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Kirby Battle Royale

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Kirby Battle Royale

KBR box art.jpg

KBR Europe box art.png

KBR Japan box art.jpg

Box art of Kirby Battle Royale from various regions
Details
Developer(s) HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Release date(s) Europe November 3, 2017
Australia November 4, 2017
Japan November 30, 2017
NA January 19, 2018
South Korea February 1, 2018
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Supported languages Japanese, American English, British English, European French, Canadian French, Italian, German, Dutch, Latin American Spanish, Castilian Spanish, Korean
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone 10+
PEGI: 7+
CERO: All Ages
Game size 1682 Blocks (210.25 MB)
Game chronology
Kirby's Blowout Blast Kirby Star Allies
On affiliated sites
StrategyWiki Walkthrough
 This box: view  talk  edit 
An action game in which Kirby faces off against hordes of rivals in all sorts of different battles. Up to four players can get in on the action via the internet or local wireless.
— Other Games section in Super Kirby Clash and Kirby Fighters 2, and Past Adventures section in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby's Dream Buffet and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Kirby Battle Royale (stylized on the box art as Kirby Battle Royale!) is an action-multiplayer spin-off Kirby series game for the Nintendo 3DS, and was the last Kirby game developed natively for the system. It released in Europe on November 3rd, 2017, in Australia on November 4th, in Japan on November 30th, in the Americas on January 19th, 2018, and in South Korea on February 1st, 2018. It is the first game in the series to be localized into Dutch.

Kirby Battle Royale features multiple game modes including a battle mode featuring single-player and local multiplayer, a ranked online-multiplayer mode, a single-player story mode, and various other activities such as a training room and a collection. Core gameplay revolves around ten distinct mini-games called "Battle Modes", each one being a short, four-player activity where any participants not controlled by players are played by the CPU. These modes can be played using up to 15 Copy Abilities of Kirby along with three other characters. Some of these modes require two-on-two teams, but most have the option of a free-for-all. The game also has a demo version where a few of the battle modes and the opening of Dedede's Cake Royale can be played, though other restrictions apply.

Story[edit]

Main article: Dedede's Cake Royale
You're invited to Dedede's Cake Royale! Our grand prize is the cake of your dreams!
— Opening cutscene, from the Cake Royale flyer.
A still from the opening cutscene, as a flyer for Dedede's Cake Royale lands on a snoozing Kirby's face.

The story of Kirby Battle Royale centers around a huge arena which King Dedede has built in an elaborate attempt to lure Kirby into a trap. With the promise of a huge cake, Kirby is indeed lured to the arena, along with Bandana Waddle Dee, who also seeks the cake. The two team up on their way to the tournament, but are ambushed by a blue Kirby lookalike, who the pink hero dispatches. Once the two reach the arena, King Dedede greets them and shows them the source of that doppelgänger, in the Kirby Printer; a strange device capable of producing endless clones of Kirby.

As Kirby progresses through the various leagues of the tournament, he and Bandana Waddle Dee must do battle with the clones, and also cross weapons with Meta Knight, who is using the tournament as an opportunity to test his strength. Dedede in the meantime is becoming frustrated with the fact that the clones are not slowing Kirby down. By the time Kirby reaches the Platinum league, the king has had quite enough and challenges Kirby to fight him in the Championship Battle. Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee, of course, manage to win this, with Dedede responding by first forcing Kirby into a 1 on 3 arena fight, then piloting a huge robot to squish him when that also fails.

Alas, even the most advanced machinery at the king's disposal is not enough to stop Kirby and his unstoppable desire for cake, and the robot is destroyed, along with the Kirby Printer. Having put on quite a show for the spectators of the games, they bring the cake to Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee, despite Dedede's attempts to thwart this outcome.

Battle Modes[edit]

I want to see every kind of battle. Each one has different rules!
— Waddle Dee in Kirby Battle Royale

The basic premise of Kirby Battle Royale pits Kirby against several different clones of himself in various competitive games. There are ten of these in total, though they come in several different varieties. The last five must be unlocked by paying 800 Battle Coins for each one in the Collection Room. The games are as follows:

