History VideoGame / KirbyPlanetRobobot

* AIIsACrapshoot: [[spoiler:Star Dream, the HWC's supercomputer, gains sentience and decides to destroy all organic life in the universe.]]

** The newly-introduced Poison ability functions similarly to Water from ''[[VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand Return to Dream Land]]''. Fittinglly, it can be obtained from the miniboss Miasmoros, which is essentially a poison-themed variant of the Water Galboros.

* SwissArmyWeapon: The basic Robobot Armor can change one of its fists into a wrench or drill, allowing it to operate certain mechanical devices. It's even used in the boss battle against Gigavolt, via drilling into its hands when it slams them down, and [[spoiler:the final phase of [[FinalBoss Star Dream]], where Kirby [[Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann drills through the center]] of its body.]]

** The FinalBoss. [[spoiler:Hints of Nova's battle theme can be heard in the third form, and in the fourth form, Kirby gets a Theme Music Power Up]]. For the TrueFinalBoss, [[spoiler:the first phase of the final form is a straight remix of Nova's theme]].
** [[spoiler:Once again, Galacta Knight. After starting with the Grand Doomer theme, he gets another remix of his original theme for the second phase]].

* ThisIsADrill: The Robobot Armor can turn its arm into a drill bit to turn screws. Gigavolt is notably taken out this way, by unscrewing both its hands and its head. The climax of the main mode has [[spoiler:Kirby on his Robobot Armor performing a last-minute ditch drill attack on Star Dream's third form, destroying it entirely. It ends up being a reference to ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''.]]

** Like [[VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe Flowery Woods before him]], Clanky Woods has proven to be more of a challenge than most players would expect at level one, once again showing off some pretty devastating attacks that could really give you a hard time if you're not prepared. Except Flowery at least had the decency to remain in one spot most of the time, while Clanky does ''not'' want to stand still. Oh, and did we mention that he also gets first crack at you in the ''very first stage of the game''? [[spoiler:You can still defeat him even that early on, and get a nice rare sticker in return, but it's arguably even more of a pain than his actual boss battle with how little room and time you have. It's also rather easy to get crushed to death there.]] Kirby's enemies [[LetsGetDangerous aren't playing games this time]].

** First, there's Mecha Knight, [[spoiler:who is actually a [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed]] and [[UnwillingRoboticisation mechanzied]] Meta Knight after being captured by Susie into being her bodyguard. But we don't find out it's him until after we defeat him as Mecha Knight+ at the end of the game.]]
** Next, the [[spoiler:Dedede Clone, which gets absolutely no foreshadowing that Susie managed to get some of Dedede's DNA to make an imperfect clone of him.]]
** Then, there's [[spoiler:Core Kabula. Nothing foreshadows the fact that a supposedly mechanized version of Kabula would rise from the ashes of C.O.G.S. and attack Kirby after defeats it.]]

** The final three battles of Meta Knightmare Returns are this. The first two battles are against [[spoiler:clones of Dark Matter Blade from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' and Queen Sectonia from ''VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe'', as absolutely nothing foreshadows the fact that the HWC managed to get the DNA from Dark Matter and Sectonia, who's DNA was most likely still in the Dreamstalk even after her death. Then, the third battle is against Galacta Knight, as per usual.]]

** During the final boss battle, [[spoiler:you're shooting up the Access Ark, with its plating steadily breaking as its health goes down. Once you deplete all of its health, the music cuts out as the last piece flies off... and then the now-uncovered Access Ark teleports directly in front of you, revealing that it's a silver clockwork star of the same ilk as ''[[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Galactic Nova]]''. While ''Kirby'' games are no stranger to making nods to past games, this is the first time that a reference to a prior title is explicitly a major part of the story.]]
** At the end of Meta Knightmare Returns, [[spoiler:Star Dream activates after the defeat of Haltmann 2.0 and tests Meta Knight's credentials as the new admin. It speaks highly of its warriors as it boots a program entitled "Sword_Master.EXE", so it's easy to assume that a battle with [[WorldsBestWarrior Galacta Knight]] is about to ensue. Instead, you receive someone completely different: [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 Dark Matter Blade]], appearing for the first time since its debut and marking one of the first major references to the Dark Matter Trilogy.]]

