History ContinuityNod / KirbysReturnToDreamLand

* Many riffs from KSS's theme appear in several endgame tracks, including the ever-present Milky Way Wishes fanfare.

* As mentioned below, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] final form is referred to as [[spoiler:Magolor Soul]] in Extra Mode, a nod to Drawcia and Marx. In addition, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] first form is reminiscent of [[spoiler:Nightmare]], and [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's mouth forms a large eye similar to Dark Matter and Zero]]. His second form in Main mode has one too, although it's a lot less noticeable, only visible in certain attacks.
* [[spoiler:Magolor's]] battle music also contains a couple of {{Call Back}}s to previous bosses. [[spoiler:His first form has a loose variation of Dark Matter's theme from ''Dream Land 3'']], while [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's music is reminiscent of Nightmare's, and around the 1:50 mark contains the triumphant fanfare from Milky Way Wishes]].
* There are some {{Recurring Riff}}s that are heard in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=160KrZAERaM credits]]. The Milky Way Wishes ending theme and the trailer music for the canceled [=GameCube=] game can be heard in it near the end, and are sprinkled throughout the song.
** You also get to hear the music from the [=GameCube=] game's E3 2005 trailer in some of the boss battles in [[BossRush The Arena and The True Arena]].
* The song that plays on the map screen for Dangerous Dinner starts as a remix of Miracle Matter's theme.
* Both The Arena and The True Arena return from KSS and KSSU respectively.

* Level 5 of Nutty Noon is a miniboss tower like the one in ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'', including [[spoiler:the secret harder route hidden behind a barred door]]. Dedede's theme plays in the background like the one in the ''Nightmare in Dream Land'' remake. It also has elements from the miniboss tower from ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'', where you must copy the miniboss's power in order to get the next PlotCoupon.
* The end of level goal game is based of the one in ''Kirby's Adventure''.
* Collectible stars for extra lives return from the Dark Matter trilogy, although they require [[LawOfOneHundred one hundred of them]] now.

* The Item Challenge and the secret HAL rooms hit you with a medley of various versions of Green Greens.
* As you traverse the last few resting areas in The True Arena--BAM! ''Kirby's Dream Land 3'''s Iceberg theme out of nowhere!

** Landia: [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Red/Great Dragon]] and [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Dynablade]]
** [[spoiler:Lor Starcutter: Kabula, Nightmare Power Orb, Dark Matter, and Zero]].

* A rather subtle example, but in one of the levels where you use the Snow Bowl Super Ability, you need Kirby to complete a snowman. After the snowman is completed, it explodes to reveal the portal to the pocket dimension. Guess [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards what other]] ''[[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards Kirby]]'' [[VideoGame/Kirby64TheCrystalShards game]] featured an exploding snowman?

* As mentioned below, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] final form is referred to as [[spoiler:Magolor Soul]] in Extra mode, a nod to Drawcia and Marx. In addition, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] first form is reminiscent of [[spoiler:Nightmare]], and [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's mouth forms a large eye similar to Dark Matter and Zero]]. His second form in Main mode has one too, although it's a lot less noticeable, only visible in certain attacks.

* In Extra mode, the credits are adorned with small images of Kirby in various jobs, identically to Milky Way Wishes' end credits.

* There are some {{Recurring Riff}}s that are heard in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=160KrZAERaM credits]]. The Milky Way Wishes ending theme and the trailer music for the cancelled Kirby GCN can be heard in it near the end, and are sprinkled throughout the song.
** You also get to hear the music from the GCN trailer in some of the boss battles in [[BossRush The Arena and The True Arena]].

* As mentioned below, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] final form is referred to as [[spoiler:Magolor Soul]] in Extra Mode, a nod to Drawcia and Marx. In addition, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] first form is reminiscent of [[spoiler:Nightmare]], and [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's mouth forms a large eye similar to Dark Matter and Zero]]. His second form in normal mode has one too, although it's a lot less noticeable, only visible in certain attacks.
* [[spoiler:Magolor's]] battle music also contains a couple of {{Call Back}}s to previous bosses. [[spoiler:His first form has a loose variation of Dark Matter's theme from Dream Land 3]], while [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's music is reminiscent of Nightmare's, and around the 1:50 mark contains the triumphant fanfare from Milky Way Wishes]].

* In Extra Mode, the credits are adorned with small images of Kirby in various jobs, identically to Milky Way Wishes' end credits.