The singleplayer battle selection menu
Game Icon Starter? Playstyles Description
Battle Arena KBR Battle Arena icon.png
Yes
Solo or Team A straight-up fight in a basic arena. The last one (or team) standing wins.
Apple Scramble KBR Apple Scramble icon.png
Yes
Team Teams of two each battle each-other while trying to collect Apples from two Mini Whispy Woods and return them to their pens. A lever must be pulled in order to drop the apples in the pen and get the points.
Coin Clash KBR Coin Clash icon.png
Yes
Solo or Team Contestants collect coins in a haunted house and attack each-other to steal coins. One or two Ghosts will appear on the scene and haunt whoever they catch. While haunted, a contestant continuously loses coins and must tag another contestant to get the ghost off.
Attack Riders KBR Attack Riders icon.png
Yes
Solo or Team Contestants begin with a set number of chips, and battle in a circular arena to steal each-others chips. A Blaze Wheelie or Electro Shock Tank will appear on the scene, which a contestant can ride to run over his opponents.
Crazy Theater KBR Crazy Theater icon.png
Yes
Solo or Team An arena with several mini-games built-in. Contestants have to satisfy the objective of the mini-game while trying to prevent their opponents from doing the same. Mini-games include standing on a panel representing the correct answer to a math problem, striking each-other, or avoiding certain hazards.
Rocket Rumble KBR Rocket Rumble icon.png
No
Solo or Team Contestants are each given a rocket in a corner of a standard arena. They have to fill the rocket with fuel cubes while preventing their opponents from doing the same. At the end, they hop into the rocket, and the highest flyer wins.
Robo Bonkers KBR Robo Bonkers icon.png
No
Solo or Team Contestants must do battle with a giant robot version of Bonkers in a looping circular arena. They compete to do the most damage to the robot, by using Cannons to fire missiles or each-other at it to bring it down.
Slam Hockey KBR Slam Hockey icon.png
No
Solo or Team Contestants fight on a rectangular rink and are tasked with smashing a giant puck into each-other to score points.
Ore Express KBR Ore Express icon.png
No
Solo or Team Contestants chase down a train along a path that scrolls forward. To win, they have to toss the most pieces of ore into the train's cargo holds.
Flagball KBR Flagball icon.png
No
Team Contestants play in teams in a traditional 2D arena, where the goal is to toss the ball onto their own flag to score. The flags can be picked up and carried by opponents and teammates alike.

Each of these game-modes features both local and online multiplayer, making this the first entry in the Kirby series to have native support for full online multiplayer, complete with matchmaking and a global ranking system. These games are also played in Dedede's Cake Royale, with Bandana Waddle Dee serving as Kirby's teammate for team battles. In the Cake Royale, many of the games have altered rules to increase the challenge.

Abilities[edit]

Use abilities in your battle strategy!
— Collection List menu

The following abilities can be used in this title. Locked abilities can be unlocked by spending 500 Battle Coins, and extra characters can be made available by playing Dedede's Cake Royale:

Kirbys with many abilities charge into the Battle Arena
The Ability selection menu
Kirby with the Fighter ability
Ability Image How to obtain
Sword KBR Sword icon.png Starter
Bomb KBR Bomb icon.png Starter
Beetle KBR Beetle icon.png Starter
Spear KBR Spear icon.png Starter
Cutter KBR Cutter icon.png Starter
Fighter KBR Fighter icon.png Starter
Ninja KBR Ninja icon.png Starter
Whip KBR Whip icon.png Starter
Parasol KBR Parasol icon.png Purchase in collection list
Hammer KBR Hammer icon.png Purchase in collection list
Doctor KBR Doctor icon.png Purchase in collection list
Tornado KBR Tornado icon.png Purchase in collection list
Ice KBR Ice icon.png Purchase in collection list
Waddle Dee KBR Waddle Dee icon.png Reach Silver League in Dedede's Cake Royale
and then purchase in collection list
Meta Knight KBR Meta Knight icon.png Reach Platinum League in Dedede's Cake Royale
and then purchase in collection list or send
Meta Knight's data from the Demo version
King Dedede KBR King Dedede icon.png Complete Dedede's Cake Royale
and then purchase in collection list
Mirror KBR Mirror icon.png Starter, from version 2.0 onward
Sleep KBR Sleep icon.png Starter, from version 3.0

Each ability has been reworked for a 3D space – examples including the Ice ability being able to create icy barriers, and the Tornado ability allowing Kirby to create a torrent that tosses other Kirbys around him into the air.

With the exception of Mirror and Sleep, each ability and character also comes with at least three pieces of Headgear, unlocked by spending Battle Coins. In addition, some abilities or characters have special costumes that can only be unlocked using amiibo.

Online Battle[edit]

The online battle selection menu

Kirby Battle Royale is the first game in the Kirby series to feature native support for online multiplayer beyond Wi-Fi. The player is asked to input a username upon starting a new save file, which will then be used as their online moniker.

The online mode consists of a ranked matchmaking system that places the player in a room with three other players. Before entering the room, the player must choose between three randomly picked battle modes, then choose their ability/character. From there, the contestant is placed in the training room until all four players are connected. Then, one of the battle modes that the players picked is chosen at random, and the game begins. Based on how well the player does, they will be awarded a certain number of points, which could cause them to go up a level. Every time the player levels up their profile, Battle Coins are awarded. As the player's level increases, however, it will become more and more time consuming to level up further.

