Cook, Whip, Beetle, Ice, Fire, Beam, Ninja, Bomb, Sword and more.

Kirby Star Allies – Helpers

• In Kirby Star Allies, Kirby can turn enemies into allies (called Helpers) using the power of love... literally: he throws a heart at them to win them over! Helpers accompany Kirby on his journey, and help him whenever he needs it. They are either controlled by the CPU when playing on your own, or by your friends in multiplayer. You can travel with up to 3 Helpers, and if you try to befriend another enemy, you can actually choose which one it will replace.

Here's some of the Helpers found in the game, as well as their Abilities:

• Poppy Bros. Jr. - Bomb. Throws bombs at enemies. Allies can also pick up and throw those very bombs!
• Parasol Waddle Dee - Parasol. Carries around a colourful parasol, that can he use to attack enemies, but also protect itself or its allies, by making the parasol grow bigger.
• Chilly - Ice. A snowman with some pretty cool hair. He can use the power of ice to freeze enemies, cool down fire, and more.
• Wester - Whip. A cowboy-like fellow who uses a whip to defeat enemies. You can combine it with one of Kirby's Copy Ability or another Helper's Ability to add the power of ice or fire to the whip.
• Birdon - Wing. Can create wind by flapping its wings, but also fly in the air (yes, you can have it carry people around, too).
• Dribblee - Water. A cute little creature that can use water to attack enemies. Said water can also be used to pull off surfing moves anywhere!
• NESP - ESP. Can use ESP to throw electric balls at enemies, but also make allies levitate, and more.
• Sir Kibble - Cutter. Throws a golden cutting boomerang around, which can be used to cut grass or strings/ropes.
• Broom Hatter - Cleaning. There's nothing they love more than cleaning, which is why their favourite way to deal with enemies is to clean them away using their broom!
• Buggzy - Suplex. The King of Insects, with deadly throwing techniques. But it's not just enemies he can throw around, he can also do so with allies!
• Rocky - Stone. Can transform into stones, and crush enemies. You can get some surprising results by combining this power with another Ability!
• Chef Kawasaki - Cook. A chef who can throw frying pan at enemies, but also cook them up... literally.
• Plugg - Plasma. Can use the power of electricity to zap enemies. Great for making combos with allies!
• Blade Knight - Sword. Can use a sword to cut various things: grass, ropes, etc.. He can swing it pretty fast, to defeat enemies before they can even understand what's happening; you can give the sword various elements by combining it with Allies Abilities.
• Bio Spark - Ninja. A warrior that stays hidden in the shadows, and can stick to walls. Attacks enemies using various ninja-related attacks. The types of attacks used can change depending on the combination of Abilities.
• Beetle - Beetle. An insect champion that uses his horn to ram into enemies and send them flying. Can cute grass and ropes, and can even fly around.
• Waddle Doo - Beam. Can use various beam attacks, thanks to that big eye of his.
• Burning Leo - Fire. Uses the power of fire to defeat enemies. That very power can also be shared with allies, to create powerful combos.
• Knuckle Joe - Fighter. A skilled fighter who uses various close combat techniques. He can also throw allies at enemies.
• Gim - Yo-Yo. A robot that happens to be the most skilled Yo-Yo user in the world, no less.
• Vividria - Artist. An artist on a journey to become a better painter. She can materialise anything she paints on her canvas. Ask her to paint food, gather some friends, and you have yourself a picnic!
• Jahalbito (English name TBC) - Staff. Used to belong to a certain organisation. Can use a staff to pull off various moves.
• Como - Spider. Can catch enemies using spider web, but also let allies use that very web as trampoline.
• Bonkers - Hammer. A poweful gorilla smashing things around using his hammer.

Kirby Star Allies – Friend Abilities and Friend Actions

• By combining Kirby's Copy Abilities with the abilities of Helpers, you can get Friend Abilities. There's plenty of different combinations, and they're all extremely powerful/useful, more than the individual abilities on their own! For example, you can get a flaming sword, which is more powerful than just the sword of fire Copy Abilities on their own.

Here's some examples of Copy Abilities:

• Sword + Burning Leo = Burning Sword. Can burn grass and set enemies ablaze;
• Sword + Chilly = Blizzard Sword. Can freeze enemies;
• Sword + Plugg = Electric Sword;
• Artist + Any Helper = allows you to materialise food simply by painting it on the canvas;
• Yo-Yo + Burning Leo = Burning Yo-Yo. The usual Yo-Yo Ability, but with fire;
• Yo-Yo + Chilly = Blizzard Yo-Yo. The usual Yo-Yo Ability, but with ice;
• Yo-Yo + Broom Hatter = Winger Yo-Yo. The usual Yo-Yo Ability, but with the power of wind. You can create tornados with it;
• Stone + Dribblee = Water Curling. Turns Kirby into a Curling stone with the power of water, that can slide around and send enemies flying;
• Stone + Vividrian = turns Kirby into a painted statue;
• Water + Chilly = Icicle Lance. Allows you to throw lances of ice around;
• Water + Plugg = allows you to send electric arcs around, and zap all enemies nearby;
• Ninja + Broom Hatter = Winger Ninja. Allows you to attack enemies using tornado-related moves;
• Ninja + Dribblee = Splash Ninja. Allows you to use various water-related moves;
• Ninja + Plugg = allows you to use various electric-related moves;
• Cook + Any Helper = allows you to cook all nearby enemies and Helpers in order to create food;
• Suplex + Any Helper = send Helpers flying like projectiles.

Also, there's Friend Actions: all 4 characters (Kirby + the 3 Helpers) combine their forces to create extra special abilities, that you can only activate at key points in the levels.

