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Cannon

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Cannon
Cannon.png
Artwork of a generic Kirby-style cannon
Details
Type Device
Function Shoots playable characters into new places, sometimes through blocks
Found Hovering in midair or attached to the ground on a fuse
Game(s) Various
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This article is about in-game objects used to travel. For cannons used for attack, see Crackler or 3D Helmet Cannon. For the common cannon-like enemy, see Shotzo. For the main cannon on the Halberd, see Combo Cannon.
This article is about the objects that launch Kirby to new places, and should not be confused with Canon.

A Cannon is an object in the Kirby series which can launch Kirby or another character as a projectile. Using a cannon will allow Kirby to travel across an area, travel to a new area, or bust through barricades.

Cannon types[edit]

There are several different kinds of cannons throughout the series, with each one having its own set of rules and restrictions. The following is a list of every type of recurring cannon (note that these names are conjectural):

Fuse Cannon[edit]

Tutorial video showing the Fuse Cannon as used in Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

First appearing in Kirby's Adventure, these large black cannons are hooked up to a long fuse, which can span an entire area and must be lit at the end using a fire-based attack from Kirby or another playable character. From there, Kirby must make his way to the cannon before the fuse burns out and enter it in time to be fired by it, usually resulting in gaining access to a new area. If Kirby does not make it in time, the fuse will regenerate, and he can (usually) try again.

Sometimes, enemies such as Jack will take up residence inside a Fuse Cannon, making it unusable by Kirby unless it is forced out. In Kirby: Triple Deluxe, some Fuse Cannons have broken fuses, which need to be aligned by tilting the block they are attached to; in Kirby: Planet Robobot, a Fuse Cannon may need to be moved into place using the Robobot Armor before it can be used.

Directional Cannon[edit]

This variety of cannon was first seen in Kirby Super Star, holding fixed positions in the air. When Kirby or another playable character enters, the cannon begins to rotate between fixed orientations at regular intervals, with the available directions and rotation speed depending on the specific cannon in question. This will continue until the player presses the appropriate button to fire the cannon, launching the character inside at high speed in a straight direction. While being fired, the character acts as a projectile and will defeat enemies they come into contact with and also bust through sturdier obstacles like metal or stone blocks. The player will not have control over the character until they hit a wall or other obstacle that stops the flight.

These sorts of cannons are often chained together and/or with other types of cannon to create elaborate sequences where characters are shot from cannon to cannon, and are sometimes involved in puzzles.

Auto Cannon[edit]

Also referred to as a Launch Cannon,[1] this cannon functions almost identically to the directional cannon, but rather than changing direction or waiting for the player's input, the cannon will automatically fire out any character who jumps into it after a brief wind-up.

Tilt Cannon[edit]

Starting in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, these cannons can be linked to a rail, and can be moved along that rail when the player tilts the Nintendo 3DS system. Once they reach a favorable position, they can be triggered to fire, launching Kirby in much the same way as the Directional Cannons.

There are also varieties of Tilt Cannons which remain locked in place, but can be manually aimed by tilting.

Goal Game Cannon[edit]

There are a number of different cannons used for Goal Games in various Kirby titles. These vary in firepower based on where the power meter is when it is activated, sending Kirby further if the meter is higher.

Obscure cannons[edit]

Apart from the common types of cannon found in the series, there are a number of more obscure ones which only appear in a few titles, or only once ever:

Zebon[edit]

Main article: Zebon

KDL3 Zebon Sprite.png Zebon, while technically classified as an enemy, is effectively another type of Directional Cannon. Once it has absorbed Kirby, it will fire him in up to 8 different directions, and can send him to new areas.

Super Cannon[edit]

KCC Cannon.pngKCC Super Cannon.png In Kirby: Canvas Curse, there are two distinct varieties of cannon. The type which would otherwise be considered a normal cannon in other games is referred to here as a Super Cannon,[2] due to it being more powerful than the smaller variety that merely kicks Kirby forward when he uses them. The Super Cannon requires a tap from the Nintendo DS stylus to use, and allows Kirby to bust through Metal Blocks and enemies that he fires through.

3D Cannon[edit]

This cannon only appears once, during the fight with Sectonia Vine at the end of Kirby: Triple Deluxe. It is brought in by the People of the Sky, and King Dedede uses it to fire Kirby at the vines blocking the path to Flowered Sectonia's position. Once the obstruction is cleared, Kirby is fired again from this cannon to face Sectonia in the last battle.

The cannon has a full range of tilt-based aiming, though it only fires toward the background. Once Kirby hits a weak point on the vines (or fails to), he rebounds and lands in the cannon again.

Four Friends Cannon[edit]

Kirby Star Allies features a combination of four fuse cannons called Four Friends Cannon,[3] activated by a single fuse. If boarded by four characters, they are all launched together, and their combined forces allow them to break the Huge Rock Block[4] at the end of their trajectory; if boarded by less than four characters, they cannot break said block.

King Dedede[edit]

King Dedede once acted as a cannon by inhaling Kirby and firing him toward Nightmare for the final battle in Kirby's Adventure and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land.

Profiles[edit]

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror manual[edit]

  • "Hop into a cannon after lighting the fuse, and you'll be blasted to another part of the stage."

Kirby: Squeak Squad manual[edit]

  • "Light the fuse of a cannon with fire or another ability, then climb inside and get ready to blast off."

Kirby Super Star Ultra manual[edit]

  • "Try lighting the fuse nearby and getting inside…"

Trivia[edit]

  • Starting with Kirby's Return to Dream Land, when being fired from a cannon, Kirby keeps his eyes closed tight until hitting a wall or otherwise reaching his destination.
  • In most games, Kirby can duck into the cannon by holding down. This usually has no effect, but in Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, ducking in the cannon will make any fuses attached to the cannon burn faster.

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 大砲
Taihō
Cannon
Dutch Kanon Canon
French Canon Cannon
German Kanone Cannon
Korean 대포
Daepo
Cannon
Spanish Cañón Cannon


References

  1. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse electronic instruction manual (page 13)
  2. Kirby: Canvas Curse instruction manual (page 11, NA print)
  3. Kirby Star Allies: The Complete Support Guidebook (translated from Japanese, フレンズ4連大砲)
  4. Kirby Star Allies: The Complete Support Guidebook (translated from Japanese, 巨大岩ブロック)