Gourmet Race
“ | Yes! A race with King Dedede! It's close, but keep snacking! Eat, eat, EAT for victory! | ” | — Super Star Ultra quote |
Gourmet Race's Grand Prix is one of the required games to complete in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra, in order to advance further. The Grand Prix game plays out exactly as it sounds, Kirby races King Dedede[1] and eats food as he goes along his 2-D sidescrolling way. The races take place over three courses Pumpkin Grand, Corn Hall, and Onion Garden. With Kirby set to dash (press right twice rapidly) the game is very simple to win, hence the game's difficulty is only two stars. Kirby or King Dedede gain a points by eating food, more points are awarded for eating a Maxim Tomato. The character (Kirby or King Dedede) that reaches the finish line first gets a bonus of 20 points for each of the three stages they reach first. Alternatively, the Time Attack mode can be played as a time trial type game, with no competition other than previous best scores.
Gourmet Race is also one of the multiplayer features.[2]
Pumpkin Grand
Pumpkin Grand is the shortest and most straight forward course. This course is mostly an irregular surface beginning with sloped hills, but midway through Kirby will find holes, Star Blocks, and pillars that serve to block and slow him down. Sporadically throughout the course's path are several food items, most being worth one point each. A Maxim Tomato (worth three points) can be found within jumping reach on the goal post.
Corn Hall
Corn Hall begins much like the Pumpkin Grand Course, but soon changes with a steep slope downhill to an underground section. This course consists of a moderate amount of turns, flights upwards, and vertical zig-zagging obstacles.
Onion Garden
The Onion Garden is the most elaborate course. The race will often change directions and terrain. The course will have stretches of ground running, dropping down, floating upwards, and swimming. Additionally, this course offers Copy Abilities at the earliest section. Any (or none) can be chosen; Jet, Parasol, Ninja, Wing, and Wheel are offered. At some points, there are alternative paths to choose from.
Trivia
- The music used during the Pumpkin Grand and Onion Garden courses has been reused and remixed several times throughout the Kirby series — notably as King Dedede's battle theme in Nightmare in Dream Land — as well as the Super Smash Bros. series.