** Unlike the final bosses of many other Kirby games, who are scary {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, [[spoiler:Star Dream]] is a massive supercomputer with a big heart icon painted on it. With a crack in the middle. It also aims to [[spoiler:destroy all organic life as it deems them inefficient and against order.]]

** With the appearance of [[spoiler:a new clockwork star similar to Nova]] appearing, so does [[spoiler:its heart, which you fight at the end of the True Arena.]] This time, [[spoiler:the heart]] moves around and attacks you instead of just staying in the middle. Its introduction cutscene is called "HEARTLESS MACHINE", and is final attack is called "Heartless Tears". And oddly, it shares a few attacks with [[spoiler:Marx]], who is also an example of this trope...

** While not a new character, [[spoiler:Galacta Knight]] makes his entrance by [[spoiler:slicing a huge gash in Star Dream, disabling it]]. Note that [[spoiler:Kirby needed ''a battleship'' to do anything close to that amount of damage, and it still held on long enough to fortify itself.]]
* WowingCthulhu: [[spoiler:Star Dream is an [[TheOmnipotent omnipotent]] super computer cabable of warping things beyond dimensions on whim and was willing and able to '''''[[ApocalypseHow wipe out all organic life in existence]]'''''. And yet if you pause during its last phase, the text has it talking about how it's utterly ''terrified'' of the [[GooGooGodlike infinite power within Kirby.]]]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Star Dream''': "Its energy signature far exceeds that of the Invader Armor, our combat mech. The nearly infinite power within this life-form is astounding. Calculating probability of survival... It doesn't look good."]]

* FluffyTheTerrible: [[spoiler:The final boss of the game is one of the most threatening enemies Kirby has ever fought: it's a MechanicalAbomination bent on [[OmnicidalManiac destroying every life form]] in the ''entire universe'', and it delivers on heck of a boss fight. Its name? Star Dream.]]

** Just like in ''Return to Dream Land'' and ''Triple Deluxe'', the names of the areas make an acronym - in this case, [[spoiler:P-R-O-G-R-A-M, which alludes to the FinalBoss.]]

* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: Gigavolt, who appears as a boss at the end of otherwise forgettable stages. [[spoiler:Twice]]

* InconsistentDub: Players may notice that in the American English version, one of the final bosses of Meta Knightmare Returns is known as [[spoiler:Dark Matter Clone]] in its stamina bar and flavor text, but [[spoiler:Dark Matter Blade]] in The True Arena. So which is it? Turns out the reason is simple - [[spoiler:Dark Matter Blade Clone is closer to the Japanese text, which is the official name of its first phase from ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' as "Dark Matter Blade" (its second phase is called "Real Dark Matter" in the Japanese guide).]]
* InfinityMinusOneSword: If you don't have the ''Smash Bros.'' series Kirby amiibo, the Smash Bros. ability becomes this. It can be found in a number of well-hidden rooms throughout the game, but at least you [[spoiler:don't have to fully complete the game to get it, unlike UFO]]. As in previous appearances, the power is very versatile, with good selection of moves and is capable of doing heavy damage. You can't bring it into either Arena without amiibo, however.

** The fourth boss, [[spoiler:Mecha Knight, has a laser version of the Galaxia. Meta Knightmare Returns' exclusive boss Stock Mecha Knight also has one. As Mecha Knight+, he's able to [[{{BFS}} make the sword grow longer]].]]

** Holo Defense API, like Ado and Adeleine before it, summons images of previous games' bosses to fight Kirby, though in the form of holograms rather than paintings. The fight includes Kracko, two Sphere Doomers, Ice Dragon and Coily Rattler.

