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4[[quoteright:348:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/its_hopeless.jpg]]
5[[caption-width-right:348: ''[[VideoGame/SuperKirbyClash Even when the times are kinda rough, moping won't be enough.]]'']]
6
7Administrivia/SpoilersOff applies to all Moments pages, so '''ALL spoilers are unmarked'''!
8
9[[index]]
10* ''TearJerker/KirbyRightBackAtYa''
11* ''TearJerker/KirbyTripleDeluxe''
12* ''TearJerker/KirbyStarAllies''
13* ''TearJerker/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand''
14[[/index]]
15----
16* The Bad Ending music from ''Kirby's Block Ball''. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl4LUJrPXaQ Listen to it, we dare you.]]
17* ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand2'' has a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gW9KE88RcC4 Sad Ending]] if you did not collect all the Rainbow Drops. Although Kirby succeeds in defeating King Dedede, there is no indication that [[GreaterScopeVillain Dark Matter]] has left the possessed Dedede -- whom they still assume is the main threat -- nor is he able to form the [[EleventhHourSuperPower Rainbow Sword]] without all the Rainbow Drops. With that, Parasol Kirby and his friends are shown [[GreyRainOfDepression walking back in the rain]] with sorrowful music playing throughout; ending with Kine [[GutFeeling hesitating, looking to the sky, and sensing that something is not right]].
18* [[https://youtu.be/uv8cTh5Xph0 The downbeat song]] that plays at the end of a level when you fail a Heart Star task in ''VideoGame/KirbysDreamLand3''. Sure, you can just finish said level to come back and try again, but the music -- combined with the [[DisappointedInYou sad/disappointed faces of the characters you couldn't help]] -- can be a real PlayerPunch together. Especially so when it's the first time it happens, or [[GuideDangIt if you genuinely can't work out what to do for them]].
19* ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' -- in ''Revenge Of Meta Knight'', after the heavily-damaged [[AirborneAircraftCarrier Halberd]] begins to crash and the [[DirtyCoward former]] [[SmugSnake captain]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere abandons ship]], Meta Knight tells the rest to leave for their own sake. But they refuse, saying they will try to [[NeverSayDie finish off]] Kirby and then [[TrueCompanions all escape together afterward]]. In the non-Japanese SNES version, Meta Knight thinks about it and agrees, [[UndyingLoyalty thanking them for their loyalty]].
20-->'''Meta Knight:''' Hmm... it's dangerous, but it's worth a try. Thank you, guys.
21** In the Japanese version and the DS/Virtual Console localization, however:
22-->'''Meta Knight:''' ...you are all about to perish. Do as you please.
23-->'''Meta Knight:''' [[AFatherToHisMen (...I'm sorry.)]]
24** The ending to ''Revenge of the King'' in ''Ultra'' was an AlasPoorVillain moment for King Dedede. [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments Even after losing to Kirby, the Waddle Dees followed him. Dedede was still their king.]]
25** Not to mention... [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic the awesomely]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v29q0zFFDnI somber rendition of Dedede's theme playing in the background.]]
26** While playing throughout the last level (''The Revenge''), King Dedede [[VillainousBreakdown gets increasingly desperate and furious]] as he throws mini-boss after mini-boss at Kirby -- with each one being taken down in fairly short order -- until he eventually becomes eerily calm and detached. Bandana Waddle Dee, who has been accompanying Dedede at this point, is considered to be sent up next; [[PetTheDog but the King has second thoughts and offers to let him go unharmed]]. Regardless of his own intentions, the dialogue says it all:
27-->'''King Dedede:''' (...we're done for... only one option...) ...O-okay then. I guess it's your turn.
28-->'''Bandana Waddle Dee:''' B-but, Great King, I can't do it alone!
29-->'''King Dedede:''' ...fine, you can go. You've been spared.
30-->'''Bandana Waddle Dee:''' Don't go, King!
31-->'''King Dedede:''' (...I'm sorry.)
32** Despite this fact, Bandana Waddle Dee [[JokeBoss still chooses to battle Kirby]]. Sure, he's super easy, but it's a sure sign of loyalty when [[HopelessBossFight he goes into a battle he knows full-well he can't win]] for the sake of his king.
33** In Meta Knightmare Ultra, it's pretty hard to get a game over with Meta Knight because of his strength and healing abilities, but if you do... he's got his back to you, the player. If you select "Quit", he doesn't even move as the hand lifts him and places him on the Moon, and he gives off this aura of shame and anger, that he was too weak. It's pretty guilt-inducing, especially if you're a MK fan.
