User:Crossovers with Kirby
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| Kirby | |
|---|---|
| First installment | Kirby's Dream Land (1992) |
| Latest installment | Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (2025) |
Kirby is a fantasy franchise starring the character of the same name. Kirby goes about his home of Dream Land and beyond to help people and save the day. Food and stars are common visual motifs and plot elements. The mainline Kirby series consists of platformers, similar to the Super Mario series, but with a greater emphasis on combat and a lower difficulty level.
As a Nintendo published platformer series created after the release of Super Mario Bros., the Kirby series takes some amount of influence from the Super Mario series. In particular, Shigeru Miyamoto requested that two-player cooperative play be added to Kirby Super Star because the faster pace of the Super Mario series made it too difficult to implement at the time.[1] Further, the creator of the Kirby series is Masahiro Sakurai, who is also the director of the Super Smash Bros. series. As such, that series often draws from Kirby concepts, and the Super Smash Bros. series sometimes affects the Super Mario franchise, with one notable case of this occurring. The character Kirby, as the main character of a popular Nintendo franchise, sometimes appears in media of the Super Mario franchise.
Recurring crossover subjects
Kirby
Kirby is the titular character of the Kirby franchise. His design is very simple, being largely a pink ball with a face and red feet. He loves food and is always ready to protect his home of Dream Land. Kirby has a wide array of powers, including floating and eating enemies with a move called Inhale. He can use an object called a Warp Star to fly to distant areas.
Copy Abilities
One of Kirby's main abilities is copying the powers of enemies he eats, with each set of powers Kirby can obtain being called a Copy Ability. There are a total of 69 different Copy Abilities. Kirby Super Star added the idea of each Copy Ability granting Kirby a hat matching its theme. The mechanics of a Copy Ability and/or its hat are sometimes references to other Nintendo franchises. The amiibo functionality of Kirby: Planet Robobot allows Kirby to inhale amiibo to gain a corresponding Copy Ability, with nearly every amiibo released prior to the game having a specified result, thus assigning a large number of non-Kirby characters a Copy Ability Kirby would get after swallowing them. Moreover, in the Super Smash Bros. series, Kirby can swallow every other playable character to gain a Copy Ability and hat based on them. This allows him to use their neutral special move.
Stone allows Kirby to transform into a heavy object to smash opponents underneath him. While most of its appearances have Kirby turn into a generic rock, that is sometimes pink to match Kirby's colors, Kirby Super Star and all games following from that game's mechanics instead have Stone's attacks Stone Change, Stone Smash, Turbo Stone, and Heavy Smash turn Kirby into a random heavy object. This is typically used for references to other Kirby games, with Kirby transforming into statues of characters or locations, but there are two forms based on the Super Mario franchise. One is a golden Mario trophy. The other, only present in games from Kirby Super Star Ultra onward, is a Brick Block.
Doctor gives Kirby a lab coat, a head mirror, glasses, and allows him to use a number of attacks based on medical equipment. One element of the Copy Ability is throwing pills as projectiles. The moves Bouncing Capsule and Pill Bopper specifically have the pills bounce off the ground as they advance. This is very comparable to Megavitamins, a move Dr. Mario has in the Super Smash Bros. series.
History in the Super Mario franchise
Mario Kirby Meisaku Video
Kirby's first appearance in the Super Mario franchise is in the Japanese videotape Mario Kirby Meisaku Video, intended to teach children kanji. In it, Mario and Kirby go on separate adventures.
Yoshi's Woolly World
In Yoshi's Woolly World, scanning a Kirby, King Dedede, or Meta Knight amiibo unlocks a playable Yoshi design based on the respective character. Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World introduces a design for Waddle Dee, unlocked with the corresponding amiibo.
Super Mario Maker
In Super Mario Maker, the female Wii Fit Trainer and the Wii Balance Board appear as Mystery Mushroom costumes. The Wii Fit Trainer costume is unlocked by scanning her amiibo or randomly after completing 100 Mario Challenge on Normal difficulty or higher. Her poses include the Dancer pose while standing, walking, and running, the Half-Moon pose while skidding/turning around, and the stretching position while crouching. Similarly to the Wii Fit Trainer costume, the Wii Balance Board costume is also unlocked randomly after completing 100 Mario Challenge on Normal difficulty or higher. Holding 
on the latter costume shows the Wii Fit Trainer doing the Dancer pose on the Wii Balance Board. The sound effects for both costumes are taken from Wii Fit.