* NoEnding: As with ''Super Star Ultra,'' ''Return to Dream Land,'' and ''Triple Deluxe,'' the extra modes simply end with your character standing on a victory podium. However, unlike previous entries, a plot thread is brought up in one of the extra modes (specifically, [[spoiler:Star Dream testing Meta Knight's abilities]]), which goes unresolved. Considering that [[spoiler:Galacta Knight destroys Star Dream after he's summoned]], it apparently gets cut short in-universe.

** Stage 6-8 is the last stage of the game before the final boss and it includes a few throwbacks including a scene from ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure''. The final room of the game even plays the title screen music from said game.

* OhCrap: During the final attack phase of the final boss fight, [[spoiler:Star Dream]] is having an internal freakout if you pause to read the description, as it reads that [[spoiler:not only is the true power it's facing coming from ''Kirby himself'', but that very power actually ''exceeds its own''.]]

** In the main game, Clone Dedede is created from a DNA sample of King Dedede that Susie somehow acquired. The clone greatly resembles Dedede except for the purple shading (yellow for the 2.0 version) and the Haltmann Works Company logo on the back of its coat. It uses similar hammer attacks [[TurnsRed until it takes enough damage]] to eventually explode into three slimy blobs that reform as smaller clones. Each one becomes smaller and weaker upon successive regenerations until all health is eventually depleted. [[FlavorText The pause screen]] for the 2.0 version in the "Meta Knightmare Returns" mode states that while it has the look and voice of the king, it does not have his soul for some things cannot be cloned. Also, some trial models were only interested in food whilst others were afraid of a certain insect; all were imperfect.
** In the "Meta Knightmare Returns" sub-game, [[MasterComputer Star Dream]] tests [[MasterSwordsman Meta Knight]] with clones of [[spoiler:Dark Matter]] and [[spoiler:Queen Sectonia]]. While there does not appear to be anything inherently wrong with the [[spoiler:Sectonia Clone]][[note]]though it is notably more aggressive than the original article, and its design features broken hearts as an in-universe CreatorThumbprint[[/note]], the [[spoiler:Dark Matter Clone]] is explicitly stated to have pushed Star Dream to its limits; because only a partial data analysis was possible, [[YouCannotGraspTheTrueForm it was only able to reproduce the being's false form.]]

* RapidfireFisticuffs: Aside from Fighter Kirby's usual Vulcan Jab, Poison Kirby also has one with his Poison Pummel technique, with added burst of poison in the end.

** A musical variation - {{Recurring Riff}}s aside, the final boss' theme is [[spoiler:a remix of the game's main title screen music, combined with snippets of its previous forms' themes and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Milky Way Wishes: Shooting]]. This goes for both the battle with Star Dream's Nova form and the battle with its final ''final'' core form in The True Arena]].
** The first ability the player has access to is Spark, in the final boss level, one of the abilities you have the choice to switch to before [[spoiler:Mecha Knight+]] is Spark, meaning it could be the first and last ability the player uses.

** Holo Defense API brings out a pack of bosses from previous games for you to fight against: Kracko, Sphere Doomers, Ice Dragon and Coily Rattler.

*** Story Mode: The penultimate level has a final encounter with an Invader Armor, rematches against three of the fourth Holo Defense API summons (Sphere Doomers, Ice Dragon, and Kracko, in that order), yet another Security Force miniboss, and ends with a fight against an updated Gigavolt, all with Robobot Armor. The following boss level has [[spoiler:a rematch with Mecha Knight and the supposed final boss fight against President Haltmann. After that comes the MarathonBoss that is Star Dream]].

