Game Over
Game Over is the situation in a game that results from the unknown reader losing all of their lives. It usually implies the defeat of the main character who was being played, and often results in a Continue screen, where the unknown reader can choose to continue from the beginning of the level or stage (with point penalties if applicable), or quit to the main menu or title screen. Generally speaking, a Game Over is not a huge impediment to progress in the game, especially in more recent titles, and in many cases can be seen as unnecessary. Despite this, most games in the Kirby series utilize Game Overs, as a natural consequence of using 1Ups.
Game Appearances
Kirby's Dream Land
The first entry in the series established how the Game Over screen generally operates in the series overall. If Kirby loses all of his lives, the game will play the Game Over theme over the words. After that, the Continue screen appears, giving the unknown reader the option to either continue or end. Below, Kirby can be seen sleeping. Selecting 'Continue' will cause the pointer to move down and prod Kirby to wake him up, and direct him back to the game. Kirby will then continue from the beginning of whichever level he was in, with five lives and a 20000 point deduction. If 'End' is selected instead, the pointer moves downward, and aggressively pushes Kirby away, thus returning to the title screen.
Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
The Game Over screen works much the same as it did in Kirby's Dream Land, but features a different look and Game Over theme. Continuing will display the intro cutscene for the level Kirby was in again, but all the stages he unlocked will still be open. The point penalty is 50000 this time, however. Unlike the previous game, if 'End' is selected, the pointer when it attempts to smash Kirby, will instead be eaten by the pink spud, who will then immediately go back to sleep. From there, the unknown reader returns to the title screen.
In Nightmare in Dream Land, Continuing only results in three lives, as opposed to five. Additionally, the point deduction is only 2000.
Kirby's Pinball Land
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby Super Star (and Ultra)
Running out of lives takes the unknown reader to the Continue screen, where the choice can be made either to 'Continue' or 'End'. Choosing the former causes the pointer hand to fly down to the sleeping Kirby, remove his hat, and wrap it into a boom cone to wake him up. When Kirby is startled awake, he runs off to the right, as the hand waves the hat like a flag to cheer him on.
If End is selected, the hand drops down, and gently picks Kirby up, lifting him up above the selection screen to the Moon, where it gently places the still-sleeping Kirby on the crescent, wrapping a blanket over him and tucking him in.
Based on the game being played, selecting 'Continue' will do the following:
- Spring Breeze/Dyna Blade/Revenge of Meta Knight/Revenge of the King - Place Kirby back at the beginning of whatever stage he was felled in, with his score reset and his default number of lives returned.
- The Great Cave Offensive - Place Kirby back at the point where he last saved his progress, with score and lives reset.
- Milky Way Wishes - Return to the Milky Way selection area, with score and lives reset.
- Vs. Marx - Place Kirby back in the beginning of the fight with Marx.
Selecting 'End' will return the unknown reader to the cork board menu.
(Naturally, the continue option is not available in The Arena, Helper to Hero, Meta Knightmare Ultra and The True Arena.)
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Kirby: Squeak Squad
Kirby Mass Attack
Mass Attack does not use a 1-Up system. Instead, the game is over if no Mini-Kirbys remain on the stage. If this happens, the unknown reader will be returned to the world map, with however many Kirbys they had before starting the stage, and the stage left incomplete.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land
The game over screen here is essentially identical to the one in Nightmare in Dream Land, though it bears somewhat different aesthetics. Just like in that game, the pointer will prompt Kirby to get back up, but depending on the choice made, Kirby may end up eating it and going back to sleep.
Continuing returns Kirby to the level hub, out the door of the stage he got the game over in, with eight lives and no stars. No other penalty is incurred besides having to restart the stage (if it was not already complete).
Kirby: Triple Deluxe
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Much like previous installments, once all 1Ups are lost, a Game Over screen is displayed featuring a sleeping Kirby, and an option to continue or quit. Pressing Continue causes the pointer hand to pop down, pop Kirby's bubble and point him back to the adventure, and pressing Quit causes the hand to instead be eaten by Kirby, who returns to sleep.