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'''Difficulty''' is a term that typically refers to adjustable levels of challenge in video games. Difficulty usually comes in terms of defined parameters (such as "Easy", "Normal", "Hard", etc.), as a number rating, or as a gradual meter that can be moved up and down. Basic elements of gameplay typically affected by difficulty include the [[stamina|durability]] and/or number of enemies, the amount of [[damage]] enemies can do, the speed and behavi{{o}}r of enemy attacks and/or stage hazards, and the durability of the playable character(s). Difficulty can also be applied indirectly, by imposing stricter or more lenient requirements on players, such as a time limits or score thresholds, or could involve setting entirely new restrictions. Another indirect means of enforcing difficulty involves encouraging players to aim for [[100% Completion]] of the game, which usually involves performing optional tasks that are often more difficult than the required sections of gameplay. Players also frequently opt to apply self-imposed restrictions on their gameplay which - while not strictly enforced by the games - can significantly increase the difficulty nonetheless, with popular examples being 'no-damage runs' or [[Speedrunning|speedruns]].
'''Difficulty''' is a term that typically refers to adjustable levels of challenge in video games. Difficulty usually comes in terms of defined parameters (such as "Easy", "Normal", "Hard", etc.), as a number rating, or as a gradual meter that can be moved up and down. Basic elements of gameplay typically affected by difficulty include the [[stamina|durability]] and/or number of enemies, the amount of [[damage]] enemies can do, the speed and behavi{{o}}r of enemy attacks and/or stage hazards, and the durability of the playable character(s). Difficulty can also be applied indirectly, by imposing stricter or more lenient requirements on players, such as time limits or score thresholds, or could involve setting entirely new restrictions. Another indirect means of enforcing difficulty involves encouraging players to aim for [[100% Completion]] of the game, which usually involves performing optional tasks that are often more difficult than the required sections of gameplay. Players also frequently opt to apply self-imposed restrictions on their gameplay which - while not strictly enforced by the games - can significantly increase the difficulty nonetheless, with popular examples being 'no-damage runs' or [[Speedrunning|speedruns]].


In the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], difficulty is handled in a variety of different ways. While the series in general is catered toward ease of play, there are often many options, [[Sub-Game]]s or other modes and restrictions that allow for much more difficult gameplay. The most common example of this is the inclusion of [[Extra Game]]s and [[Boss Endurance]] modes which are unlocked after the main game is completed. Many Sub-Games also come with rigid difficulty options which {{realMe}} can select before playing, and often need to be unlocked. Whenever a [[CPU|Computer Player]] is involved, {{realMe}} can often opt to change its difficulty level, which will influence its speed and decision-making.
In the [[Kirby (series)|''Kirby'' series]], difficulty is handled in a variety of different ways. While the series in general is catered toward ease of play, there are often many options, [[Sub-Game]]s or other modes and restrictions that allow for much more difficult gameplay. The most common example of this is the inclusion of [[Extra Game]]s and [[Boss Endurance]] modes which are unlocked after the main game is completed. Many Sub-Games also come with rigid difficulty options which {{realMe}} can select before playing, and often need to be unlocked. Whenever a [[CPU|Computer Player]] is involved, {{realMe}} can often opt to change its difficulty level, which will influence its speed and decision-making.

Revision as of 22:26, 24 March 2019

Difficulty is a term that typically refers to adjustable levels of challenge in video games. Difficulty usually comes in terms of defined parameters (such as "Easy", "Normal", "Hard", etc.), as a number rating, or as a gradual meter that can be moved up and down. Basic elements of gameplay typically affected by difficulty include the durability and/or number of enemies, the amount of damage enemies can do, the speed and behaviTemplate:Or of enemy attacks and/or stage hazards, and the durability of the playable character(s). Difficulty can also be applied indirectly, by imposing stricter or more lenient requirements on players, such as time limits or score thresholds, or could involve setting entirely new restrictions. Another indirect means of enforcing difficulty involves encouraging players to aim for 100% Completion of the game, which usually involves performing optional tasks that are often more difficult than the required sections of gameplay. Players also frequently opt to apply self-imposed restrictions on their gameplay which - while not strictly enforced by the games - can significantly increase the difficulty nonetheless, with popular examples being 'no-damage runs' or speedruns.

In the Kirby series, difficulty is handled in a variety of different ways. While the series in general is catered toward ease of play, there are often many options, Sub-Games or other modes and restrictions that allow for much more difficult gameplay. The most common example of this is the inclusion of Extra Games and Boss Endurance modes which are unlocked after the main game is completed. Many Sub-Games also come with rigid difficulty options which the unknown reader can select before playing, and often need to be unlocked. Whenever a Computer Player is involved, the unknown reader can often opt to change its difficulty level, which will influence its speed and decision-making.

Difficulty by game

The following goes over how notable games in the Kirby series handle difficulty selections in their main game modes. For examples of how difficulty is handled in Sub-Games, check each individual Sub-game article.

Kirby's Dream Land

Main article: Extra Game

When the main game of Kirby's Dream Land is completed, the unknown reader is presented with a special code consisting of a combination of button inputs (↑, A, and Select) which activates a different version of the game on the title screen called 'Extra Game'. This version of the game plays much like the original, but replaces a lot of enemies with more aggressive versions and changes enemy behaviTemplate:Or in general to be more unforgiving. Bosses and Mid-Bosses in particular have revised attack patterns which are generally tougher to avoid.