WarioWare series
WarioWare Gold
In the Wario's amiibo Sketch souvenir of WarioWare Gold, the player can scan the Wii Fit Trainer's amiibo to make Wario draw a crude sketch of her.
WarioWare: Move It!
WarioWare: Move It! features a microgame based on the Pose Mii Plus minigame of Wii Play: Motion, titled Wii Play: Motion Pose Mii Plus, in which players must imitate a form to let the Mii pass through.
History in the Kirby series
Kirby's Dream Land (GB)
- Many areas in Castle Lololo feature blocks resembling ? Blocks. Instead of a coin or power-up, however, a Chuckie (Hurly in the Extra Game) repeatedly comes out instead.
Kirby's Adventure (NES)
- An enemy called "Spiny" ("Togezo" by Prima)[2] resembling a stylized version of the Super Mario Spiny appears as a regular enemy, and is the sole representative of the Needle ability. They walk normally but periodically stop to curl up in a ball, resembling a Spiny Egg in the process, and roll quickly along the ground. In the GBA remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, they were replaced by the original enemy Needlous, having been previously functionally replaced by Punc in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
A Spiny with a pink palette
A Spiny with a magenta palette
A Spiny with a cyan palette
A Spiny with a green palette
Kirby's Dream Course (SNES)
- Spiny reappears as an obstacle with the Needle ability. It now has a red shell making it resemble the Super Mario Spiny even more.
Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB)
- The second stage of Ripple Field features tubes that emit currents similar to the pipes in certain underwater courses in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Kirby Super Star (SNES) / Kirby Super Star Ultra (DS)
- Mario, Toad, Luigi, Birdo, Bowser, and Princess Peach are in the audience of the Megaton Punch sub-game and the King Dedede battle in Spring Breeze. Bowser and Peach are only visible in Spring Breeze, and are hidden off-screen (though Peach is still partially visible). In the remade version of Spring Breeze, Wario replaces Birdo and Bowser, Peach is moved to a more visible position in the audience, and there are additional Toads.
- The map structure of Dyna Blade is similar to the map structure of Super Mario Bros. 3, with the "E" containing a single ambush room with an Iron Mam being similar to the roaming Hammer Bro Enemy Courses.
- When Kirby activates his Stone ability he will (very rarely) turn into a gold statue of Mario. In the remake, the statue's raised hand is changed from a V-sign to a fist pump, keeping in-line with the prohibition of the former in official depictions of Mario at the time.
- In the original game, the credits of Milky Way Wishes have pictures representing each credit. The credit for the executive producer (Hiroshi Yamauchi) features a picture of Mario. In the remake, these pictures appear in Revenge of the King instead. The credit for the executive producer (Satoru Iwata) features a picture of Kirby posing next to the Stone ability's gold statue of Mario.
- Several of the items in The Great Cave Offensive, such as the Turtle Shell (Koopa Shell in the remake), Bucket, and Kong's Barrel (depicted as a regular barrel in the original and a DK Barrel in the remake) are from the Super Mario franchise. In the remake, the Zebra Mask is also referred to as the Phanto Mask.
- In the original Kirby Super Star, the second room in ??? resembles Subspace from the NES version of Super Mario Bros. 2.
- The recurring enemy Scarfy is given an alternate behavior in this game identical to Boos, becoming threatening and chasing when Kirby's back is turned toward them and holding still when faced.
- In the remake, Kaboola, renamed Kabula, now has a Bullet Bill-like appearance. One of Kabula's special attacks involves shooting giant Bullet Bill-like missiles at Kirby.
- Also in the remake, the Stone ability has a new form which resembles a Brick Block as it appeared in Super Mario Bros. From Kirby: Triple Deluxe onwards, the form now resembles how Brick Blocks have looked since New Super Mario Bros.
The crowd in the SNES version of the King Dedede battle and both versions' Megaton Punch minigame
The crowd in the DS version of the King Dedede battle
The Mario statue as it appears in the SNES version.
The Mario statue as it appears in the DS version.
