Robobot Armor
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- This article is about the robot suit used in Kirby: Planet Robobot, and should not be confused with Mecha.
| “ | This mysterious mech produces different powers depending on its pilot. Kirby's Copy Ability power has transformed it into a shape-shifting copy robot! | ” | — In-game quote |
Robobot Armor (parsed Robobot Armour in the British English version) is a pilotable suit of robotic armor that debuted in Kirby: Planet Robobot. Kirby acquires this suit and dons it after defeating the enemy Invader Armor, or by finding it stowed away in various parts of stages. While inside it, Kirby gains increased endurance, taking less damage from most attacks and allowing him to defeat enemies by jumping on them, and is capable of performing new and stronger attacks on top of that. In addition, the suit is compatible with certain Copy Abilities, being able to 'scan' in enemies in the same vain as Kirby's inhale, changing in form and function depending on the ability acquired. Minor enemies that do not provide abilities or are incompatible are simply vaporized when scanned, similar to the Copy ability from Kirby Super Star. When Kirby enters the Robobot Armor, his health is completely restored. Additionally, when getting into a new suit of armor, his data from the previous Robobot Armor he used will migrate to the new one.
The Robobot Armor is very versatile on top of its modular properties. It can hover, dash, ride on a Warp Star, fit in a Fuse Cannon, climb ladders and grates, carry a cannon, carry large blocks, cut through or smash large blocks, and unscrew Screw Switches on platforms and bosses. It can also open certain doors that Kirby would be unable to on his own. The armor does appear to have its drawbacks, however. Due to its girth, it is limited in how far it can travel off the ground when not in Jet Mode (only having a single mid-air jump and a short glide) and as such, will need careful maneuvering or out right abandoning in order for Kirby to progress past certain obstacles. In addition, its size means that it cannot fit through certain passages and tubes that Kirby himself would have no problem with. In certain areas, stations appear that allow Kirby to exit the armor and continue on foot. It is not possible for Kirby to exit the armor without these stations, apart from exiting the stage. Like with Hypernova, if Kirby loses a life while in the armor, he will respawn while still inside it. Amusingly, the entire suit spins along with Kirby off the screen when he gets KO'd.
Moveset
This is the move-set of the Robobot Armor in its default state (no ability).
| Normal Mode's Move-set while facing right | |||
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| Skill | Button Execution | Description | Damage (Star Bullet=52) |
| Jump/Double Jump | A
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The armor can hover with its boosters for a few seconds by holding A after double jump. | 32 (no effect to bosses) |
| Robobot Boost | → + →
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=Dash | 
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| Scan Specs | B near enemy with ability
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The armor scans an enemy to obtain its Copy Ability if it has any, similar to Copy from Kirby Super Star. |
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| Reset Specs | X
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Discard ability |
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| Robobot Punch | B
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The armor throws a right punch. | 40 |
| Robobot Slam | B repeatedly
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After Robobot Punch, the armor throws a left punch, and then a slam with both arms. | 40+40 |
| Hunker Down | L/R
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The armor retracts its limbs to guard. It rotates a bit when hit. | 4 (no effect to bosses) |
Armor Modes
| Mode | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 
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The default appearance of the armor. Allows for swift punches and slams, and also can carry large blocks. |
| Beam Mode | 
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Allows the suit to fire large orbs of energy that bounce off the ground. Also generates electricity through wires. |
| Bomb Mode | 
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Allows the suit to throw a set number of walking bombs that can crawl up walls. The bomb's throw angle can also be altered. |
| Cutter Mode | 
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Gives the suit a set of saw blades that act like boomerangs and can cut through multiple targets and obstacles at once. |
| ESP Mode | 
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Gives the suit a pair of disembodied hands and allows it to fire multiple large psychokinetic orbs at opponents. These orbs can conduct electricity. |
| Fire Mode | 
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Gives the suit two flamethrowers that can be angled and cover a large range. Also causes the suit to leave fire behind as it moves. |
| Ice Mode | 
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Gives the suit a set of fans that can freeze enemies with icy wind. |
| Jet Mode | 
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Turns the suit into a jet, armed with a Gatling gun and missile launchers that can fire in multiple directions. Acquiring this ability also automatically causes the armor to fly off into a separate area of the level. The armor itself resembles Capsule J2. |
| Mike Mode | 
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Gives the suit a pair of boom boxes that can emit loud damaging sound waves. Unlike the base ability, this armor mode has unlimited uses. |
| Parasol Mode | 
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Gives the suit parasol-like dual rotor blades that allow it to hover like a helicopter. These parasols can also dispel gas clouds. |
| Spark Mode | 
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Gives the suit a pair of plasma cannons that can be charged for extra power. The shots will naturally electrify wires. |
| Stone Mode | 
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Gives the suit a pair of heavy stone fists that can pound various obstacles and enemies. |
| Sword Mode | 
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Changes the suit's arms into dual beam swords that can cut through massive wood blocks and heavy chains. |
| Wheel Mode | 
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Changes the suit into a race car with two large back wheels, one small front wheel, and two front spikes, which can easily plow through enemies, and freely jump between foreground and background like the 3D Warp Star. |
| Halberd Mode | 
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A fusion between the Robobot Armor and the Halberd. It is used to battle the final boss of the game, Star Dream. |
Like with Kirby himself, the armor can discard its current ability as an Ability Star at any time, with the exception of the Jet, Wheel and Halberd modes, which are needed to complete the stages they appear in.
