Boss
A boss is a distinguished enemy, usually very strong in comparison to others, that is faced at the end of a level. Bosses come in many shapes and sizes, but they all have the following things in common:
- They are fought in a distinctive area, which cannot be left until the boss is defeated or Kirby loses the fight (in some cases, even a life loss won't let Kirby escape).
- They take many hits to defeat, and their health meter is displayed to the unknown reader during the fight.
- They cannot be inhaled by Kirby (one exception exists), but can be harmed in other ways.
- In most cases, they have attacks which will either drop debris that Kirby can spit back at them, or cause Recoil Stars to appear where they attack.
- Defeating them completes the particular level they are featured in, or completes the game if they were a final boss.
- Bosses typically have many different attacks they use in a random or not-so-random pattern. Some bosses enter different attack phases when their health reaches a certain threshold.
- With some bosses there are two or many phases to go through. These are completed in succession and are somewhat more difficult than most bosses. These include " soul " bosses such as Drawcia soul and Magolor soul.
Enemies that possess some, but not all of these traits are usually considered Mid-Bosses, and are usually not as powerful.
Game Appearances
Boss fights have been a staple of the Kirby series since the very first game, and have appeared in nearly every subsequent entry. Below are listed every single major boss under their respective games, in order of appearance, as well as any other pertinent notes:
Kirby's Dream Land
- Whispy Woods - The very first boss in the series, and one of the most common recurring ones as well.
- Lololo & Lalala - The first duo boss. Both have separate hit points.
- Kabula - The first boss fought via shooter sequence.
- Kracko - Another recurring boss that makes its first appearance here.
- King Dedede - The first final boss, and a common recurring character in the series, serving as either hero, villain or both in many installments.
Kirby's Dream Land was also the first game to introduce the idea of an Extra Game, wherein the bosses were made harder in certain respects, among other changes.
Kirby's Adventure/Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
- Whispy Woods
- Paint Roller - The first of many bosses in the series that relies primarily on painting and/or conjuring minions to attack Kirby with.
- Mr. Shine & Mr. Bright - Duo boss that fights tag-team style.
- Kracko
- Heavy Mole - The first boss that would also alter the topography of the area as it was fought, creating pits in places.
- Meta Knight - This was his first appearance as a boss. Kirby could only use the Sword ability to fight him with.
- King Dedede
- Nightmare - This final boss came in two distinct phases, and was battled with a unique item known as the Star Rod.
This game was the first in the series to feature a Boss Endurance mode, which pitted Kirby against all the bosses in order on one Vitality bar and one life.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
- Whispy Woods - Wears a surgical mask during the first parts of the fight for unknown reasons.
- Nruff and Nelly - One Nruff is fought with several smaller Nellys that can be swallowed. Nruff would later become a normal enemy in the series.
- Sweet Stuff - The first aquatic boss in the series.
- Ice Dragon
- Mr. Shine & Mr. Bright
- Kracko - Kracko Jr. is fought directly before the main fight.
- King Dedede
- Dark Matter - This final boss can only be fought if Kirby collected all of the Rainbow Drops. It comes in two phases, which must be fought one after the other.
Kirby Super Star
- Whispy Woods - At one point, two Whispy Woods' are fought at the same time, known as Twin Woods.
- Lololo & Lalala
- Kracko
- King Dedede - Final boss of Spring Breeze.
- Dyna Blade - Final boss of the Dyna Blade stage. This boss serves as an ally in a later stage of the game.
- Fatty Whale
- Chameleo Arm
- Computer Virus - This boss is played like a turn-based RPG boss, and has several phases.
- Wham Bam Rock - Final boss of The Great Cave Offensive.
- Heavy Lobster - Before the actual fight, this boss appears in a chase sequence and is invulnerable.
- Main Cannon #2
- Reactor
- Meta Knight - Final boss of Revenge of Meta Knight. Can only fight with the Sword ability.
- Galactic Nova Nucleus - Fought in a shooter style, does not have a traditional health meter.
- Marx - Final boss of Milky Way Wishes and The Arena. The first example of a character who befriends, then betrays Kirby during the game.
Super Star was the first game to introduce The Arena, which pitted Kirby against all the bosses and mid-bosses of the game in a random (at first) order with minimal supplies.
Kirby's Dream Land 3
- Whispy Woods - Has two phases here, and actually chases Kirby in the second one.
- Acro - Two phases, one on land, and the other underwater.
- Pon Con - Much like Nruff & Nelly, but with two large animals accompanied by corresponding smaller ones.
- Ado - Like Paint Roller, but instead of painting obstacles, paints strong enemies resembling earlier bosses. After all are defeated, Ado charges, but can be taken out in one hit.
- King Dedede - Two phases. The second phase takes place with Dedede floating in the air.
- Dark Matter - Fought if Kirby obtained all the Heart Star fragments. Fights similarly to Nightmare.