Bucket Treasure
Koopa Shell Treasure
Barrel Treasure
Phanto Mask Treasure
One of Kabula's missiles.
Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES)
- An enemy resembling (and potentially being) the previous games' Spiny, called "Togezo" (the Super Mario Spiny's Japanese name), appears as a regular enemy in this game, also granting the Needle ability. Instead of performing the rolling attack from Kirby's Adventure, they withdraw and extend their spikes when the player is in proximity, similar to a Spikey from Kirby's Dream Land 2. Unlike previous appearances, they are not the only source of the Needle ability.
Artwork
Sprite
- A recurring obstacle in the game is a featureless spiked stone square, resembling a Thwomp in appearance and function. Another obstacle appears as a rotating chain of spheres attached to a block, resembling a Fire-Bar.
- One of the Heart Stars can be obtained in Cloudy Park from an NPC that resembles a Fire Flower. Its Japanese name can even translate to "Fire Flower Mimic".
- Two Heart Stars are tied to block-like characters called HB-002 and HB-007, who require Kirby to carve out pictures from Star Blocks matching their shapes. As indicated by their names, they are references to Mario's Picross; HB-002 is based on Easy Picross 2-B "Diamond", and HB-007 is based on Easy Picross 7-B "Wine Glass" (in non-Japanese versions, this puzzle is replaced by "Silk Hat").
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble (GBC)
- The game's level structure is similar to that of Super Mario Bros., with every fourth level taking place in a castle. There are even two areas similar to Warp Zones.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64)
- An enemy known as I³ appears, a living stone cube with an identical attack pattern to a Thwomp (similar to the aforementioned obstacles in Kirby's Dream Land 3). Their Japanese name,「ドネン」(Donen), plays off that of Thwomps,「ドッスン」(Dossun), and associated onomatopoeia.
- Scarfy again has its Boo-like behavior, which is also given to another recurring enemy, Mumbies; for the latter enemy, this becomes standard to their behavior in later games.
Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)
- Another Thwomp-like enemy appears, this one called Thudd (thus keeping the connection in English). The original Japanese name is「デンドン」(Dendon), additionally playing off「ドッスン」(Dossun).
Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (Switch)
- The Stomper Boot shares similarities with the Goomba's Shoe.
- Red-colored Scarfies and Degouts called Hunter Scarfies and Hunter Degouts, respectively, have a behavior similar to Phantos in the fact that they only become hostile whenever Kirby picks up a Key.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS)
- One of the possible forms of Stone Kirby is a Brick Block.
- One of the moves Wheel Kirby can perform is the Rocket Start, which is a reference to the starting boost of the same name in the Mario Kart series.
- When the King Phanta possesses a piano, it resembles the Mad Piano from Super Mario 64 and its remake.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
- Two promotional comics for this game on Play Nintendo either reference Mario or have Mario make a direct appearance.
- In "Saved by the Rainbow", after Elline breaks Kirby's fall with a rainbow, the announcer rebukes the two, saying that Elline cannot be used in Smash Bros., and Mario and Yoshi are seen looking down at them with an expression of disgust.[3]
- In "An Evening Out", Elline sprays a trail of Italian sauce in the air. Kirby, wearing a mustache and bow tie, rolls down the trail and says "It's-a me!", to which Bandana Waddle Dee replies, "Aah!! Mario!!"[4]
Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS)
- The Brick Block and Gold Mario statue are some of the forms that Stone Kirby and Smash Bros. Kirby can use.
- The Doctor ability that debuts in this game is based on the moveset of Dr. Mario in the Super Smash Bros. series. Appropriately, scanning in a Dr. Mario amiibo also gives this ability.
- The Wheel ability's Rocket Start move returns from Kirby: Triple Deluxe, referencing the starting boost in the Mario Kart series.
Kirby Star Allies (Switch)
- The Brick Block form of Stone Kirby makes an appearance in this game.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch/Switch 2)
- The laughter used by the Surprise Alien Boards is similar to the original laughter of the Boos from earlier games such as Super Mario 64.
- The Present Code found in Waddle Dee Cinema is "KIRBYSTORY", which refers to one of the film posters in the original version of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga.