Final Screw Mode
| “ | Kirby exits the Halberd and heads to the core of Star Dream for the final battle. Time to put an end to the rebel machine! | ” | — Final Screw Mode's pause screen description |
After the Halberd Mode is shot down by Star Dream's desperate laser in Story Mode, Meta Knight launches Kirby and the Robobot Armor off the sinking Halberd, and then Kirby transforms the armor's right arm into a giant screwdriver, which is known as the Final Screw Mode (ファイナルスクリューモード).[1]
Enemies battled exclusively using Robobot Armor
Regular
Bosses
- Gigavolt / Gigavolt II
- Vol (released by Gigavolt)
- C.O.G.S.
- Core Kabula
- Holo Defense API (Access Ark - Stage 5 only)
- Star Dream
- Star Dream Soul OS (prior to final phase)
Stickers
- Main article: Sticker (Kirby: Planet Robobot)
Throughout the various levels of Kirby: Planet Robobot are stickers that can be collected. These can then be applied to the arms of the Robobot Armor to customize its look. There are a total of 200 sticker types to collect, several of which are unique.
Music
- "Pink Ball Activate!" - Theme of the Robobot Armor. Plays when Kirby rides on it in Patched Plains - Stage 2, when fighting Gigavolt and when Kirby uses the Wheel Mode in Overload Ocean - Stage 2.
- "Flight of Azure" - Theme of the Robobot Armor's Jet Mode in Resolution Road - Stage 2 and Gigabyte Grounds - Stage 4. Also used as music for the rest area in The Arena's first five battles.
- "Outlaw Driver:" - Theme of the Wheel Mode in Rhythm Route - Stage 4. Also used as the title theme of The Arena (arrangement of "Pink Ball Activate!").
- "Final Takeoff" - Plays in the Theater movie "Please… Get Him…!" when the Robobot Armor enters the Halberd Mode (arrangement of "Pink Ball Activate!").
- "Pink Ball Revolution" - Plays during the Robobot Armor's Final Screw Mode vs Star Dream in Story Mode. Also plays throughout a majority of Access Ark - Stage 5.
Cameo appearances
Kirby's Blowout Blast
In Kirby's Blowout Blast, a statue of the Robobot Armor will appear in the entrance hub via StreetPass with Kirby: Planet Robobot.
Kirby Star Allies
In Kirby Star Allies, the sitting idle Robobot Armor is one of the Stone ability transformations. It also appears piloted by Kirby in the "Robobot Memories" Celebration Picture.
In Version 4.0.0, the Robobot Armor (without a pilot) appears in the ending illustration of Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! if playing as Magolor, Taranza or Susie.
Kirby's Dream Buffet
In Kirby's Dream Buffet, the Robobot Armor is depicted on one of the game's Character Treats, using the main artwork with Kirby from Kirby: Planet Robobot.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The Robobot Armor appears as a Support Spirit in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, using the Normal Mode's official artwork from Kirby: Planet Robobot. It costs 1 slot and has the skill of "Weapon Attack ↑".
