Pop Star - Stage 1
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Pop Star - Stage 1 is the first stage of Pop Star in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, serving as an introduction to the game. This level is characterized by an easy-going grassland scene featuring sparse wooden structures and a shallow stream. It features a cutscene where Waddle Dee is attacked by Dark Matter and turned into Waddle Doo, who serves as a Mid-Boss for this stage. After being saved by Kirby, Waddle Dee joins his party.
OverviewEdit
The stage begins out on the fine grass of Pop Star's fields. To the right, Kirby will encounter his first set of enemies. Swallowing the N-Z will do nothing, but swallowing the Bobo will give him the Burning ability. A number of additional ability-providing enemies lie in wait just beyond, so Kirby can try combining things at his leisure. Further down the path, a Crystal Shard lies out in the open, free to grab. From there, past a small stream, Kirby can grab a Maxim Tomato before heading into a wooden shack.
Inside the shack, Kirby will have to deal with a Mid-Boss version of N-Z, who summons smaller copies of itself. After it is defeated, Kirby can progress.
Back out in the fields, the path continues to the right. Along the way, a Poppy Bros. Jr. can be found tossing bombs. If Kirby wants that ability himself, it's on the plate. From there, past a larger stream bed with a black rock in the middle, the path leads off the right end of the screen.
Crystal Shard guideEdit
| Crystal Shard locations in Pop Star - Stage 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | How to reach | |||
 Shard 1 |
The first Crystal Shard in the game is lying out in the open, in the very first area. Kirby will have no trouble getting it. | |||
 Shard 2 |
Past the Poppy Bros. Jr., there is a shallow stream with a large black rock in the middle. Kirby can blast this away with some variant of the Bomb ability to get the second shard underneath. | |||
 Shard 3 |
Kirby will earn the third shard after defeating Waddle Doo. This is required to beat the level. | |||
Mid-Boss: Waddle DooEdit
In the last area, a cutscene will play if this is the first time the player is playing this stage. In it, Waddle Dee finds a Crystal Shard, then gets ambushed by Dark Matter. When Kirby and Ribbon arrive on the scene, Waddle Dee is turned into a Waddle Doo and attacks Kirby. Unlike in most other games in the series, Waddle Doo does not use beam attacks. Instead, he tries to charge and body slam Kirby, but will leave Dropped Stars on impact, and be dazed for a good while after each attack. Once Waddle Doo is defeated, Kirby can collect the last crystal shard of the stage, and return Waddle Dee to normal. From then on, Waddle Dee joins the party and the stage ends.
Enemies, mid-bosses and abilitiesEdit
| Image | Name | Copy Ability |
|---|---|---|
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Bobo | 
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Bouncy | None |
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Bronto Burt | None |
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Flutter | None |
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Glunk | None |
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N-Z | None |
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Poppy Bros. Jr. | 
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Punc | 
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Sirkibble | 
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| Mid-Bosses | ||
| Big N-Z | ||
| Waddle Doo | ||
MusicEdit
- Main article: Planet Popstar (theme from Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards)
The music track featured in this stage (as well as Ripple Star - Stage 1) has become one of the Kirby series' more iconic tracks, appearing several times in subsequent games either in its original form or as a rearrangement. It also appears as a selectable music track in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
TriviaEdit
- According to the official Japanese website for Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, the wooden shack with the mini-boss belongs to King Dedede, which he uses to store tools for playing in the river. [1]
GalleryEdit
A river crossing guarded by two landlocked Glunks
Finding a tasty snack in front of the wooden shed
Battle with Big N-Z
Crossing blocks and Shotzos
Moving through another shallow waterway
Reaching a fenced enclosure
Battle with Waddle Doo