- The Starries found in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition's Star-Crossed World campaign bear a loose resemblance to Lumas.
Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2)
- The unique Special used by Starman, known as Super Starman, has its cape constantly change colors similar to how pre-Nintendo 64 Super Mario games' Super Star effect did the same with Mario and Luigi's clothes.
Super Smash Bros. series
Super Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. Melee
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl features two music tracks from the Wii series: "Opening Theme (Wii Sports)", a medley of themes from Wii Sports, and "Charge! (Wii Play)", the music of the minigame of the same name from Wii Play. "Opening Theme (Wii Sports)" is available by default, while "Charge! (Wii Play)" is unlocked by collecting a CD. Both tracks are playable on the PictoChat stage.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
The Wii Fit Trainer is one of the 21 newcomers introduced in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. The latter game also introduces three stages based on the Wii Fit series, Wii Sports Resort, and Pilotwings Resort, being Wii Fit Studio, Wuhu Island, and Pilotwings, respectively, in addition to several trophies and music.
Select material is outlined below. For Wii series trophies, see List of SSB4 trophies (Others). For music, see List of SSB4 Music (Others).
- Fighters
- Wii Fit Trainer—The Wii Fit Trainer is a middleweight fighter with above average movement. All of their moves derive from yoga or exercise poses. Both female and male trainers are playable, and their costumes are based on the color of their clothes in the Wii Fit series.
- Stages
- Wii Fit Studio (Wii U)—A fitness studio with a large mirror, based on the location of the Yoga and Strength Training activities from the Wii Fit series. Three Wii Balance Board-shaped platforms occasionally descend and ascend. The Wii Balance Board character can also be seen in the background.
- Wuhu Island (Wii U)—The island from Wii Sports Resort. The stage is set on floating platforms which take fighters to multiple points on the island. Several Miis can be seen spectating or doing events from the original game.
- Pilotwings (Wii U)—The stage is set on two planes that take fighters from the island from the original Pilotwings to Wuhu Island from Pilotwings Resort and Wii Sports Resort. At Wuhu Island, several Miis can be seen flying using jetpacks, just like in Pilotwings Resort.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate includes every fighter to have previously appeared in the series, including the Wii Fit Trainer. They are now slighty faster, and their moves have been improved. Wii Fit Studio, Wuhu Island, and Pilotwings also return as stages, remaining largely unchanged.
In the World of Light mode, the player must free all fighters (excluding Kirby, who manages to escape) from Galeem's imprisonment, including the female Wii Fit Trainer. In the introductory cutscene, she is seen doing a yoga pose before being hit by one of Galeem's beam of lights. The player has the opportunity to save her in the northern part of the city area of The Light Realm.
Several spirits and new and returning music tracks based on the Wii series are also included in the game. For spirits, see List of spirits (Others). For music, see List of SSBU Music (Other series).
- Classic Mode route
| Wii Fit Trainer: Aerobic Smash | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Opponent(s) | Rule | Stage | Song |
| 1 | Wario | Wii Fit Studio | Super Hoop | |
| 2 | Kirby ×3 | The Great Cave Offensive | Advanced Step | |
| 3 | Pac-Man | Wii Fit Studio (Battlefield) | Rhythm Boxing | |
| 4 | Giant King K. Rool | Team Battle (Ally: Dr. Mario) |
Jungle Japes | Mischievous Mole-way |
| 5 | King Dedede | Wuhu Island (Ω) | Core Luge | |
| 6 | Giant Jigglypuff | Wii Fit Studio | Wii Fit Plus Medley | |
| Final | Master Hand, Crazy Hand (intensity 7.0 or higher) | Final Destination | Master Hand Master Hand / Crazy Hand (intensity 7.0 or higher) | |
NES Remix series
NES Remix 2 is a game consisting of mini challenges in Nintendo Entertainment System games. One of the games with challenges is Kirby's Adventure. NES Remix 2 is divided into Challenge Stages, which are solely about each game, and Remix Stages, which modify the game in various ways. One of those ways is to include characters from one game in another game, including switching the player character of one game for the player character of a different game. (Though internally, the latter kind of stage is actually using the artwork of one game in another game save for not changing the player character.) The following challenges mix together Super Mario and Kirby content.