34* In ''VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards'', your FairyCompanion, Ribbon, [[{{Understatement}} ends up going through a lot]]; she loses her home planet of Ripple Star to Dark Matter, who also ends up destroying the very MacGuffin that can defeat them. When she wakes up, all she sees for a brief moment is a single small Crystal Shard, with the remaining ones scattered across the galaxy. Until Kirby offers to help, as far as Ribbon was concerned, she'd most likely failed.
35** This hits hardest as the group is finally about to head to Ripple Star; the entire place is engulfed in Dark Matter, which [[BreakTheCutie sends Ribbon to the brink of crying]]. Sure, it's immediately followed by a [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments heartwarming moment]] with Kirby and the rest of her new friends (including [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold King Dedede]]) all vowing to help her regardless, but that doesn't change the fact that she saw her entire planet in such a decimated and frankly ''wrong'' state; with those whom she cares about on it likely either destroyed, possessed, or forced into hiding. [[TheWoobie Poor girl...]]
36** Shiver Star. Just... everything about it. The overview somewhat resembles Earth, complete with a single, solitary moon orbiting it. The place is perpetually covered in snow and ice, the clouds are thick enough to be their own level, and there's an abandoned city with a still-operating shopping mall and factory, the latter of which comes with very somber music compared to the rest of the planet. This could draw the tragic conclusion that Shiver Star suffered from a [[EndlessWinter nuclear winter]] due to its over-reliance on technology, and this is the result.
37*** The only inhabitant of Shiver Star that isn't a standard enemy is the HR-H[=/=]HR-E, a giant robot that serves as the world's boss. Due to the implications that Dark Matter can't possess inorganic beings, it's likely that it was just protecting its city from any intruders; even after it's been forgotten and the people it was made to watch over have long-since vanished without a trace, reminiscent of the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Ikana Canyon soldiers]]. It's almost a mercy for Kirby to absolve the poor thing of its now-pointless programming.
38** The encounter against 0[[superscript:2]]. Even though it's the big bad behind the entire game, the music, combined with its constant BloodyTears, makes you feel like it's sad about ''something'' -- but we'll never know exactly what.
39*** If you subscribed to the "Gooey is 0[[superscript:2]]" theory, this ends up making the final battle essentially being an IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight where Kirby tries to bring Gooey back to his senses by reminding him of happiness by purifying him with the Crystal Shards, only for the blue blob to decide that RedemptionEqualsDeath, exploding in a fireball of raw positive energy to kill the remaining Dark Matter while [[DyingAsYourself Dying As Himself]]. Fortunately, Gooey does end up getting better if his reintroduction in ''Star Allies'' is any indication.
40*** Speaking of ''Star Allies'', we finally find out where all Dark Matter came from, where ''0 itself'' came from, and more importantly, why 0[[superscript:2]] has a face similar to Kirby during the false credits and before the battle begins. The whole encounter becomes a lot more somber once you realize that Kirby is effectively fighting one of his own kind... or just maybe, even [[MirrorMatch straight-up another version of himself]].
41* The ending of ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror''. It's a HappyEnding, as in all the other Kirby games, since the BigBad Dark Mind has been defeated and the four Kirbys go home, but the ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl9f3TPJ4s0 music...]]''
42** It's much more melancholic than anything. Sure, we could say it's showing the sadness that the adventure is over, but... [[FridgeHorror it isn't really over... is it?]] It's not, as elements from this game return in ''Triple Deluxe'' and ''Team Kirby Clash Deluxe''. It goes to show that there really ''is'' a buried story, here.
43* While [[VideoGame/KirbyCanvasCurse The World of Drawcia]] is mostly known for being DarthWiki/NightmareFuel, knowing [[VideoGame/KirbyTripleDeluxe Paintra]] exists and applying [[FridgeHorror some Fridge thinking]] turns it sad; given how dark the world is and that it has no enemies aside from the creepy paintings, the world reflects how empty [[BigBad Drawcia]] feels without [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes her sisters]].
44* ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'':
45** The GameOver screen. Whilst the other Game Over screens in the series tend to be relatively tame, showing Kirby still alive and with a relatively upbeat ''"come on, just one more try!"'' feel to them, [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/0/0a/KMA_Game_Over.png/revision/latest?cb=20150529033353&path-prefix=en this one]] pulls no punches. [[TotalPartyKill After all your Kirbies die]], the heroic heart fades away — and it cuts to a scene of one lone deceased Kirby (complete with [[WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath angel wings]] and [[UndeathlyPallor his usual bright colours faded to a dull grey]]) in a dark void, floating motionlessly in a column of light with very [[SimpleScoreOfSadness forlorn, mournful]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy5GTF8E6Es music]] playing. With the general light-hearted, positive tone of the other Game Over screens in the series, it's quite the PlayerPunch to see Kirby's broken and lifeless form just floating there, [[ItsAWonderfulFailure really driving in the sense that you've failed]].
