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Switch

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Switch
KatFL Switch screenshot.png
A small blue Switch from Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Details
Type Device
Function Triggers an event such as the opening of a gate or the removal of other obstacles in Kirby's path
Found Out in the open in stages
Game(s) Various
Similar to Big Switch
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This article is about standard switches seen throughout the Kirby series. For the big switches found in secret areas, see the Big Switch page. For the home console from Nintendo, see Nintendo Switch.

A Switch is an object that, when interacted with by Kirby or another character, triggers something to happen elsewhere in the area, usually a gate to open or a blockade to break apart.

Although the larger Big Switch was introduced in Kirby's Adventure, standard switches were not present in the series until Kirby Super Star. The main distinction between the two is that Big Switches unlock things outside of the stages they are found in, while standard switches only trigger something in the same area they are found in.

Switch behavior[edit]

Kirby hitting a switch to open a gate in Kirby Super Star Ultra.

A typical switch is a small round button about the size of Kirby, usually inset in a gold base and with a star insignia. It can be triggered by contact or by being struck with any form of attack or projectile, though it cannot be weighed down by an item in most cases. When triggered, a switch will flatten out (or may disappear entirely). From here, it will either remain triggered indefinitely or it will reset after a particular amount of time depending on the switch and its function.

The primary purpose of a switch is to trigger a gate to either open or close. However, there are other uses for switches, including the following:

  • Creating/destroying a barricade or hazard, similar to a Bomb Block
  • Triggering a floor or wall to move
  • Causing an item or enemy to appear
  • Causing a door or other object to appear
  • Stopping or inverting water currents and wind gusts

Depending on the title, a switch may fall downward when its supporting floor is removed. If it falls into an irretrievable place, Kirby will need to leave the area and return to make it appear again.

Variants[edit]

Switches in some games - such as Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards - behave differently to standard switches.

A few entries in the Kirby series have featured variants of the standard switches. These include the following:

  • Some switches are found on ceilings with levers hanging off the bottom. These switches are not pressed, but instead need to be pulled by latching onto them.
  • Kirby's Dream Course features a few different switch types that affect certain course obstacles as follows:
    • Day and Night Switches switch the time between night and day, which has the effect of reversing the color of claimed Point Stars in the 2P Game.
    • Pond switches can either cause ponds to drain or appear.
    • Turntable switches can activate or deactivate Turntables.
  • In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, there are a handful of switches (namely those in Rock Star - Stage 4 and Shiver Star - Stage 3) which can be pressed by having Kirby crouch while standing on them. These are used in puzzles to make Crystal Shards appear.
  • Small rectangular switches can be found in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble which can be weighed down to cause Blockbots to move, along with other functions.
  • In Kirby Air Ride, there are many panels on the ground which can be triggered by braking on them. These can be used to open up passageways, turn on/off hazards, or shift the course around.
  • In Kirby: Canvas Curse, there are a special variety of switch used in Frozen Fantasy which cause green and purple blocks to appear or vanish based on the color of the switch. Some switches are colored both green and purple, meaning they activate both.
  • In Kirby Mass Attack, switches take on a number of forms, but the most common ones require the Kirbys to slam into them repeatedly to trigger them. Some of these are labeled with the number '10', meaning that all 10 Kirbys are needed to activate them.
  • In Kirby Mass Attack, there is a special variety of switch called a Melody Switch, which usually comes in multiples in a given area. The Kirbys have to hit them in sequence, similar to a Simon game.
  • Kirby and the Forgotten Land has multiple variants of switches which can only be activated by certain abilities.
    • Target Switches, which can only be hit by the Ranger ability, its evolutions, or Bandana Waddle Dee's spear.
    • Lantern Switches, which can only be lit by the Fire ability or its evolutions.
    • Windmill Switches, which can only be spun by the Tornado ability, its evolutions, or Ring Mouth.
    • Solar-Panel Switches, which can only be activated by Light-Bulb Mouth.
  • Various modern games feature sets of switches that must be hit together in order to progress on a desired route.

Starting in Kirby's Return to Dream Land, switches were color-coded to represent their functions.

  • Blue switches permanently activate their mechanism once stepped on and are permanently depressed, making Kirby unable to step on them again. These are the most common switches introduced after the
  • Red switches usually activate the attached mechanism temporarily, and pop back up after a short time, deactivating their mechanism. The time varies between individual buttons, but the timer only starts counting down once Kirby moves off of it.
  • Purple switches are exceedingly rare, and act as toggles for mechanisms. Their rareness is likely due to the lack of overly complex puzzles in most Kirby titles, making a toggle switch unnecessary.

Trivia[edit]

Profiles[edit]

Kirby Super Star[edit]

  • Wii U Virtual Console manual bio: "Activate the switch by touching or attacking."

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror[edit]

  • Instruction manual bio (page 26): "You'll come across several different switches. If you press a big switch, a new mirror will appear. If you press a small switch, a nearby device will start moving, opening a new path for you!"

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

  • Instruction manual bio (page 22): "Touch or attack switches to activate doors, gates and other gimmicks, allowing Kirby to move forward."

Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

  • Instruction manual bio (page 21): "Touch or attack this switch to activate it."

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

  • Instruction manual bio (page 15): "Touch or hit these to activate them. Activating them can have various effects, such as opening Shutter Gates."

Gallery[edit]

Names in other languages[edit]

Switch[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Dutch Schakelaar Switch
French Interrupteur Switch
German Schalter Switch
Korean 스위치
Seuwichi
Switch
Spanish Interruptor Switch


Target Switch[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Latin American Spanish Interruptor diana Target switch


Lantern Switch[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Latin American Spanish Interruptor farolito Lantern switch


Windmill Switch[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Latin American Spanish Interruptor rehilete Pinwheel switch

Solar-Panel Switch[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Latin American Spanish Interruptor panel solar Solar panel switch