* BribingYourWayToVictory: Amiibo allow you to gain any power up at any time, easily letting you get otherwise difficult to obtain powers with ease. More so for ''Kirby'' series amiibo. ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' versions will also give Energy Drinks while the official ''Kirby'' series ones will give ''Maxim Tomatoes''! These can make the True Arena much easier. Though doing so will [[EasyModeMockery place an amiibo sticker next to your high score]].

** Several long-gone Copy Abilities make their return in this game. These include Jet and Mirror from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''; Smash Bros.[[note]]formerly "Smash"[[/note]] from ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'', which had previously reappeared in ''Kirby's Dream Collection''; and UFO[[note]]formerly "U.F.O."[[/note]] from ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'', making its first playable appearance since ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad''. The latter two are Toys/{{amiibo}} exclusive [[spoiler:unless you manage to find extremely well-hidden rooms hidden in each area which contains Smash or achieve OneHundredPercentCompletion to make a UFO appear in the Ability Testing Room.]]

** While Pix doesn't appear, Holo Defense API bears more than a passing resemblance to it. [[spoiler:Its 2.0 bio confirms that this isn't a coincidence]]. Furthermore, two of its summons did not appear in ''Triple Deluxe'': Sphere Doomers (''Return to Dream Land'') and the Ice Dragon (''Dream Land 2'').
** [[spoiler:Kabula, last seen in ''Super Star Ultra'' (and ''Return to Dream Land'' as a cameo in Scope Shot), is back as a special Jet Robobot boss]].

** [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Galacta Knight]] returns as well to once again challenge Meta Knight. Unlike Dark Matter and Sectonia whom are clones, this is the '''real''' Galacta Knight.]]

** Kibble Blade, King Doo and Dubior reappear after being absent in ''Triple Deluxe''.

** The boss of Resolution Road, Holo Defense API. It summons holographic versions of Kracko, [[VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand two Sphere Doomers]], [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2 an Ice Dragon]], and [[VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe Coily Rattler]], making it also a reference to [[VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3 Ado (who summoned two of those enemies in her boss fight as well as a dual boss similar to the Doomers)]]. For bonus points, when all of the holographic bosses are defeated, the thing tried to do a last-ditch attack and it can be defeated on one final hit, like Ado. ''And'', on top of all that, Holo Defense API's appearance is similar to [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards Pix]]. Although that last case isn't a coincidence, according to its 2.0 version bio.
** [[spoiler:The Access Ark turns out to be a clockwork sun, similar to [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Nova]] that Kirby and Meta Knight encountered before. To drive the point home, it takes on the exact same gold-and-blue color scheme in The True Arena. In addition to that, the last phase of the Access Ark fight has Star Dream summon giant objects to attack you, which include [[NoodleImplements weather vanes, light bulbs, piano keys, a drawing compass, a telescope, and a pocket watch.]] Seems pretty random, until you remember [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/0/0b/Nova.png/revision/latest?cb=20140101074527&path-prefix=en what the original Nova looked like.]] Also, after beating the third form, it completely closes its left eye but not its right, a nod to the wound Nova received around its left eye after the penultimate battle of ''Milky Way Wishes'']].

** Like ''Triple Deluxe'', there's a level in the late game where you have to avoid a set of squares coming from the background before the finish door appears. [[spoiler:However, in both games, waiting for 86 seconds after the door appears will make the squares appear again from the background, this time forming letters H, A and L before an extra door appears; enter it to get lots of goodies.]]
** The Whispy Woods fight in Team Kirby Clash works the same as his boss fights in previous games... up until he TurnsRed, where he borrows many strategy from Flowery Woods in ''Triple Deluxe'', including jumping and attacking from the background.

** In Team Kirby Clash, in addition to legit experience points, you can potentially get various completely useless stat upgrades followed by "(Not that it matters.)" similar to the Computer Virus boss from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''.

** Meta Knight's Final Smash from ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' is also included in the game as one of his special moves. Though he doesn't need to hit anything with his cape to pull it off here.