Medals[edit]

Main article: Medal

Kirby Battle Royale has a checklist in place, which tracks various achievements the player has made. There are 60 challenges in total, and each rewards a certain number of Battle Coins when unlocked.

Update history[edit]

This is the first Kirby series game to periodically get post-release updates and minor additions to the game experience as a whole, with Kirby Star Allies being the second game to do so. Unless noted otherwise, the most recent version needs to be installed in order to play online with others and is impossible to play local wireless with others who own an older version of the game.

Version 1.0[edit]

The default version, pre-installed in physical copies of the game.

Version 2.0[edit]

This version released on December 13, 2017 in Japan, Europe and Australia, taking 942 blocks of storage to download. The notes are as follows:

Version 2.1[edit]

This version released on December 27, 2017 in Japan, Europe and Australia, and January 19, 2018 in the Americas to coincide with the North American release of the game, taking 941 blocks of storage to download. The notes are as follows:

  • Made it easier to gain Ranking Points in Online Battle.
  • Made it possible to gain Ranking Points even if an Online Battle is canceled due to an opponent disconnecting.
  • Fixed a bug that could cause the game to crash when a rocket is launched in Rocket Rumble.

Version 3.0[edit]

The current version released on February 1, 2018 worldwide to coincide with the South Korean release of the game, taking 986 blocks of storage to download. The notes are as follows:

  • Added Kirby's Sleep Copy Ability.
  • Adjusted balance of Copy Ability strengths.
  • Several adjustments made to enhance gameplay.
  • In Online Battle, a Battle Arena match will be terminated if it is taking unusually long due to attacks focused on one player. This will end as an incomplete game that won't affect Ranking Points.

Development[edit]

Main article: Kirby Battle Royale/development

Staff[edit]

List of staff in Kirby Battle Royale  
Position Developer(s)
Director Tadashi Kawai
Lead Game Design Takashi Hanamura
Game Design Asaha Nakamura
Kenichi Masuda
Takaaki Hirano
Sequence Director Kazushige Masuda
Programming Director Keita Yamada
Lead Programming Satoru Yoshida
Programming Kazuhiro Mizusawa
Kazuki Sekimori
Takuya Abe
Yuji Koyama
Takayuki Harumoto
Katsunori Suzuki
Kojiro Oki
Yudai Hirata
Tatsuya Noguchi
Kaori Ishizaki
Yuki Asuhara
Design Director Ayaka Kimura
Design Mao Yamase
Minoru Yoshikoshi
Kumi Habuta
Lead Motif Design Akihiro Kano
Motif Design Emi Inamura
Lead UI Design Kumiko Ito
UI Design Mamiko Sato
Shingo Yamada
Kanako Omori
Movie Rie Miyaichi
Lead Sound Megumi Ohara
Sound Shogo Sakai
Voice Makiko Ohmoto (Kirby)
Team Support Yoshimi Takahashi
Shigeru Hirayama
Technical Support Tomokazu Tsuruoka
Shinya Watanabe
Ryoichiro Atono
Yuki Nishimura
Sho Tajima
Tetsuya Noge
Tatsuya Murase
Munemasa Kimura
Keita Tanifuji
Kazuya Suetsugu
Takeshi Minagawa
Tatsuhiro Tanoue
Yusuke Ota
Kazuki Tsukoda
Mitsuo Iwamoto
Public Relations Satoshi Ishida
Artwork Masayo Nagami
Rieko Kawahara
Yukari Hemmochi
Yuto Ibaraki
Yuki Yada
Nanako Tokuno
Manual Editing Kiyomi Itani
Testing Masharu Kobayashi
Dai Suzuki
Mizuki Ebihara
Takeshi Tamura
Ryuji Hamaguchi
Akiko Ohashi
HAL DEBUG TEAM
Mario Club
NOA Localization Management Nate Bihldorff
Reiko Ninomiya
Rich Amtower
Tim O'Leary
Scot Ritchey
NOA Localization Lauren Ammerman
Michael Benedetto
Steven Grimm
Lars Knudson
Kento Oiwa
Galia Rodríguez Hornedo
Eric Smith
Thaddée Wiseur
NOA Product Testing Zac Evans
Manna Yamasaki
Danny Morris
Jake Genier
Patricia Rivereau
Ondrej Lang
Kelsii Weber
Rory Knox
Product Testing Technicians
NOE Localisation Testing Iván Garrido Gonzzález
Liam Higgings
NOE Translation Daniele Braglia
Pierre Sanchez
John Mullen
Pete Sheppard
Abdelkader Beldjilali
Emmanuel Adien
Anthony Fouillen
Tito Leati
Giovanna Prati
Marco Morbin
Mirco Capocelli
Sebastian Brück
Sascha Weinard
Frithjof Koepp
Anthoa Bernad Hurtado
Jónatan Marcos Millán
Miguel Rodríguez Ramos
Belén Wallace Puente
Patrick Koundstaal
Thomas Den Haan
Christian Harmans
NOE Quality Assurance J. Ignacio León López
Petra Gyarmaty
Stefania Montagnese
Christopher Stuard
Keywords Studios
NOK Localization Management Hyokjin Jung
NOK Localization Dongyeon Kim
Soonil Kim
NOK Artwork Inseon Song
Siyoung An
NOK Testing Kyoungim Na
Kiung Seoung
Special Thanks Masanobu Yamamoto
Tadashi Kamitake
Tetsuya Abe
Hiroshi Fuje
Tomohiro Munemura
Yasuhiro Mukae
Yuki Endo
Tatsuya Kamiyama
Yumi Todo
Taku Koiuma
Jeff Miller
Nils Dittbrenner
Éric Primault
Pasquale Gianluca Miceli
Martin Weers
Jesús Gutiérrez Cuandra
Steven Van De Voore
Alfonso Díaz Jiménez
Coordinators Kei Ninomiya
Ryuchi Nakada
General Director Shinya Kumazaki
Producers Hiroyuki Hayashi
Hitoshi Yamagami
General Producers Shigefumi Kawase
Satoshi Mitsuhara
Shinya Takashi
Executive Producer Tatsumi Kimishima
HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Nintendo