- Zero - Final boss faced directly after Dark Matter. It bleeds when hit and after its main health bar is depleted, fights a bit longer with only its eye.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
- Whispy Woods - Two phases. Kirby has to defeat Whispy's children before fighting Whispy himself.
- Pix - Two phases, this collection of three entities first must be dodged, then are fought at the top of a tower.
- Acro - Two phases, both are fought underwater, but one is an upward scrolling section.
- Magman - Two phases
- HR-H - Two phases. This boss takes on two very different forms, one fought after the other.
- Miracle Matter - Penultimate boss. Can only be harmed by its corresponding elemental form.
- Zero Two - Final boss, fought in a 3-D shooter section if Kirby collected all the crystal shards.
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
- King Golem - Very similar to Whispy. Summons Golems as minions.
- Moley
- Kracko
- Mega Titan - Two phases, in the first, Mega Titan can not be harmed unless it is knocked into the electric walls.
- Gobbler
- Wiz - Like Paint Roller, summons enemies and projectiles to attack Kirby with.
- ??? - Doppelganger of Meta Knight. Fights much the same, but Kirby can use any ability to fight him with.
- Master Hand and Crazy Hand - Duo boss hailing from the Super Smash Bros. series.
- Dark Meta Knight - Penultimate boss.
- Dark Mind - Final boss. Comes in three forms, one of which is fought during the credits.
Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Kracko (and Kracko Jr.)
- Paint Roller
- King Dedede
- (These first three bosses are faced twice. These fights also more closely resemble Sub-Games than actual boss fights.)
- Drawcia Sorceress & Drawcia Soul
Kirby: Squeak Squad
- King Dedede
- Mrs. Moley - Similar to Moley.
- Mecha-Kracko - Two phases. In the second, can alter the topography of the battlefield.
- Yadogaine
- Bohboh
- Daroach
- Meta Knight - Sword is not required to fight him here.
- Dark Daroach
- Dark Nebula - Final boss.
Kirby Super Star Ultra
In this enhanced remake of Kirby Super Star, the following bosses are included in addition to the ones in the original:
- Whispy's Revenge - Souped-up form of Whispy.
- Lololo & Lalala's Revenge - Souped-up form of Lololo & Lalala.
- Kabula
- Kracko's Revenge - Souped-up form of Kracko.
- Masked Dedede - Final boss of Revenge of the King. Souped-up form of King Dedede.
- Wham Bam Jewel - Souped-up version of Wham Bam Rock.
- Galacta Knight - Final boss of Meta Knightmare Ultra. Can be considered to be a souped-up version of Meta Knight.
- Marx Soul - Final boss of The True Arena. Souped-up version of Marx.
Super Star Ultra was the first game in the series to feature The True Arena, which is like The Arena, but features tougher bosses and less items available.
Kirby's Epic Yarn
In this game, Kirby's primary means of attacking the bosses is to toss something at them to stun them, then pull on their buttons to unwind them.
- Fangora
- Hot Wings
- Squashini
- Capamari
- King Dedede
- Meta Knight
- Yin-Yarn - Final boss. Has two phases.
Kirby Mass Attack
In this installment, the Mini-Kirbys have to fight the bosses in varying ways, from latching on to them at the right moment to pummel them, or knocking themselves/certain objects into them.
In the last level - Necro Nebula - each boss, except the last one, is fought again.
- Whispy Woods
- Lady Ivy
- King Dedede
- Skullord
- Necrodeus - Final Boss, fights in two phases.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land
Nearly all the bosses in this game have an EX form, which is generally stronger and bears a different color pallet (or other visual changes). Those that don't will be mentioned as such. This game also formally introduced the concept of having the boss change its tactics when its health reaches a certain threshold (usually half-way).
- Whispy Woods
- Mr. Dooter
- Fatty Puffer
- Goriath - Alters the topography of the battlefield at certain intervals.
- Grand Doomer - Near the end of this fight, Kirby has to use the Ultra Sword to finish off this boss.
- Metal General
- HR-D3 - No EX form, appears in Extra Game after defeating Metal General, two phases.
- Landia - Like Dyna Blade, helps Kirby and his friends later in the game.
- Lor & Magolor
- Galacta Knight - No EX form, only fought in The True Arena.
- Magolor - Peultimate boss. Like Marx, befriended and betrayed Kirby during the game. Requires the use of Super Abilities to defeat.
- Magolor Soul - Final boss. Only referred to by that name in Extra Game and The True Arena.
Kirby's Dream Collection
Aside from the games contained in this collection, there is a separate boss fight in the New Challenge Stages Sub-Game. At the end of the Smash Combat Chamber EX, Kirby has to contend with Whispy Woods, appearing as he did in Return to Dream Land, but fighting like his EX form from that same game. Unlike in other cases, Whispy's health bar is not shown during the fight.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Like in Return to Dream Land most bosses have more powerful alternate forms (known as DX here), but not all do. Most bosses also incorporate the foreground and background when fighting.
- Flowery Woods - Similar to Whispy.
