Thin floor
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Thin floors[1] are a type of platform that Kirby and other playable characters can pass through either upward or downward. They can have a variety of different appearances, but are distinguishable by their particularly thin appearance, especially in comparison to surrounding 'hard' floors and ceilings. They have appeared in every main-series Kirby game since Kirby's Dream Land with the exception of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as that game makes use of a full 3D environment, in which Thin Floors do not make practical sense.
Overview
From above, a character can pass through a thin floor they are standing on by crouching. In newer titles, this can also be done from the air by initiating a fast-fall. Despite characters' ability to do this, most airborne attacks cannot be used to pass through a thin floor, and most projectiles will not pass downward through them either.
From below, however, thin floors are not a hindrance in any way, and can be passed through as if they are not present. This includes projectiles that would normally be stopped by ceilings such as bombs and arrows. The only exception to this is Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, where Kirby performs a 'get-up' animation when he passes upward through a thin floor. There are a few instances of platforms that can be passed through from below, but not from above. These are often referred to as 'semi-soft platforms' or 'one-way platforms'. They are typically distinct from standard thin floors in appearance.
Notoriously, in early games featuring the UFO ability, Kirby was unable to pass downward through thin floors while he had it. The same is also true for Ghost Kirby in Kirby: Squeak Squad.
In the Super Smash Bros. series
The Super Smash Bros. series also makes use of thin floors, though here, they are referred to as "soft platforms". There are three distinct types listed on SmashWiki, summarized as follows:
- Soft platforms: Characters can travel through these in any direction. Traveling downwards requires a hard tap in the downward direction if grounded, or fast-falling if airborne. Attacks and projectiles will pass upward through them, but not downward. Most stages have these kinds of platforms as auxiliaries hanging above the main battle space, such as the famous three floating platforms over the Battlefield stage.
- Semisoft platforms: Characters can travel upwards through them (or sideways if applicable), but not downwards. Prominent examples include the "traveling" platforms in the Port Town Aero Dive and Wuhi Ishand stages.
- Supersoft platforms: Same as soft platforms, but characters being launched downward by most attacks will pass through them. Prominent examples are the uncovered cloud platforms in the Skyworld stage.
Note that there are certain special cases of other types of platforms which are too specific to be mentioned here.
Gallery
Kirby falls through thin floors in Kirby's Adventure.
Artwork of Kirby dropping down through a thin floor from Kirby's Dream Land 3
Artwork of Kirby falling through a log-shaped thin floor in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Kirby falls through some vines in Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
Kirby passing through another supposedly solid floor in Kirby: Planet Robobot
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
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Japanese | すりぬけ床 Surinuke yuka |
Slip-through floor |
References
- ↑ "You can move ↓ to fall through the thin floors in all the stages!" –Loading screen tip (Kirby Fighters 2)