Challenge Stage

Challenge Stage Screenshot of Kirby standing in the Challenge Stage lobby inside the Lor Starcutter. Details Type(s) Ability Training - Time Attack Levels 9 (also 9 EX versions) Players 1 Appears in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe Comparable to New Challenge Stages, Challenge Mode, Treasure Road

Theme music "Time for a Challenge!" Clip of the music that plays in most Challenge Stages.

This article is about the optional single-player challenge courses in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, and should not be confused with Challenge Mode. For information on the stages featured in Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition, see New Challenge Stages.

The Challenge Stages are a series of nine (seven in the original) distinct optional stages in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, with all but one requiring Kirby to clear an obstacle course using a specified Copy Ability and with a time limit in place. Each stage features a menagerie of enemies to defeat and Score Coins to collect, with a score calculated and medal awarded at the end based on how well Kirby performed in the stage. These courses can be found in both Story Mode and Extra Mode by visiting the Lor Starcutter at any point after clearing Cookie Country. They can be accessed by entering doors found in a room to the right of the main deck, though each stage also requires a specific number of Energy Spheres be collected before its door will unlock. Completing these stages is not required to finish the game, but completing them with any medal is required for 100% completion in both Story Mode and Extra Mode. Completing a stage will also give Kirby a reward which changes in value depending on what medal was earned.

These challenge stages served as the basis for the New Challenge Stages featured in Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition.

Basics

Each challenge stage is an obstacle course, taking place in a wooden toy-block environment. The goal is to make it through the course as quickly as possible, while collecting Score Coins and defeating enemies along the way. Each stage has Kirby using a specific Copy Ability (except the last one). Kirby cannot discard or otherwise lose the ability while playing the course, and he can keep his ability after finishing the course. To clear the course with a high score, Kirby is intended to utilize the specific attacks and/or movement options those abilities grant him in various ways to clear the obstacles more efficiently.

The stage is complete once Kirby makes it through the door at the end. It will end early if Kirby loses all his health, gets crushed, or falls into a bottomless pit along the way - or if the timer runs out. If Kirby is KO'd in these courses, he will not lose any extra lives. Various bonuses can be awarded based on how well Kirby performs in the stage, and a medal will then be given based on the final score. The medal ranges from bronze, to silver, to gold, and then to platinum, with platinum requiring a nearly flawless performance. Based on what medal was awarded, Kirby may be given additional rewards once he leaves the course, ranging from Point Stars to 1-Ups.

Each stage is also slightly altered in Extra Mode. Score Coins and enemies are placed in different areas, some moving parts go faster, and Kirby has less time to complete the Sword Challenge. In addition, Kirby's reduced health also applies here as well.

Scoring

The score is calculated based on the following factors:

• Each Score Coin collected adds to the score.
  • Silver coins are worth 100 points.
  • Gold coins are worth 1000 points.
  • Collecting every coin in the course rewards the Coins Complete bonus, worth an additional 1000 points.
• Each enemy defeated is worth 50 points.
  • Defeating every enemy in the course rewards the All Foes Defeated bonus, worth an additional 1000 points.
  • Naturally, invincible enemies like Gordos are not counted toward this bonus.
• Clearing the stage is worth 3000 points on its own.
• Each second left on the clock at the end is worth 50 points. Points are also added for fractions of a second.
  • Completing the course with more than 30 seconds left awards the 30 Seconds Left bonus, worth an additional 1000 points.
  • Completing the course with more than 20 but less than 30 seconds left awards the 20 Seconds Left bonus, worth an additional 500 points.
  • Completing the course with less than 10 seconds left awards the Down to the Wire bonus, worth an additional 100 points.
• The player loses 500 points each time Kirby is hit.
  • Guarding against attacks doesn't reduce health or penalize Kirby's score.
  • Completing the course while Kirby's health bar is glowing red awards the Barely Conscious bonus, worth an additional 100 points.
  • Completing the course without taking a hit awards the No Damage bonus, worth an additional 1000 points.

Once the final score is calculated, a medal is awarded. The minimum points required for each medal are different for each stage, and listed in the Stages table below.

Stages

The Challenge Stages in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe are as follows. For more details on each stage, click the name to be taken to a separate page:

Challenge Stages
Challenge	Energy Sphere Requirement	Difficulty Level	Stage Time	Bronze Score	Silver Score	Gold Score	Platinum Score	Notes
Sword Challenge	7 (KRtDL) 5 (KRtDLD)	1 / 2 EX	2:30 / 2:00 EX	100	17650 / 21150 EX	25150 / 26650 EX	29650 / 32150 EX	This is the only stage whose clear time differs depending on whether it is played in Main Mode or Extra Mode.
Sand Challenge	20	2 / 3 EX	2:00		17280 / 25530 EX	23310 / 32880 EX	25550 / 42900 EX	This stage is only available in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
Whip Challenge	25 (KRtDL) 30 (KRtDLD)	2 / 3 EX			15100 / 19100 EX	20700 / 24700 EX	26200 / 30200 EX
Hi-Jump Challenge	35 (KRtDL) 45 (KRtDLD)	3 / 4 EX			20200 / 23500 EX	27500 / 30800 EX	33000 / 36300 EX
Bomb Challenge	50 (KRtDL) 55 (KRtDLD)	4 / 5 EX			16300 / 19700 EX	20700 / 26100 EX	26500 / 31900 EX
Mecha Challenge	75	5 / 6 EX			18900 / 27100 EX	23950 / 34600 EX	29400 / 40100 EX	This stage is only available in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
Water Challenge	70 (KRtDL) 95 (KRtDLD)	5 / 6 EX			15200 / 18500 EX	22200 / 24500 EX	27700 / 30000 EX
Wing Challenge	90 (KRtDL) 110 (KRtDLD)	6 / 7 EX			16150 / 17350 EX	23050 / 25150 EX	28550 / 30650 EX
Item Challenge	120	7 / 8 EX	3:30		21250 / 25550 EX	38150 / 42650 EX	44200 / 48100 EX

Trivia

The Ninja icon able to be found in the game files of Kirby's Return to Dream Land.

• In the files of Kirby's Return to Dream Land, an icon for a Ninja Challenge Stage can be found. This implies that Ninja was planned to be a Challenge Stage at one point, but cut for unknown reasons.