* The tune that plays when the game is selected on the Wii Menu is a shortened form of the title screen music from the original game, Kirby's Dream Land.

* If Mike Kirby's last attack is charged up, he yells "DISCO!"[[note]]Or "TESTO!" depending on who you ask[[/note]] in an incredibly deep voice, similarly to Mike Kirby's last attack in ''Super Star''.

** [[spoiler:Lor Starcutter: Kabula, Nightmare Orb, Dark Matter, and Zero]].

* You can also find [[spoiler:Marx]] in the crowd of the "Kirby Master" video, along with [[spoiler:a character who looks similar to Drawcia]].

* The end of level goal game is based of the one in Kirby's Adventure.

* Many riffs from KSS' theme appear in several endgame tracks, including the ever-present Milky Way Wishes fanfare.

* You can also find [[spoiler: Marx]] in the crowd of the "Kirby Master" video, along with [[spoiler:a character who looks similar to Drawcia]].

* Both the Arena and True Arena return from KSS and KSSU respectively.

** They were also in Canvas Curse, with the requirement for an extra life being 100 stars.

* As you traverse the last few resting areas in the True Arena--BAM! Kirby's Dream Land 3's Iceberg theme out of nowhere!

* One of the Grand Doomer's last few attacks when you first fight him vaguely resembles an attack found in the final battle against [[spoiler:Drawcia Soul]] in Kirby's Canvas Curse.

* Level 5 of Nutty Noon is a miniboss tower like the one in ''VideoGame/KirbysAdventure'', including [[spoiler:the secret harder route hidden behind a barred door]]. Dedede's theme plays in the background like the one in the Nightmare in Dreamland remake. It also has elements from the miniboss tower from Kirby's Dreamland 3, where you must copy the miniboss's power in order to get the next PlotCoupon.

* If Kirby jumps into an enemy from directly below them, the enemy will be hurt, similarly to Kirby's Dreamland 3 and Kirby 64.

* [[spoiler:[=HR-D3=]]] is modeled after [[spoiler:the version of Robo Mecha Dedede in the original Kirby GCN]].
** It did appear as the final boss of Chapter 2 of the Kirby Quest sub-game in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', though in that game, it had King Dedede's insignia on its chestplate and generally resembles him; in this game, it doesn't.

* As mentioned below, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] final form is referred to as [[spoiler:Magolor Soul]] in Extra Mode, a nod to Drawcia and Marx. In addition, [[spoiler:Magolor's]] first form is reminiscent of Nightmare, and [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's]] mouth forms a large eye similar to Dark Matter and Zero. His second form in normal mode has one too, although it's a lot less noticeable, only visible in certain attacks.
* [[spoiler:Magolor's]] battle music also contains a couple of {{Call Back}}s to previous bosses. [[spoiler:His]] first form has a loose variation of Dark Matter's theme from Dream Land 3, while [[spoiler:Magolor Soul's]] music is reminiscent of Nightmare's, and around the 1:50 mark contains the triumphant fanfare from Milky Way Wishes.

* Level 5 of Nutty Noon is a miniboss tower like the one in Kirby's Adventure, including the secret harder route hidden behind a barred door. Dedede's theme plays in the background like the one in the Nightmare in Dreamland remake. It also has elements from the miniboss tower from Kirby's Dreamland 3, where you must copy the miniboss's power in order to get the next PlotCoupon.

* [=HR-D3=] is modeled after the version of Robo Mecha Dedede in the original Kirby GCN.
** [=HR-D3=] did appear as the final boss of Chapter 2 of the Kirby Quest sub-game in ''VideoGame/KirbyMassAttack'', though in that game it had King Dedede's insignia on its chestplate and generally resembles him; in this game, it does not.
** [=HR-D3=]'s name is also a reference to HR-E/HR-H, the boss of Shiver Star in Kirby 64.
* One of the Grand Doomer's last few attacks when you first fight him vaguely resembles an attack found in the final battle against Drawcia Soul in Kirby's Canvas Curse.
* One of King Doo's {{Palette Swap}}s resembles the Dark Matter Trilogy BigBad, Zero.

* You can also find [[spoiler: Marx]] in the crowd of the "Kirby Master" video, along with a character who looks similar to [[spoiler: Drawcia]].

** Landia: [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Red/Great Dragon]]