Here's some examples:

• Friend Star: Kirby and the Helpers hop on a Super Star, and fly around the stage. You can throw different types of projectiles depending on the character you’re having at the front;
• Friend Wheel: Kirby and the Helpers form a wheel, that can roll around the levels, destroying everything on its path;
• Friend Platform: Kirby and the Helpers form a platform, that can be used by NPC to cross a gap for example;
• Friend Train: Kirby and the Helpers form a train, that dash through the levels at high speed. Allows you to run on walls, and send flying all enemies on your path!

Kirby Star Allies – Play Modes

• Kirby Star Allies can be played in Single Player, but also in co-op with 2 to 4 players. No need to worry if you don't have anyone to play with when you start: additional player can join and leave at any time!
• Naturally, the game can be played in all three modes: TV Mode, Handheld Mode, and Tabletop Mode. For multiplayer, only TV Mode and Tabletop Mode are supported, you can use a single Joy-Con for each player.
• As mentioned above, when you're playing with friends, one player controls Kirby, and the others play as Helpers.

Kirby Star Allies – Mini Game and amiibo
Just like many other Kirby games, Kirby Star Allies features some mini games:

• in the first one, you need to cut down a tree while avoiding the caterpillars on it, and the spikes!
• Galactic Homerun - you have to charge your bat, and then hit a meteorite with the right timing so as to send it back into space, as far as you can.

As for amiibo, the game is compatible with pretty much all figures. Tapping one allows you to make a treasure chest appear. But if you use one of the amiibo listed below, you can get a lot of items (it's not clear which ones yet):

• Kirby (Super Smash Bros. and Kirby series);
• King Dedede;
• Meta Knight;
• Waddle Dee;
• Qbby.

• at one point in the game, after Kirby and others have fought hard, just when they thought Planet Popstar would finally return to peace... suddenly a giant shadow appears, which turns out to be the Dark Fortress Jamahalda. It sticks its tip to the surface to land. Kirby and the rest of the gang ride the Warp Star and head to the fortress without any fear, even though an eerie atmosphere surrounds it.
• The fortress' gate is being guarded by Pon & Con, who are returning from Kirby's Dream Land 3. This time they have an attack that involves bringing along their minions.
• The lone knight Meta Knight also faces Kirby at the last Popstar stage. He looks unusual this time as he is shrouded in a black aura. He can split into four bodies and attack Kirby with quick swordsplay.
• One of the three Mage Generals is also introduced - Fran Rouge, a fire user. She seems to have a deep relationship with Francisca, who was defeated by Kirby previously, so she immediately considers Kirby as an enemy. She unleashes her rage with sword and fire techniques.

Other details

• Festival is a new ability in Kirby Star Allies. With it, you can deal damage to enemies on screen with a festive dance. The more friend helpers Kirby has, the more the damage will be. Kirby can also dance with all helpers to activate the Friend Ability FestiBurn. Each helper will have its own pose.
• Another new ability is Stick. This is a martial arts-based ability in which Kirby fights with a stretchable stick. It allows for a high jump, and it can also be used to move to behind an enemy. The stick is helpful in safely attacking enemies from a far distance.
• Cook is returning in Kirby Star Allies, which puts enemies into the pot and cooks them into food items. If it turns into Friend Ability Boiling Pot Friends, you may even put allies into the pot.
• Plasma is also a returning ability in Kirby Star Allies, and it deals more damage if charged. If given a water element, it will become a Friend Ability Splaidane which launches water spheres imbued with electricity. It can attack enemies right above Kirby with Sparking Plasma Bullet, and it also more techniques like Swift Movement and Plasma Barrier.

Famitsu also goes over these Friend Actions:

• Friends Crossing Bridge - friends will pile up like a totem and then fall down to horizontally; other than forming a bridge, this can also be used to let a key character cross it.
• Friends Locomotive - forms a line with Friend Helpers to charge forward and mow down enemies; the locomotive can go on forever and it can even break thick walls and ceilings.
• Friends Star - fire shots while riding a star and flying in the sky, the shots will change depending on the front character's abilities.

And some Friend Abilities:

• Bomb + Wind element = Wingabomb - wielding a bomb will enable Kirby to fly.
• Esper + Stone = Poltergeobje - controls allies that have been transformed to stone, can be aimed to crush enemies and rocks, some stones may also have unique shapes.
• Mic + Friend Helper = Death Boy Chorus - shouts together with allies to pierce enemies on screen.

In conculsion

• We have a recap of amiibo features first mentioned on the official Japanese website this week. Using most amiibo will grant you a few items! Kirby series characters (Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, Waddle Dee) offers more healing items. Famitsu shows Qbby from BoxBoy providing Cow Milk, perhaps because Qbby's color is white;
• finally, Famitsu mentions that illustration pieces are hidden all around stages. Collecting them will fill the puzzle frames in the Gallery!

*All English names, etc. TBA in the final North American/European version.

• artwork and screenshots for one of the 4 new Copy Abilities found in the game, called Festival. It allows you to hit all enemies on the screen in a really unique way... dancing! The more Helpers you have with you, the more damage you can deal.

• screenshots for one of the Friend Actions found in the game... the Friend Train! With this unique train, you can ride on walls and ceilings without falling, jump over gaps, and of course send flying all enemies that end up on your path.

Would you like to have a crack at a Kirby Star Allies demo? I bet you would, and it appears one might be heading our way. Check out what happens if you search for Kirby Star Allies demo on Google.

That's an ad, but it's for Nintendo's official Kirby site. On top of that, Kirby Star Allies doesn't launch on March 16th, 2018, so a demo a couple weeks before would make sense. The only thing that has me scratching my head is the fact that Nintendo doesn't usually launch demos for the big games, but I guess Kirby has been the exception in the past. I guess we'll find out in a week or so!