Shortcake (stage)

Shortcake Preview screenshot of the Shortcake stage. Details Type Race Unlock criteria Available at start No. of variants 4

This article is about the race course in Kirby's Dream Buffet. For other instances of shortcake, see Shortcake.

Shortcake is one of the eight Race stages in Kirby's Dream Buffet. It is available from the start, and features a long and wide race track made almost entirely of cake with copious amounts of frosting.

Overview

This stage is among the more basic in terms of its geometry, featuring largely wide pathways with only a few tight 90-degree turns in places. The overall texture of the track is dominated by the cake frosting, which creates ripples and waves in places that can confound efforts to roll straight. There are also a few areas where there are high walls and ramps that need to be navigated past. While cake makes up the majority of the stage geometry, other decorative elements and structures include lit birthday candles, wafers, cookies, and cutlery.

Variants of this stage differ in the particulars, but they all follow the same basic structure, having sections in the following order:

• A wide and straight starting area with rippled frosting leading up to a series of rising cliffs with ramps and walkways, finishing at the first Crumbling Cookie Wall.
• A bend in the path leading past a gap with some short optional pathways that then leads up to the next Crumbling Cookie Wall.
• A second bend with another brief optional pathway which then leads to a straightway where a high road or cannon provides a faster path to the large elevated circular platform up ahead.
• A wide straight path with cookie wall sections moving back and forth hiding strawberry piles or mission fruit behind them, followed by the Strawberry Mountains at the end.

Variant details

The following are noteworthy details for each variant of this stage that cause them to differ from one-another. Note that each variant is named after the color of the background:

Shortcake variant details
Variant	Visual differences	Layout differences
Red variant	This version of the stage has a mint chocolate motif, dominated by teal and brown colors, with a few strips of white here and there.	The starting area is wavier and bumpier than most, with cutlery acting as barriers in places. The first bend is toward the left and features a dip in the middle with a short broken bridge spanning it. A 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit sits on the far end of this bridge. Otherwise, ramps need to be taken to get out. The second bend is toward the right and features a side bridge made of cookies which has another 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit on it. The path leading up to the circular platform features a narrow elevated walkway which bends to the left to hold a 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit and then ends with a Dash Panel. The final path past the circular platform undulates a fair amount.
Yellow variant	This version of the stage has two different types of cake; a chocolate cake for the first portion, and then a lighter vanilla cake for the second.	The starting area features large cake slices as obstacles on the starting path, but is otherwise straight, albeit fairly wavy. The first bend is toward the left and features a dip in the middle with a short broken bridge spanning it. A 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit sits on the far end of this bridge. Otherwise, ramps need to be taken to get out. The second bend is toward the right and features an isolated series of platforms jutting out toward the back which has another 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit on it. The path leading up to the circular platform features a series of cake steps leading up to a cannon which can be used to launch toward the center of the circular platform. The final path past the circular platform is short and smooth.
Green variant	This version of the stage is dominated by white, yellow, and pink frosting, giving it a strawberry-like motif.	The starting area is somewhat bumpy, but fairly short and otherwise free of obstacles. The first bend is toward the right and features a dip in the middle with a short broken bridge spanning it. A 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit sits on the far end of this bridge. Otherwise, ramps need to be taken to get out. The second bend is toward the left and features a side bridge made of cookies which has another 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit on it. The path leading up to the circular platform features a narrow elevated walkway which bends to the right to hold a 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit and then ends with a Dash Panel. The final path past the circular platform is short and only slightly wavy.
Blue variant	This version of the stage features almost exclusively chocolate cake, with dashes of white frosting here and there.	The starting area is fairly hilly and wavy, with candles serving as obstacles along the way. The first bend is toward the right and features a bridge that shifts back and forth. On the turn itself are spinning breakable cookie panels that hide a strawberry pile or mission fruit. The second bend is toward the left and features a side bridge made of cookies which has another 5-strawberry pile or mission fruit on it. The main pathway is made of shifting pieces. The path leading up to the circular platform is lined with Shotzos and a few cookie and candle barriers. The path to the platform itself is along a narrow bridge. The final path past the circular platform is short and hilly.

Gallery

Red variant

• 

  Screenshot of the starting area

• 

  Screenshot of the gap in the first bend

• 

  Screenshot at the start of the second bend

• 

  Screenshot near the circular platform

• 

  Screenshot of the last area

Yellow variant

• 

  Screenshot of the starting area

• 

  Screenshot of the gap in the first bend

• 

  Screenshot at the second bend

• 

  Screenshot of the cannon atop the cake steps

• 

  Screenshot of the last area

Green variant

• 

  Screenshot of the starting area

• 

  Screenshot of the gap in the first bend

• 

  Screenshot at the start of the second bend

• 

  Screenshot of the path leading up to the circular platform

• 

  Screenshot of the last area

Blue variant

• 

  Screenshot of the starting area

• 

  Screenshot of the cookie barriers at the first bend

• 

  Screenshot at the start of the second bend

• 

  Screenshot of the path leading up to the circular platform

• 

  Screenshot at the circular platform

Names in other languages

Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	ショートケーキ Shōtokēki	Shortcake
French	Gâteau à la fraise	Strawberry cake
German	Torte	Torte
Korean	쇼트케이크 syoteukeikeu	Shortcake
Portuguese	Bolo recheado	Filled cake