- REMIX I-4 has a modified version of Kirby's Adventure where Kirby has to collect all the coins in an underground area based on Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels, Brick Blocks replace Star Blocks.
- REMIX I-6 has a modified version of Kirby's Adventure where Kirby must defeat the boss Whispy Woods while a wall of Boos on the left side of the screen creep forward whenever Kirby faces right. Contact with the Boos causes the player to lose a life in NES Remix 2.
- REMIX I-11 has a modified version of Super Mario Bros. 2 where Toad has to defeat two Waddle Dees and a Poppy Bros. Jr. in an area based on Vegetable Valley from Kirby's Adventure. Star Blocks replace Mushroom Blocks.
- The fourth challenge of BONUS-10 has a modified version of Kirby's Adventure where Kirby must defeat the boss Nightmare's Power Orb while giant red Bullet Bills fly across the screen from right to left. Contact with the Bullet Bills causes the player to lose a life in NES Remix 2.
Many stages in NES Remix 2 have Luigi appear to go with The Year of Luigi, including these challenges and challenges that are part of Kirby's Adventure's Challenge Stages. These appearances do not affect the gameplay and are more of an easter egg. NES Remix 2 sometimes depicts sprites from different games interacting, such as in the Records Stage of Remix II.
Each of challenges where Kirby and Super Mario concepts mix are included in Ultimate NES Remix, a "best-of" collection of the challenges in NES Remix and NES Remix 2, but in different locations. They are now REMIX I-4, REMIX I-6, REMIX II-19, and the fourth challenge of BONUS-10.
Nintendo Badge Arcade
The Nintendo Badge Arcade was a live-service crane game where the player can collect various digital badges based on video games that can be applied to the Nintendo 3DS HOME Menu. Most of the badges are based on artwork and sprites from various games, but some were original. The player was given the opportunity to play the crane for free every day, and purchase additional attempts with real-world currency. All badges are based on games, products, and franchises that Nintendo at minimum publishes, and Super Mario and Kirby are within that group. Kirby: Triple Deluxe is the primary Kirby game to have associated badges, but that game has collectible keychain items based on sprites from other Kirby games and those sprites were used for additional badges in groups called Kirby Keychain Series 1, Kirby Keychain Series 2, and Kirby Keychain Series 3. Kirby games that have badges in the Kirby Keychain Series sets include:
- Kirby's Dream Land
- Kirby's Adventure
- Kirby's Dream Land 2
- Kirby Super Star
- Kirby's Dream Land 3
- Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
- Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Kirby Squeak Squad
- Kirby Super Star Ultra
- Kirby Mass Attack
- Kirby's Epic Yarn (through a sprite created for Kirby: Triple Deluxe)
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land (through a sprite created for Kirby: Triple Deluxe)
- Kirby: Triple Deluxe (through two sprites created for Kirby: Triple Deluxe)
There are no badge sets where both Kirby and Super Mario are included, with Kirby series based costumes from Super Mario Maker left out of the sets of badges based on that game.
As of April 8, 2024, with the closure of the Nintendo Network service,[5] players can no longer access Nintendo Badge Arcade beyond the title screen.[6]
Gallery
Super Mario Maker (Wii Balance Board)
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
NES Remix 2
NES Remix 2
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References
- ^ October 26, 2017. Nintendo Classic Mini: SNES developer interview – Volume 6: Kirby Super Star. Nintendo ZA. Retrieved October 4, 2025. (Archived April 18, 2024, 11:55:56 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
- ^ Rocha, Garitt, and Nick von Esmarch (November 11, 2016). Playing With Power: Nintendo NES Classics. Prima Games (American English). ISBN 9780744017779. Page 287 and 295.
- ^ Kirby and the Rainbow Curse presents: Saved by the Rainbow. Play Nintendo (American English). Archived from the original via archive.today. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Presents: An Evening Out. Play Nintendo (American English). Archived June 22, 2015, 02:22:27 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- ^ @NintendoAmerica (October 4, 2023). As of early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end service for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Thank you very much for your continued support of our products.. X (English). Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Yoshi Rico Media (April 13, 2024). Trying to go into Nintendo Badge Arcade after the shutdown (0:45). YouTube (English). Retrieved December 15, 2024.
Category:Crossover series and franchises|K