HAL Laboratory, Inc. and Nintendo are the authors of this software for the purpose of copyright.
All rights reserved.
© 2017 HAL Laboratory, Inc. / Nintendo

Nintendo eShop description[edit]

Base game[edit]

Kirby is entering a tournament against his toughest rival yet...himself! 1-4 players can fight in local* or online** battles. Pick from 10+ abilities and 10 battle types to compete in countless matchups. Hoard treasure in Ore Express, knock out opponents in Slam Hockey, shoot missiles at Robo Bonkers, and more! There's a single-player story mode too!

As you uncover King Dedede's nefarious plan, you'll unlock abilities and battle types in the Cake Royale tournament. In this competition, you’ll learn the basics of battle while earning Boost Orbs that power up Kirby, as well as nostalgic headgear to wear in other modes, and even a new playable character. Then dive into battle! 4 players can enjoy battling together via local wireless*, Online Ranked mode, or with Download Play. Compete in 2-on-2 or Free-For-All battles. May the last Kirby standing win!

(This description, along with the one for the demo, was reused for the game on the My Nintendo Store.)[1]

Demo[edit]

The demo allows players to try 3 battles in the single-player and multiplayer* modes. Try the Sword, Cutter, and Beetle ability, and transfer Meta Knight and coins as a bonus to the main game once the full version is purchased!

Update Ver. 3.0[edit]

This is an update for the game card version of the Kirby™ Battle Royale game. This download does not contain the full version of the title. In order to use this update, you must have the full game card version of Kirby™ Battle Royale.

Trivia[edit]

  • This title is the first in the Kirby series to include both native online multiplayer and post-release downloadable content.
    • It was possible to play Kirby's Avalanche online, but this was only possible through the XBAND modem, a standalone service that enabled online play for numerous other titles.
  • Aside from the Waddle Dees, other common enemies and characters such as, Rick, Coo, Kine, Taranza, and Susie can be seen in the audience.
  • While the core gameplay revolves around the use of Copy Abilities, there is one point - in the ending cutscene of Dedede's Cake Royale - where Kirby can be seen without an ability.
  • The Channel PPP Crew, a quartet of reporter Waddle Dees who made their debut on the Kirby JP Twitter feed, can be found in this game, making it their first appearance in an actual game in the series.
  • In Europe and Australia, a Miiverse community for Kirby Battle Royale was opened five days before the service's closure on November 8th, 2023. This is the shortest lifespan of any Miiverse community for a Nintendo-published game.

Gallery[edit]

Main article: Kirby Battle Royale/gallery

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese カービィ バトルデラックス!
Kābyi Batoru Derakkusu
Kirby Battle Deluxe!
Chinese Kirby Battle Royale
-
Dutch Kirby Battle Royale -
French Kirby Battle Royale -
German Kirby Battle Royale -
Italian Kirby Battle Royale -
Korean 커비 배틀 디럭스!
Keobi Baeteul Dileogseu!
Kirby Battle Deluxe!
Polish Kirby Battle Royale -
Portuguese Kirby Battle Royale -
Russian Kirby Battle Royale
-
Spanish Kirby Battle Royale -


External links[edit]

References