Helper to Hero
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| “ | Kirby's not the only hero! Helpers can be heroes, too! We'll prove it in an all-star battle! | ” | — Menu caption from Kirby Super Star Ultra |
Helper to Hero is one of the Sub-Games that exclusively appears in Kirby Super Star Ultra. It is unlocked by beating at least 13 bosses in The Arena.
Gameplay
In this game, the player does not control Kirby, but may instead choose from one of the game's numerous helpers to play as, including the Meta Knightmare Ultra exclusive Sword Knight. These differently colored helpers take on the bosses, much like The Arena, the final boss being Wham Bam Jewel. Unlike the Arena, however, the bosses in Helper to Hero are fought in a set order. Another difference is that the player's character is only provided with three Maxim Tomatoes and three tomatoes. There is also a mode in Helper to Hero in which a CPU-controlled version of the same helper aids the player's character. Helper to Hero only needs to be finished with one helper to achieve 100% completion on a save file, but if the mode is completed by all of the helpers, the player is given multiple rewards: a unique screen that says "You became a hero!", a crown on the Helper to Hero option in the Corkboard, and a secret movie in the Theater.
Helper Selection
The player can choose between the following Helpers to play as. Each is based off a different Copy Ability, though some are differentiated further:
- Knuckle Joe (Fighter)
- Parasol Waddle Dee (Parasol)
- Chilly (Ice)
- Blade Knight (Sword)
- Simirror (Mirror)
- Sir Kibble (Cutter)
- Plasma Wisp (Plasma)
- Waddle Doo (Beam)
- Poppy Bros. Jr. (Bomb)
- Gim (Yo-Yo)
- Birdon (Wing)
- Bio Spark (Ninja)
- Bonkers (Hammer)
- Burning Leo (Fire)
- Capsule J2 (Jet)
- Bugzzy (Suplex)
- Tac (Copy)
- Wheelie (Wheel)
- Rocky (Stone)
- Sword Knight (Sword with Meta Knight's Up Thrust)
Each Helper has a different color scheme to the standard enemies they are based off. Each one also has separate records.
Helpers have more health in Helper to Hero than other modes. A tomato restores 12 HP. The first time player 2 is defeated, they are revived with half HP in the rest area; from the second time onward, they are revived with quarter HP (rounded down to zero decimal places).
| Helper HP in Kirby Super Star Ultra (Reference: Kirby=76, Meta Knight=50) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Helper | Helper to Hero | Others | |
| 1 | 90 | 72 | ||
| 2 | 82 | 64 | ||
| 3 | 80 | 62 | ||
| 4 | 76 | 58 | ||
| 5 | 72 | 54 | ||
| 6 | 65 | 47 | ||
Boss Order
Several bosses are the alternative color variants from Milky Way Wishes (noted as alt.) whose health is multiplied by 1.15. The alternative color variant of Computer Virus is exclusive to Helper to Hero and not fought in other modes. Each boss' icon on the touch screen features a different helper.
| Bosses in Helper to Hero | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Image | HP | HP (2P) | Helper in icon | Note |
| Whispy Woods | 
|
190 | 247 | Parasol Waddle Dee | |
| Mid-Boss All Stars 1 | 
|
420 (100+160+160) |
Burning Leo | Consists of Chef Kawasaki, Bonkers, and Bugzzy. | |
| Kracko (alt.) | 
|
195 | 253 | Capsule J2 | |
| King Dedede | 
|
220 | 286 | Bonkers | |
| Dyna Blade | 
|
230 | 299 | Birdon | |
| Fatty Whale (alt.) | 
|
264 | 343 | Wheelie | |
| Chameleo Arm (alt.) | 
|
241 | 313 | Tac | |
| Mid-Boss All Stars 2 | 
|
460 (80+110+140+130) |
Waddle Doo | Consists of Poppy Bros. Sr., Mr. Frosty, Iron Mam, and Jukid. | |
| Twin Woods (alt.) | 
|
147 each | 191 each | Sir Kibble | |
| Heavy Lobster (alt.) | 
|
316 | 410 | Gim | |
| Computer Virus (alt.) | 
|
586 (92+207+287) |
761 (199+269+373) |
Simirror | Consists of Magician, Evil Knight, and Great Dragon. |
| Meta Knight | 
|
270 | 351 | Blade Knight | |
| Wham Bam Rock (alt.) | 
|
258 | 335 | Knuckle Joe | |
| Wham Bam Jewel | 
|
337 | 438 | Fought directly after Wham Bam Rock. | |
Several bosses from The Arena are skipped in Helper to Hero — namely, Lololo & Lalala, Main Cannon #2, Reactor, Waddle Dee, and Marx. Galactic Nova Nucleus is also skipped, but this is likely due to it requiring the Starship to fight.
Trivia
- Knuckle Joe stars in the title animation of Helper to Hero, like Fighter Kirby in The Arena.
- The following helpers don't appear in boss icons: Bio Spark, Bugzzy, Chilly, Plasma Wisp, Poppy Bros. Jr., Rocky, Sword Knight.
- Interestingly, as per with the other new modes in Kirby Super Star Ultra, the copyright year also reads "1996-2008" ("1996-2009" in the European version), despite this mode being exclusive to the remake.
- The color scheme used for Bonkers in this mode is similar to his official artwork in Kirby's Adventure.
Gallery
Completion screen that appears after beating the mode with every helper
Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ヘルパーマスターへの道 Herupā Masutā he no Michi |
The Road to Become a Helper Master |
| French | L'Heure de Gloire | Hour of Glory |
| German | Helfer als Helden | Helpers as Heroes |
| Italian | Da Aiutante a Eroe | From Helper to Hero |
| Korean | 헬퍼 마스터의 길 helpeo maseuteo-ui gil |
The Road to Become a Helper Master |
| Spanish | De Ayudante a Héroe | From Helper to Hero |
| Kirby Super Star Ultra Menu | |
|---|---|
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