Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards facts for kids

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, known in Japan as Hoshi no Kirby 64 (星のカービィ64, Hoshi no Kābī Rokujūyon, lit. "Kirby of the Stars 64"), is a fun platformer for the Nintendo 64 console. It was made by HAL Laboratory and Nintendo. This game first came out in 2000. Later, you could play it on the Wii and Wii U through their Virtual Console service. In this game, you play as Kirby, a cute pink hero. He teams up with his friends to save the galaxy from a dark force called Dark Matter.

What is Kirby 64 About?

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a special game in the Kirby series. It was the first Kirby game to use 3D graphics. Even though it looks 3D, you mostly move left and right, like older 2D platformers. This style is sometimes called "2.5D."

The Story of the Crystal Shards

The story begins in space, on a planet called Ripple Star. This planet is home to fairies. Suddenly, a dark force called Dark Matter attacks Ripple Star. The queen of the fairies sends a brave fairy named Ribbon to get help. Ribbon carries a powerful crystal, but Dark Matter breaks it into many pieces.

Ribbon and the crystal shards fall to Kirby's home planet, Pop Star. Kirby finds Ribbon and learns about the danger. He decides to help Ribbon find all the missing crystal shards. If they don't find them, Dark Matter will take over the whole galaxy!

How Do You Play Kirby 64?

In Kirby 64, you control Kirby as he travels through different worlds. Each world has several levels and a boss fight at the end. Your main goal is to collect all the crystal shards in each level.

Kirby's Special Abilities

Kirby is famous for his ability to copy the powers of enemies he swallows. In Kirby 64, this idea gets even cooler! Kirby can combine two different copy abilities to make a brand-new one. This is called a "Power Combo."

For example, if Kirby swallows an enemy with the "Cutter" ability and another with the "Spark" ability, he might get a new power like an electric boomerang. There are many different combinations to discover. This makes exploring levels and fighting enemies really fun.

Friends Who Help Kirby

Kirby doesn't go on this adventure alone. He meets and teams up with three other characters:

• Waddle Dee: A loyal friend who helps Kirby move things or find hidden paths.
• King Dedede: Kirby's usual rival, but in this game, he joins Kirby to fight Dark Matter.
• Adeleine: A painter who can bring her drawings to life. She helps Kirby by creating useful items.

You can switch between these friends during certain parts of the game. Each friend has unique skills that help Kirby solve puzzles or reach new areas.

Game Worlds and Challenges

Kirby and his friends travel through six unique worlds. Each world has its own look and feel, from grassy fields to icy mountains and fiery volcanoes. You'll face different types of enemies and challenges in each area.

After collecting all the crystal shards in a world, you'll face a powerful boss. These bosses are often controlled by Dark Matter. Defeating them helps to push back the darkness.

Multiplayer Fun

Besides the main story, Kirby 64 also has a multiplayer mode. Up to four players can compete in three different mini-games:

• 100-Yard Hop: A race where players hop to the finish line.
• Bumper Crop Bump: Players try to collect the most food falling from the sky.
• Checkerboard Chase: Players try to knock each other off a shrinking checkerboard.

These mini-games are a great way to have fun with friends after finishing the main adventure.

Release and Platforms

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards first launched on the Nintendo 64 in Japan on March 24, 2000. It came to North America in June 2000 and Europe in June 2001.

Years later, the game was re-released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service. This allowed new generations of players to enjoy it on the Wii (starting in 2008) and the Wii U (starting in 2015). This means you can still play this classic game today!

Images for kids

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  Kirby using a Power Combo ability in the game's first level. The two copy abilities that comprise the Power Combo, "Needle" and "Cutter", are displayed in the bottom right corner of the HUD.

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  Kirby 64 was designed to use the N64 controller's analog stick as pictured, but this was changed to the D-pad during development.

See also

In Spanish: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards para niños