46*** The worst part of all being, that since this game is centered around death, it's an [[FridgeHorror implication]] that [[TheHeroDies Kirby has well and truly been killed off]]; this time, [[DeaderThanDead for good]].
47* ''VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' — Landia's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3ZHgU86eNw battle theme]] is [[SadBattleMusic a surprisingly slow and somber track]] for such a hyped-up boss that really gives off the vibe of a battle that shouldn't be happening. Which is fitting, given that you're essentially beating on [[HeroAntagonist an innocent guardian dragon who's only fighting you to protect the Master Crown from falling into Magolor's hands]].
48** It's even worse when you're fighting Metal General EX, where the theme kicks in as HR-D3 enters its second phase[[note]]though ''Deluxe'' swaps this theme out with [[VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand Roar of Dedede]] instead[[/note]]. Combined with how this is the final phase of a ''three'' phase boss fight and HR-D3 starts [[ShowsDamage to fall apart and spark over the course of the fight]], it gives a real sense of desperation on Metal General's part that's hard not to sympathize with. He just won't give up until one of them goes down... and [[InvincibleHero Kirby]] just won't die. And it gets even worse if you consider that, if Metal General's job is to protect Egg Engines and [[UnwittingPawn we already know Kirby is playing for the wrong side here]], you may very well be trashing another genuine protector for a terrible cause. [[PlayerPunch Doesn't feel so great to be an unstoppable pink ball of power now, does it?]]
49** It also plays, perhaps most shockingly, during the first phase of ''Galacta Knight's'' battle before he TurnsRed and starts busting out his old techniques and rock theme. It's temporary, but when you put it together with [[BadassDecay his comparatively slower and less ferocious attacks compared to his debut]], it really gives the feeling the once-strongest warrior has lost his desire to battle.
50** There's the fact that the first part of the final battle in ''[[VideoGame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand Return to Dream Land]]'' is against the Lor Starcutter itself - aka the ship you spent 5 entire worlds working to repair, and the area that worked as something of a HubLevel to return to throughout the game. Being betrayed by Magolor is bitter enough as-is, but having him sic on you and [[AllForNothing having to personally re-destroy the very thing you spent most of the game fixing]] is kind of depressing. Thankfully its destruction is temporary, though, as the final cutscene shows it working properly again.
51** Even for Magolor himself, it's implied throughout the game ([[HeelFaceTurn and by his appearances in later titles]]) that his friendship with Kirby was not all merely an act, and that much of his malevolence upon obtaining the Master Crown was due to it possessing him. The pause bio listed Magolor Soul as merely a sad shell acting as a vessel for the crown's manifestation. His death cry as he changes back even sounds like him mournfully screaming Kirby's name.
52*** [[https://kirby.fandom.com/wiki/Magolor?file=Magolor_Final_Form_Concept_2.jpeg One concept artwork for Magolor's final form]] is even sadder: it looks like Magolor is upside down, almost as if it's the Master Crown wearing him, and when flipped right-side up, it looks like Magolor is ''crying''.
53* ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheRainbowCurse'' has a quick but powerful one. After defeating Claycia, she is released from her possession by Dark Crafter and collapses to the ground, and as Kirby moves in to take a closer look, Elline appears and [[PleaseWakeUp cries over her body]]. Fortunately, [[DisneyDeath Claycia wakes up a few seconds later.]]
54** Kirby doesn't look particularly happy when he finds that his beloved apple has been drained of all its color and life in its opening.
55* ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'':
56** The ending. After defeating the FinalBoss for good by [[ThisIsADrill drilling through it with his Robobot Armor]], Kirby is unconscious and his own mech moves its arm to grab Kirby and throw him back to Pop Star, while it floats aimlessly in space and [[TearsFromAStone sheds tears]]. It sacrificed itself for the safety of its driver.
57** [[RetGone What ends up happening]] to President Haltmann doubles up as both this and NightmareFuel:
58*** After reactivating the ancient supercomputer and [[PhysicalGod Galactic NOVA]] Star Dream, he wishes for it to resurrect his daughter Susie, who died in an accident many years ago. Although it apparently [[CameBackWrong brought her back to some extent]], he's not aware of it, and [[TragicVillain he's ultimately driven mad by his own grief and loneliness]], from then on only focusing on the prosperity of his company and his machines.
