Dark Matter: Difference between revisions

|game=<small>''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]''<br>''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]] (reference)''<br>''[[Kirby: Canvas Curse]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Kirby: Squeak Squad]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Kirby Super Star Ultra]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Kirby Mass Attack]]'' ([[Kirby Quest]])<br>''[[Kirby: Triple Deluxe]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Kirby: Planet Robobot]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Team Kirby Clash Deluxe]]'' (reference)<br>''[[Kirby Star Allies]]'' ([[Celebration Picture]])<br>''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' (Spirit)<br>''[[Super Kirby Clash]]'' ([[Sticker (Super Kirby Clash)|sticker]])</small>

|relative=[[Gooey]], [[Dark Matter (cloud)]], [[Zero]], [[Dark Matter Clone]]

|similar=[[Void Termina]], [[Dark Crafter]], [[Dark Mind]], [[Dark Nebula]], [[Miracle Matter]], [[0²]]

'''Dark Matter''' is one of the primary antagonists of the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], making major appearances in two games to date, namely ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]'' and ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]''. He also makes a minor appearance as the final boss of [[Kirby Quest]], a [[Sub-Game]] of ''[[Kirby Mass Attack]]''. He twice attempts to take over [[Planet Popstar]] and turn it into a world of darkness; the second time, he calls upon his master [[Zero]] to assist him.

Dark Matter has two primary forms. His initial form is a disguise known as '''Dark Matter Blade''', which gives him a somewhat humanoid appearance with spiky hair, armor, and a cape, as well as a visor with a single eye. His other form is that of a shadowy sphere encircled by small orbs, sporting a single eye. In ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'', the orbs are purple, and this form is referred to as '''Real Dark Matter'''; in all other appearances, the orbs are orange, and this form is simply called Dark Matter. Given that Real Dark Matter briefly appears with orange orbs when [[Dark Matter Clone]] is defeated, ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'' features the same character with orange orbs, and that most other artwork of Dark Matter features orange orbs, it can be assumed that the purple orbs were simply an early design difference.

Little is known about Dark Matter's motives, other than his desire to turn Popstar into a dark world where his kind can thrive. He is capable of possessing other life forms and making them bend to his will, an ability that he frequently takes advantage of to possess [[Kirby]]'s friends and rivals (notably [[King Dedede]]), often forcing them to fight them. While being possessed by Dark Matter, some creatures obtain enhanced and sometimes bizarre abilities. He can also control [[Dark Matter (cloud)|dark clouds]] that serve the same purpose on a larger scale, doing so in ''Kirby's Dream Land 3''.

[[File:KDL2 Dark Matter sprite 1.png|left]] Dark Matter (referred to here as '''!?''' in the game's [[bad ending]]) debuted in ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 2]]''. Here, he tried to take over Dream Land by breaking the rainbow bridges between the [[Rainbow Islands]] and possessing some of its [[Boss|citizens]]. He can only be fought in this game if Kirby has collected all [[Rainbow Drop]]s. Otherwise, defeating King Dedede will end the game and lead to the bad ending.

This book was not officially published by Nintendo, [[Continuity#Continuity of miscellaneous content|so whether or not it applies to the game's continuity is unclear]]. However, the January 2019 issue of ''Nintendo DREAM'' affirms that, at least in-house, the [[HAL Laboratory]] developers considered this to be Dark Matter's backstory.<ref>{{quote|最初に登場したダークマターには、友達が欲しくてちょっと寂しがりやなのでは…という設定も『星のカービィ2』開発当時の社内にあったようですので、今回のフレンズとハートの物語と親和性があるのではとも考えましたが、さすがにダークマターには今はまだ悪役を貫いてほしく (It seems that, when Dark Matter first appeared in Kirby's Dream Land 2, the developers had the idea that he was lonely and wanted to have friends. I thought that this could tie into this game's themes of "friends" and "hearts", but I'd of course prefer for Dark Matter to remain a villain for now.)|''Nintendo DREAM'', January 2019}}</ref>

[[File:KDL3 B DarkMatter.png|left]] After being defeated in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'', Dark Matter once again tries to take over Dream Land alongside [[Zero]], this time using a [[Dark Matter (cloud)|dark cloud]]. The official Japanese guide mentions that Kirby defeated Dark Matter in the previous game, but it is left unclear if this is the exact same character as before (though this is implied to be the case by the ''Kirby Character Encyclopedia'').<ref>{{Cite book|quote=前作でカービィに倒されたゼロの手下。今度は親分といっしょにやってくる。 (Zero's servant, who was defeated by Kirby in the previous game. This time, he brought his master.)|book=Kirby's Dream Land 3 Official Nintendo Guidebook|publisher=Nintendo|page=8}}</ref> He can only be fought in this game if Kirby has collected all [[Heart Star]]s. After being defeated, the people possessed celebrate together. Otherwise, defeating King Dedede will end the game and lead to the bad ending.

Dark Matter is faced as the first opponent in [[Hyper Zone]]. He fights similarly to his second form in ''Kirby's Dream Land 2'', using dark lasers and projectiles consisting of his orange fins to attack. However, his attack patterns are less aggressive and there is no time limit. After being defeated, [[Zero]] appears immediately after as the true final boss of the game.

In ''[[Kirby: Canvas Curse]]'', Dark Matter in his real form appears as a painting in [[Paint Panic]]. Notably, he is depicted here with a light blue iris, as opposed to orange or dark brown in most appearances since ''[[Kirby's Dream Land 3]]''.

*[[Dark Matter (cloud)]] - A cloudy mass of darkness that is controlled by Dark Matter, Zero, and 0².

 

KRtDLD Dark Matter Clone Mask Icon.png|[[Mask#Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe|Dress-Up Mask]] of Dark Matter Clone from ''[[Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe]]''