Boulder

Boulder Sprites of three different types of Boulders from Kirby's Dream Land 3 Details First game Kirby's Dream Land 3 (1997) Latest game Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023) Other game(s) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Kirby: Canvas Curse Kirby: Squeak Squad Kirby Mass Attack Kirby's Return to Dream Land Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition (New Challenge Stages) Kirby: Triple Deluxe Kirby: Planet Robobot Kirby and the Forgotten Land Copy Ability N/A (or None) Similar entities Rolling Waddle Dee, Ignus

A Boulder is a hazardous object introduced in Kirby's Dream Land 3. It is - exactly as the name implies - a large chunk of rock, ice, or other material that can usually be seen rolling down slopes or falling in from above or the background. Boulders will harm Kirby and other playable characters on contact, regardless of where they may be in relation to the boulder. Boulders typically cannot be destroyed, and instead must be avoided or passed through.

In most games where they appear, Boulders are used as hazards in narrow sloped hallways, often initially propped up by a Bomb Block barrier. Once released, Kirby is usually tasked with either keeping ahead of them or avoiding them by slipping into a small crevice that the boulder rolls over. In some titles, it is sometimes possible to pass through boulders by using a lengthy attack, guarding, or otherwise taking advantage of invulnerable states and moving through.

Game appearances

Kirby's Dream Land 3

Boulders make their first appearance as a hazard in Kirby's Dream Land 3. Here, they are indestructible large round chunks of rock, metal, or ice that roll or fall in various places.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

A boulder in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, boulders come in various sizes and appear in certain stages as hazards, typically falling to the floor or being swept along by currents. Unlike in other games, these boulders can be inhaled by Kirby, but they do not provide an ability if swallowed.

Standard boulders should not be confused with Ignus, which is a different type of falling rock that for some reason is named and included in the Enemy Info Card listings.

Kirby: Canvas Curse

In Kirby: Canvas Curse, there are two main varieties of boulder. The first is a chunky stone (or ice) boulder that can be destroyed by tapping it with the Nintendo DS stylus. The second is a larger iron ball that cannot be destroyed, so it instead must be avoided. Both types are similar in appearance to the boulders in Kirby's Dream Land 3.

Kirby: Squeak Squad

In Kirby: Squeak Squad, there are smaller boulders which appear in addition to the larger ones, which fall from the ceiling and bounce once before falling off-screen. These boulders can be inhaled, but grant no Copy Ability, making them similar to Ignus.

Kirby Mass Attack

In Kirby Mass Attack, large iron boulders can appear in stages, often ridden by Nollys. Unlike other appearances, these boulders are not harmful to the touch, but may flatten a Kirby who gets rolled over.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Kirby's Return to Dream Land features a wide array of boulders that differ in look and size but operate in largely the same fashion. Each level (except for Cookie Country) has its own distinctive types of boulders which can move in various patterns, are invincible, and are harmful to the touch under normal circumstances. Most of these are affected by gravity and will start rolling as soon as they are dropped from their support, crushing blocks and vulnerable enemies along the way, while others will float in air or water in various patterns. Boulders can be safely passed through if Kirby manages to make use of invincibility frames from using certain moves (like Stone, Burn or Spin Kick), from post-hit recovery, or when using Invincible Candy. Using a Stomper Boot, Kirby can also hop on top of a boulder and bounce off it without taking any damage.

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  Relatively small stone boulders from Raisin Ruins

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  A large fossil shell boulder from Onion Ocean

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  A big ice boulder from White Wafers

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  Spiky iron boulders from Nutty Noon

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  Powered metal gear-like boulders from Egg Engines that climb up and down walls

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  Magmatic boulders from Dangerous Dinner

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  Floating fire orbs from Dangerous Dinner

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  Spiky crystalline boulders from Another Dimension

Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition

In the Sub-Game New Challenge Stages, a number of boulders appear in the stages that operate in the same manner as those in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, but have distinctive looks. Most resemble big gears made of various materials.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Kirby: Triple Deluxe does not make quite as heavy use of boulders as its predecessor Kirby's Return to Dream Land, but they are seen in more dynamic situations in this title. In various stages of Fine Fields, Waddle Dees can be seen operating chutes and lifts that transport boulders made of dirt and grass which then come flying in from the background. If Kirby is hit by one of these while on the ground, he will be flattened like a pancake for a moment. In the latter stages of Old Odyssey, snow boulders start small when they emerge from igloos and gradually grow in size as they roll down the snow-capped hills.

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  Kirby standing just out of the way of a dirt boulder flying toward the foreground in Fine Fields

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  Kirby getting hit by a big snow boulder in Old Odyssey

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  Model of a snow boulder

Kirby: Planet Robobot

In Kirby: Planet Robobot, boulders appear to a certain extent, but take on different forms, shapes, and functions. These include giant spiked Dice and billiard balls in the casino stages, and rolling metal bars in the desert stages. These can be attacked and destroyed using the Robobot Armor to gain Point Stars and other items, so they are not quite invincible.

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  Dice boulders from Resolution Road's casino stage

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  Rolling metal bars from Gigabyte Grounds

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  Giant billiard balls from Rhythm Route's casino stage

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, boulders appear in the garden-variety "gray stone" form, and take on a standardized functionality, though appearing in various sizes. Boulders typically roll down a set straight path, fall straight down at ledges, and then keep rolling forward upon hitting the ground. If Kirby or an enemy is underneath, they will be momentarily flattened if not outright defeated.

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  Kirby moving past rolling boulders in Rocky Rollin' Road

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  Kirby running from a giant boulder

Trivia

• In most games in the series, boulders will break blocks on contact, including Metal Blocks. In many games, they will also defeat enemies on contact.

See also

• Electro Saw
• Ignus
• Meteor
• Putt
• Rolling Waddle Dee