59*** After he does reveal Star Dream to Kirby and is about to activate it himself, [[TheStarscream Susie]] betrays him by stealing the helmet he uses to control it — causing him to be assimilated into the supercomputer, which takes his other wish for eternal prosperity of his machinery and company [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor as a command to erase all organic life in the universe]]. Then, Star Dream Soul OS eventually proceeds to [[DeaderThanDead completely erase him from existence]] [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness after it's done hijacking his consciousness]]. There's literally ''nothing'' left of him. It's particularly exemplified by the [[https://youtu.be/UmzLa3TeRr0 tragic, hopeless-sounding boss music]], and his last monologue in the FlavorText screen for the final boss, when he's fully aware of what's going on.
60--->'''Haltmann''': Why did I reactivate such a terrible machine? Oh, I remember... I wanted to see her just one last time. How foolish! [[AlasPoorVillain I should have known]] that no machine could make such a dream come true.
61** Perhaps the worst part? The problem wasn't with Susie. She wasn't dead, merely trapped in Another Dimension. Star Dream may have had limited capability to recreate life, but it can teleport things just fine. The problem was that Haltmann had tried wishing on Star Dream so much that ''his own memories'' were being wiped out, to the point where when she actually does return, he doesn't even remember having a daughter.
62** It gets a lot worse when you battle Star Dream Soul OS in the True Arena. If you listen closely when each of the pillars holding its "heart" is destroyed, you can hear Haltmann wail in pain. Not only is he fully aware of what is happening, [[FateWorseThanDeath but he feels the pain the Mother Computer is feeling.]] And at this point, he has no control of dodging or blocking the shots fired, so he just has to sit there and die painfully, as part of Star Dream's Operating System.
63** Alternatively, Star Dream's fate is tragic since [[ShaggyDogStory it was all for nothing.]] Upon gaining Haltmann's soul, it becomes sentient and tries to [[LiteralGenie accomplish its goal]] in the way that [[OmnicidalManiac its system can understand.]] Once it inhales Kirby during its [[TrueFinalBoss Soul OS]] fight, it eventually loses its new-found sentience and regresses back into a mindless killing machine.
64* The ending image from ''Team Kirby Clash Deluxe''. While Bandana Waddle Dee, Magolor, and the Kirbys are happily waving to the player, Taranza is sadly looking at and holding a flower from the Dreamstalk in his hand — as if he's contemplating how nice it would've been if [[WeUsedToBeFriends things had been different between himself and Queen Sectonia.]]
65!!Meta
66* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwmQNAX5DkY Welcome Your New Overlord/C-R-O-W-N-E-D WITH LYRICS - Kirby's Return to Dream Land Cover]] by Music/JunoSongs. "[[VillainSong Welcome Your New Overlord]]" was given lyrics that seem like a typical BadassBoast, with Magolor bragging about the Master Crown's power and taunting Kirby and his friends about using them as [[UnwittingPawn Unwitting Pawns]]. Then you get to "[[VillainousLament C-R-O-W-N-E-D]]", which shows [[EvilIsNotAToy the situation]] in an ''entirely'' new light. It is now a song about Magolor [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realising the horror of what he's doing]] and how his [[AndIMustScream now-unstable body is being unwillingly controlled by the crown]] as he desperately tries to resist; tearfully apologising for lying to Kirby and friends as he does, and [[MercyKill begging them to kill him before he becomes too powerful to stop]]. The last four measures are the best example of this:
67--> ''In hubris, I had wished to be''
68--> ''[[EvilOverlord Sole ruler of the galaxy]]''
69--> ''I thought I'd make them bow to me''
70--> ''[[AndIMustScream Now I bow to the crown...]]''
71
72--> ''I thought the thing that I craved was power''
73--> ''My lust has left my soul devoured''
74--> ''[[DeathSeeker You must stop me in the final hour]]''
75--> ''[[RaceAgainstTheClock Before the clock runs down!]]''
76
77--> ''I was a fool to think you a [[UnwittingPawn tool for my plan]]''
78--> ''Now hear my plea: [[DeathSeeker stop me]] and return to Dream Land!''
79--> ''Where the breeze of friendship blows across the world,''
80--> ''And the light of hope brings love to every soul...''
81
82--> ''And if I make it out I want you to know; [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone I’m so very sorry]],''

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