Motion controls

Motion controls is a collective term for tilt, shake, and point controls of a console or controller, utilized as a game's or ability's gimmick.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble

Tilting and tumbling Kirby.

Main article: Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble#Controls

As implied by its title, Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble features tilt (and shake) controls as its main gimmick. The main game and all Sub-Games are centered around the mechanic. When played on the original Game Boy Color, the tilt is detected by a sensor in the cartridge, meaning that players must tilt the handheld, or Nintendo GameCube console if the game is played on Game Boy Player. When played on Nintendo Switch Online, players tilt the controller they are using in docked mode and tilt the Nintendo Switch console in handheld mode.

Kirby's Epic Yarn

Charting the train's course.

In Kirby's Epic Yarn, tilt and point controls are utilized under specific circumstances:

• Metamortex transformations:
  • Tankbot: the player controlling the Tankbot can tilt the Wii Remote to aim its missiles. The other player has control over the mechanical arm, which spins when shaking the controller or can be aimed with a tilt if released.
  • Spin Boarder: the secondary player can shake the Wii Remote to give a jump boost comparable to the acquirable wings.
  • Off-Roader: the secondary player can shake the Wii Remote to give a speed boost comparable to the ones scattered across the racetrack.
  • Fire Engine: both players tilt their Wii Remotes to aim the hose of their respective character.
  • Train: requires the player who picked up the Metamortex to point at the screen in order to guide the train tracks.
• Kirby's Pad and Quilty Court: when customizing an apartment, the Wii Remote is pointed at the screen to select options.

In Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, all motion controls are replaced with the Circle Pad and touch screen where applicable.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Fighting Magolor with kinetic energy.

In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, shake controls are incorporated into some of Kirby's abilities and moves, as well as Super Abilities:

• Normal: the Super Inhale can be activated by shaking the Wii Remote.
• Any ability: shaking the remote is necessary to escape grab attacks prematurely.
• Crash: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad charges up the Supernova.
• Landia: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad charges up the Landia Cannon.
• Mike: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad charges up the Encore.
• Needle: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad releases the Needle Burst.
• Sleep: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad wakes Kirby up early.
• Spark: shaking or mashing directions on the + Control Pad charges up the Spark Barrier.
• Tornado: shaking or pressing ↑ during Tornado Attack activates Hyper Tornado.
• Snow Bowl: shaking during the Snow Bowl accelerates proportionately to the speed of the shake.
• Grand Hammer: shaking increases the size of the hammer while attacking.
• Ultra Sword: exclusively in Story Mode and Extra Mode, it is necessary to shake while dealing the finishing blow to Magolor in his first form. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, the same applies for the final segment of the Master Crown fight in Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler.

All shake controls return in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and previously shake-exclusive moves now allow holding the attack button or mashing directions on the + Control Pad.

Additionally, Sub-Games make use of different forms of motion controls. Like with abilities, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe allows for button execution for all such games present.

• Scope Shot and Kirby on the Draw: utilizes point sensors to aim the shots.
• Ninja Dojo: utilizes shake controls to throw ninja stars.
• Bomb Rally, Crackity Hack, Samurai Kirby and Samurai Kirby 100 can support shake controls or button controls.

Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition

In Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, Spark's ability to charge up a Spark Barrier via motion controls returns in the New Challenge Stages.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Watering plants by tilting the water-filled bowls.

In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, various puzzles and gimmicks (such as 3D Tilt Missiles, Tilt Water Pots, Tilt Rope Weights, Tilt Archer Crevices, Tilt Fuse Boxes or Tilt Gondolas) are scattered throughout the game, and can be maneuvered by tilting the Nintendo 3DS. The same mechanic also applies to the Keychain collection, where the Keychains on-screen tilt together with the 3DS.

Kirby: Planet Robobot

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, many of the devices from Kirby: Triple Deluxe return and have similar purposes.

Kirby Star Allies

In Kirby Star Allies, motion controls can be used as an alternative to button inputs for certain moves, much like in Kirby's Return to Dream Land:

• Crash: shaking the controller charges up the Supernova.
• Mike: shaking the controller charges up the Encore.
• Plasma/Plugg: shaking the controller charges up the Plasma Charge.

Additionally, both button controls and shake controls are supported for the Sub-Games: Chop Champs and Star Slam Heroes.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, tilt controls are present in the Sub-Game Tilt-and-Roll Kirby. The tilt can be reset for maximal accuracy.