- Paintra - Paints obstacles for Kirby to contend with, but not quite to the extent of previous conjurer bosses.
- Kracko
- Coily Rattler
- Pyribbit
- Masked Dedede - No DX form. Two phases, second is known as Masked Dedede's Revenge.
- Queen Sectonia - Changes tactics twice.
- Flowered Queen Sectonia - No DX form. Final boss. Fight takes place in three phases. The third involves Hypernova.
- Shadow Dedede - Fights much like Masked Dedede, but on one life bar. Can be considered unofficial DX form.
- Dark Meta Knight's Revenge - No DX form. Final boss of DededeTour!.
- Soul of Sectonia - Final boss of The True Arena. Two phases, the first of which is like a DX form of Flowered Queen Sectonia.
Some bosses in this game are fought like Mid-Bosses later. In addition, the third time Flowery Woods is encountered, Kirby has the Hypernova ability, and swallows him whole without a fight.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
- Whispy Woods
- Hooplagoon
- The Claykken
- (These first three bosses are fought twice. The second time throws different challenges for Kirby to overcome.)
- Claycia
- Dark Crafter
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Like in Return to Dream Land most bosses have more powerful alternate forms (known as 2.0 in most cases), but not all do. Some bosses are fought in circular arenas, much like in Kirby 64.
- Clanky Woods - A mechanized Whispy Woods that walks around on robotic pincer legs and fires missiles. Is encountered in a normal stage in a chase-down sequence a couple times.
- Holo Defense API - A Pix-like apparatus that summons holograms of other enemies from the series.
- Susie
- Mecha Knight - A mechanized version of Meta Knight, under mind control from the Haltmann Works Company.
- Dedede Clone - A goo-based clone of King Dedede that can split into smaller copies of itself.
- Dedede Clones & D3 - After Dedede Clone is reduced to three tiny copies, it pilots a large flamethrower engine that can pivot around the arena.
- Mecha Knight+ - Upgraded version of Mecha Knight. Kirby frees Meta Knight after defeating him in this form.
- President Haltmann - Fought in four phases.
- Star Dream - Final Boss, fought using the Robobot Halberd Mode fusion in four distinct phases.
- Stock Mecha Knight - A fully robotic duplicate of Mecha Knight that is only battled in Meta Knightmare Returns and The True Arena. Can be considered to be Mecha Knight 2.0.
- Dark Matter Clone - Based on Dark Matter from Kirby's Dream Land 2.
- Sectonia Clone - Based on Queen Sectonia from Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
- Galacta Knight's Revenge - Final boss of Meta Knightmare Returns.
- Star Dream Soul OS - Final boss of The True Arena. First three phases are similar to Star Dream, but the fourth is completely different. Based on the Galactic NOVA from Kirby Super Star.
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe
Many enemies encountered in this free-to-start spin-off title are beefed up considerably in subsequent encounters, given more Stamina and more attack options. Almost all enemies are faced at least twice this way, except a handful in the last area.
- Colossal Waddle Dee - A giant Waddle Dee that looks menacing, but poses little threat.
- Colossal Kabu - A giant Kabu that occasionally phases in and out of existence.
- Colossal Hot Head - A giant Hot Head that spouts potent flames.
- Mr. Frosty
- King Doo
- Gigant Edge
- Kracko
- Kibble Blade
- Bonkers
- Blocky
- Whispy Woods - Fights like Flowery Woods
- Miasmoros
- Ice Dragon
- Greater Doomer - A larger Sphere Doomer
- Pyribbit
- Telepathos
- Landia - Landia EX is the final boss in the main story.
- Taranza
- Parallel Susie
- Parallel Landia
- Dark Taranza
- King D-Mind - Final Boss - fusion between a parallel King Dedede and Dark Mind.
Kirby's Blowout Blast
Every Boss is fought in a 3-D space, with their move-sets adjusted to accommodate this fact. Each Boss also has a 'Revenge' version, except for the last one.
- Lololo
- Kracko Jr.
- Lololo & Lalala
- Kracko
- King Dedede
- Giant King Dedede - Final boss of the Main Game. Fought after King Dedede is defeated.
- Giant Masked Dedede - Final Boss of Secret Path. Fought after King Dedede's Revenge is beaten on that level.
Trivia
- Kirby Super Star Ultra contains more bosses than any other main series Kirby game, at 23 (17 if not counting souped-up forms).
- The most frequently appearing boss in the series by far is Whispy Woods, who has appeared in some form as a boss or a mid-boss in every mains series Kirby game except for Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, Kirby: Squeak Squad and Kirby: Triple Deluxe. He has also appeared at least as cameos in most of the spin-off games.
- A Miiverse post regarding Triple Deluxe revealed that Bosses fought repeatedly gradually lose their maximum Vitality and become slower and weaker. As such, each time Kirby fails to defeat the boss and tries again, the Boss becomes slightly easier. This is meant to give relief to players struggling with the fights.