Merchandise
An official capsule toy (gacha) set, Kirby: Planet Robobot - Robobot Armor Collection by Takara Tomy, was released in 2017. Not every armor mode is included, however.
- Vol.1 was released in June, 2017. This set includes Kirby wearing the Robobot Helmet, Robobot Armor Normal Mode, Cutter Mode, and Parasol Mode.
- Vol.2 was released in December, 2017. This set includes Kirby wearing the Robobot Helmet (alternative face), Robobot Armor Normal Mode (alternative face), Stone Mode, and Jet Mode.
An official figurine set, Nendoroid More: Robobot Armor & Kirby by Good Smile Company, was released in August, 2018.
- As shown on the Robobot Armor figurine, the dashboard of the armor is the same as the touch screen menu of Kirby: Planet Robobot in gameplay.
Trivia
- When Kirby splats against the fourth wall while inside the Robobot Armor, he leaves a temporary crack effect on the screen. This also applies to the Halberd Mode.
- The Robobot Armor is never used underwater.
- According to an infographic released by Nintendo (image in gallery below), the Robobot Armor is made of a color-changing "Haltonium alloy", weighs more than 8.6 metric tons, and has arms that are 100 times stronger than those of Bonkers.
- "Haltonium" and "8.6" are both references to HAL Laboratory, the developers of the Kirby series. "86" is read as "HAL" in Japanese.
- During the ending cutscene of Kirby: Planet Robobot, the Robobot Armor is seen "crying". The third "Kirby: Planet Robobot Ask-a-Thon" on Miiverse revealed that these tears are actually coolant.
- Additionally, according to the same Ask-a-Thon, the Robobot Armor's memory data is one and the same through each of the individual armors Kirby piloted, meaning that it can be considered a singular entity.
- One unused early design of the Robobot Armor had the shape of a screwdriver, which later became the basis of Susie's Business Suit.
Gallery
- Artwork
Official art of the Beam variant.
Official art of the Fire variant.
Official art of the Sword variant.
Official art of the Spark variant.
Official art of the Jet variant.
Official art of the Cutter variant.
Official art of the Bomb variant.
Official art of the Wheel variant.
- Official illustrations
An info-graphic displaying some trivia about the Robobot Armor.
Official Twitter art of Kirby in the Armor having a tug of war with his allies.
Artwork for Wado's Toy Shop
- Concept art
Early concept art for the Robobot Armor.
Concept art for the Robobot Armor.
Concept art for the Robobot Armor.
Concept art for the Robobot Armor.
Various pieces of concept art of Robobot Armor. Several designs were considered, including to make it look more like Susie's Business Suit or Haltmann's Executive Suit. A design that resembles that of Star Dream can also be found.
Various concept art of Robobot Armor. The design with two massive arms becomes more prevalent at this point.
Various concept art of Robobot Armor. The color experiments with one hand being a claw and the other being a drill design can be seen. This didn't make into the game.
- Other
Stone transformation of the inactivated Robobot Armor in Kirby Star Allies
Videos
Official Kirby Portal video showcasing the Robobot Armor
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Names in other languages
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ロボボアーマー Robobo Āmā |
Robobo Armor |
| Traditional Chinese | 機器博博裝甲[2] jī qì bó bó zhuāng jiǎ |
Robobo Armor |
| Simplified Chinese | 机器博博装甲[2] jī qì bó bó zhuāng jiǎ | |
| Dutch | Robobot-pantser[3] | Robobot armor |
| French | Armure Robobot | Robobot armor |
| German | Robobot-Panzer | Robobot-Armor |
| Korean | 로보보 아머 Robobo Ameo |
Robobo Armor |
| Polish | Zbroja Robobot[4] | Robobot Armor |
| Portuguese | Armadura Robobot | Robobot Armor |
| Spanish | Armadura Robobot | Robobot Armor |
References
- ↑ Kirby: Planet Robobot official website (JP) - Susie's Invasion Report #8
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- ↑ Other Games section in Super Kirby Clash and Kirby Fighters 2, and the Past Adventures section in Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Kirby's Dream Buffet
- ↑ Nintendo Polska - Kirby: Planet Robobot
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