* CloningSplitsAttributes: The Dedede Clone starts off fighting just like the original, but after being reduced to half HP splits into three smaller clones that deal less damage and lack the ability to inhale.

** When you level up in Team Kirby Clash, in addition to your actual stat gains you may get a message saying that a 'stat' such as Puffiness or Eye Sparkle increased (not that it matters). A very similar message appeared after defeating the Computer Virus in ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''.

* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: The antagonists of this and the [[VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe previous game]] reflect the drastically different themes of said games. While they both were once good people who faced tragedy and [[spoiler: were later manipulated by their respective [[GreaterScopeVillain Greater-Scope Villains]] into [[FaceHeelTurn becoming evil]]]], as well as being [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal betrayed]] by their [[TheDragon respective dragons]], that's where the similarities end. Unlike Queen Sectonia, who was a vain-obsessed [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen evil queen]] and was magic and nature based, President Haltmann is a CorruptCorporateExecutive who relies on advanced technology and machinery. Sectonia's primary motivation was divine beauty and power [[spoiler:who would become corrupted by the magic mirror]], while Haltmann [[spoiler:had a more sympathetic goal of wanting to bring his daughter back after an accident, but [[SanitySlippage went mad]] when Star Dream kept messing with his memories. Therefore when Susie actually came back, he didn't recognize her as his daughter]]. Queen Sectonia [[spoiler: underwent a FusionDance with the Dreamstalk and planned to cover all of Popstar in vines and have all its residents sustain her for eternity.]] Haltmann however, [[spoiler: was hijacked by the game's GreaterScopeVillain, Star Dream, who aimed to [[OmnicidalManiac eradicate all organic life in the universe]] in order to achieve its company's goal of prosperity, seeing organic life as a liability.]]

* CutsceneBoss: [[spoiler:In the main story mode, after you beat Star Dream's third (Nova) phase, you'll be treated with a cutscene that segues into another phase in the battle (complete with the boss' health bar) where Kirby, in a QuickTimeEvent, have to drill through Star Dream's defenses (as it depletes its HP) before drilling the Star Dream at the top of the Access Ark.]]

** The King Doo mini boss; even though it was already mono-eyed; now has the look of a cyborg due to robotization.
* CyberneticsEatYourSoul: [[spoiler:Taken horrifyingly ''literally'' in the case of Haltmann, who has his mind and soul consumed by Star Dream when it goes rogue. This is directly stated in the True Arena "Soul OS" fights, wherein it's mentioned that a tiny portion of Haltmann's soul is still hanging on, and during the final phase, what appear to be his final thoughts are tragically shown as the boss info... right up until the heart moves to attack personally, and the boss info changes to coldly stating that Haltmann has been completely wiped from the OS - memories, soul, everything]].

** ''Planet Robobot'' is this compared to most other ''Kirby'' games. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-4icR9r7jc opening cutscene]] alone is far more sinister than ''Triple Deluxe's'', as the Haltmann Works Company's ''absolutely massive'' mothership [[CurbStompBattle effortlessly takes down Dedede and Meta Knight]] and immediately begins mechanizing Dream Land. The [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes]] that all the robot soldiers have don't help. Compare this to ''Triple Deluxe'' which still features lush, colorful, untampered nature scenery from the start.
** President Haltmann is revealed through boss descriptions to have done everything [[spoiler:in an attempt to bring back his daughter who he thought had died in some sort of accident, only to forget he ever even had one]], which isn't the sort of plot you'd expect in a ''Kirby'' game. His ultimate fate is possibly the darkest thing in the franchise; [[spoiler:Haltmann has his body and soul assimilated by his supercomputer, resulting in a state of pure AndIMustScream (during the TrueFinalBoss, you can literally hear Haltmann ''screaming in agony'' in the background) and finally culminates in Star Dream deleting Haltmann's soul from existence--just as Haltmann finally remembers his own daughter.]] Ouch.
** Meta Knight is [[spoiler:unwillingly roboticised and it's mentioned that the Haltmann Works Company plans to make a production line from him as well.]]
** In fact, there's not even a "Kirby Master!" video for 100% completion like the previous three games. Instead, we get an "Exclusive Performance Video", where Susie sings "The Noble Haltmann" in the Access Ark's executive office. What helps this is that the song is quite somber, [[spoiler:which befits Haltmann's tragic backstory and how he became the CorruptCorporateExecutive he is now.]]
** Much of the music is considerably much darker and sinister as a whole what with the mechanical theme and all.

* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: Back in [[spoiler:''Super Star'', the idea of fighting Nova was ludicrous. It was an absolute and undeterrable acting force, so mind-bendingly massive and unstoppable that the sun and the moon united combined with destroying its insides could only ''slow it down'']]. Here, [[spoiler:Kirby takes one on that is acting upon its own will, absorbing the ''Battleship Halberd itself'' via his Robobot Armor to face the sapient mechanical planet in single combat. ''He wins''.]]

** [[LagCancel Air attack cancelling]]. If Kirby lands on the ground while in the middle of performing an attack like the Sword Spin, Super Ice Sprinkle, or either version of Hammer's Giant Swing, he can cancel the animation by jumping. By tapping A to make the smallest jump possible, there's enough time for Kirby to attack immediately after he leaves the ground and again just before he lands - at which point he can make another tiny jump to cancel the second attack and repeat it indefinitely. It's very difficult to consistently maintain the optimal rhythm, but mastering this technique lets you [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02N5Y_tnf0I shred through bosses like paper]].

* DoubleJump: Due to lacking Kirby's traditional flight (unless in Parasol Mode, Jet Mode or [[spoiler:Halberd Mode]]), the Robobot Armor gets a single midair jump.
* TheDragon: Susie is this to President Haltmann. [[spoiler:[[DragonWithAnAgenda However, she only wants to steal Star Dream from him for profit.]]]]

** There's a small chance that the Kirby seen in Jukebox mode will be replaced with his 8-bit equivalent. Also the HAL rooms reappear as usual, as well as secret rooms where you can find the Smash Bros. ability.

* EldritchStarship: The [[PlanetSpaceship Access Ark]] doesn't seem like this at first glance, but when Kirby ventures deep enough inside, he finds [[spoiler:a [[AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield bizarre, brightly colored landscape]] somewhat reminiscent of [[VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand Another Dimension]]]]. And that's ''before'' [[spoiler:it turns out to be the body of a [[DeusEstMachina Galactic Nova]], repurposed for the Haltmann Works Company's own ends.]]

* EleventhHourSuperpower: The Robobot Armor can access [[spoiler:Halberd Mode in which the Halbred merges with the Armor and the ship is recolored to look like the Armor. For the finisher, the Robobot Armor returns to normal right arm of the mech dons a giant drill or spearhead and uses a spin attack to defeat the final boss of the game, Star Dream]].

* AnotherSideAnotherStory: ''Meta Knightmare Returns'', complete with having different {{Final Boss}}es against [[spoiler:Dark Matter Clone, Sectonia Clone, and Galacta Knight (who isn't a clone).]]

** The game both starts and ends with [[spoiler:Kirby waking up under a tree]].

* ShockAndAwe: Of course you can get and use electric abilities in a Kirby game, but in this title the amount of ways you can fry the critters of Popstar with a lighting bolt has been multiplied. We have the classics Spark and Beam; but newcomers ESP and Doctor, as well as the returning UFO, can also inflict electric damage. Considering the technological setting of the game, it is not surprising. These powers are exploited in the new puzzle gimmick that involves powering devices or activating mechanisms with wires and plugs scattered through the stages.
** The Robobot modes for Beam, Spark and ESP also use electricity-based attacks.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: [[spoiler:In order to fight the final boss, Star Dream, Kirby's Robobot Armor scans the Halberd.]]