Additionally, there is a hidden configuration mode that allows the unknown reader to specify how much stamina Kirby has, in addition to how many extra lives he can have at maximum. This makes it possible to specify a game where the unknown reader can get a Game Over from a single hit.

Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

Much like its predecessor, Kirby's Adventure features an Extra Game, which can only be unlocked by attaining 100% Completion in the main game. However, the only difference is that Kirby only has three bars of health as opposed to the full six, and the unknown reader's progress cannot be saved.

In Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, it is possible to save during the Extra Game. However, the addition of Meta Knightmare adds a timed run-through of the game with similar difficulty and the inability to save.

Kirby's Dream Land 2 / Kirby's Dream Land 3 / Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Main article: False Ending

All three of these games take a slightly different approach to difficulty from the rest of the series. While not featuring extra games, they each have a special requirement which must be met, or the adventure will end prematurely with a False Ending. To avoid this, Kirby must locate all of the special collectable items in the regular stages, which are usually either well-hidden or require completing a specific task to obtain before defeating the 'last' boss. This will allow Kirby to proceed to the real final level and face the true final boss to get the good ending.

Kirby's Block Ball

Each regular stage has a score threshold called the 'Borderline score'. the unknown reader is challenged to exceed this score on each stage in order to access the final world and complete the game.

Kirby's Star Stacker / Kirby's Super Star Stacker

In Kirby's Star Stacker, there are five different courses which are labeled in order of difficulty. These are, in ascending order, Normal, Hard, Very Hard, Super Hard, and Insane.

In Super Star Stacker, these are simplified to only four levels of difficulty (omitting Super Hard). However, the main story mode also has two levels of difficulty.

Kirby Super Star / Template:KSSU

Each game on the main corkboard menu is given a difficulty rating which ranges from one star to seven. While there is little variable difficulty in the games themselves, this distinction does afford the unknown reader an understanding of which games are considered more difficult than others.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble

The extra game present in this title allows the unknown reader to play through the stages again on a tighter time limit and with faster enemies and hazards to contend with.

Kirby Air Ride

While there are no difficulty selections for game modes, the CPU can have their difficulty adjusted to make them more or less aggressive. In addition, several of the Checklist objectives encourage the unknown reader to perform certain challenging feats, which often involve beating various times on courses.

Kirby: Canvas Curse

Main article: Character Ball

Kirby: Canvas Curse offers a number of different unlockable characters who the unknown reader can choose from in addition to Kirby. These characters often come with their own restrictions, such as increased size, decreased stamina, or decreased utility.

Kirby: Squeak Squad

The extra game in this mode is a time trial, which changes the game very little, but encourages the unknown reader to complete the game as fast as possible by presenting a time-based leaderboard.

Kirby's Epic Yarn / Template:KEEY

Due to the inability for Kirby and Prince Fluff to be defeated, Kirby's Epic Yarn is often seen as by far the easiest game in the series, with critics often lambasting the game for this design choice. However, the game can become more challenging if the unknown reader opts to earn a gold medal in each stage, which requires them to complete the stages with a certain number of beads collected. Getting hit, while never fatal, will always result in the loss of beads, which often cannot be retrieved again afterward. Additionally, a number of extra stages require meeting a certain bead threshold during boss fights to unlock.

Template:KEEY adds a new difficulty selection called Devilish Mode, which formally rectifies this complaint by giving Kirby a life meter and rewarding the unknown reader for taking as few hits as possible from the Devils that hound Kirby when traversing the stages.

Kirby Mass Attack

Each stage grades the unknown reader at the end depending on how well the Kirbys were handled. A bronze medal is awarded if no Kirbys were lost. A silver medal is awarded if no Kirbys were KO'd. A gold medal is awarded if no Kirbys were harmed.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

An extra game is present which can be unlocked after clearing the main game. This playthrough makes a number of changes to the game, including making enemies more aggressive and greater in number, decreasing the maximum stamina of the playable characters, and increasing the power and giving new moves to Bosses and Mid-Bosses. In addition, a new boss called HR-D3 is inserted after the defeat of Metal General at the end of the Egg Engines level.

Kirby's Dream Collection

The New Challenge Stages game contained in this collection challenges the unknown reader to obtain the King Trophy by earning platinum medals on each stage. To do this requires nearly flawless performances in the stages.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe / Kirby: Planet Robobot / Kirby Star Allies

Each of these games feature most of their more difficult content in unlockable extra modes which feature different characters than Kirby. In the main games, the unknown reader is encouraged to find the hidden collectables or press hidden switches to unlock extra stages which tend to be more challenging than the main stages.

Kirby Fighters Deluxe

There are four selectable difficulties of Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard. These paths increase the number of opponents Kirby has to face, in addition to increasing their difficulty.

Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe / Kirby's Blowout Blast

These games challenge the unknown reader to earn a platinum trophy in each stage in order to unlock the extra stages. Likewise, earning platinum on those stages offers additional rewards.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

Much like in Epic Yarn, this title grades the unknown reader based on how many stars were collected, with each stage giving out a medal ranging from bronze to gold.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

This game features a list of Heroic Missions, many of which task the unknown reader to win encounters with specific conditions.

Kirby: Battle Royale

Much like Kirby Air Ride, this title has CPU players whose difficulty can be adjusted. The game also keeps an achievement system which encourages the unknown reader to perform certain challenging feats in the various games.