A Challenge is a sub-game introduced in Kirby's Return to Dream Land .
Challenge Stages[ ]
Overview[ ]
With the exception of the Item Challenge, all Challenges require the use of a specific ability. These abilities are given at the start of the challenge and cannot be discarded. (In the case of the Item Challenge, Kirby discards his ability and receives a key.)
All Challenges contain Score Coins, some of which are hidden.
Unlike the other sub-games found in the game, only one player may participate in a Challenge.In Challenges, Kirby's basic goal is to reach the goal with the highest score possible. Points can be obtained in several ways:
- By collecting Score Coins
- By defeating enemies
- By receiving bonuses at the end of a stage (see the Bonuses section)
If Kirby is hit, he loses 500 points in Kirby's Return to Dream Land or 100 points in Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition; this means the player can receive negative points.
Time[ ]
Kirby is also faced with a time limit. The time limit is usually two minutes but can change depending on the challenge. If time runs out, Kirby won't complete the challenge. The player is notified when there is 1 minute/30 seconds remaining, and the last ten seconds are counted off.
Bonuses[ ]
After a stage, Kirby can earn bonuses depending on how well he did. He can receive:
- A clear bonus (always 3000 points)
- A time bonus (10 points for every 0.2 seconds remaining)
- 30-Seconds Left or 20-Seconds Left (1000 or 500 points, respectively)
- All Foes Defeated (1000 points)
- No Damage (1000 points)
- Down to the Wire (less than 10 seconds left, 100 points)
- Barely Conscious (health meter is in red zone, 100 points)
- Coins Complete (collect every Score Coin, 1000 points)
Medals and High Scores[ ]
After completing a stage, Kirby will receive a Medal for beating a target score. Target scores are given when the gate is opened the first time. Kirby may earn a Bronze Medal, Silver Medal, Gold Medal, or the "special" Platinum Medal. In Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kirby will also receive in-game rewards depending on his medal (awarded when he exits the challenge): a red star for a Bronze Medal, a blue star for a Silver Medal, a 1UP for a Gold Medal, and three 1UPs for a Platinum Medal.
If a score is beaten, it will replace the score that was previously larger and move that score down one. This will not change the target scores, however.
Variants[ ]
Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition introduces two more types of challenges: Combat Chambers and Magolor Races. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe also introduces a new type of challenge: Ordeal Doors.
Combat Chambers[ ]
In a Combat Chamber, various enemies appear in waves. Beating all the enemies in a wave gives the player Score Coins and a path to the next wave area. Gold Waddle Dees appear here, giving the player 1,000 points if beaten. Also, every Combat Chamber contains at least one mid-boss, but there are no health bars.
Magolor Races[ ]
In a Magolor Race, the player must choose an ability and race to the finish with Magolor. Along the way, Magolor will summon enemies and magical attacks to slow Kirby down. Score coins here count towards a Medal, but Magolor can collect coins too. If the player beats Magolor, a 1,000 point bonus is rewarded. If Kirby loses the race, he must try again from the beginning.
The player receives a record for every ability used, but the highest score is marked as the top score.
Ordeal Doors[ ]
In Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler, the player will come across these special courses. They function like normal Copy Ability Challenges, though instead of focusing on a copy ability, Ordeal Doors focus on one of Magolor's Magical Abilities (such as Magic Spheres or Levitation). Ordeal Doors are revealed after completing certain levels; to open them, Magolor must upgrade the specified Magical Ability to the required level.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe [ ]
| Name | Difficulty | Energy Spheres required | Image | Description | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Story Mode | Extra Mode | Story Mode | Extra Mode | ||||
| Sword Challenge | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | Sword Challenge | Sword EX | Can you reach the goal before time runs out? Go for the high score! |
| Sand Challenge | 2 | 3 | N/A | 20 | Sand Challenge | Sand EX | Play with the new Sand ability, and try out all of its different moves! |
| Whip Challenge | 2 | 3 | 25 | 30 | Whip Challenge | Whip EX | Lash the whip with just the right timing to pull distant Score Coins to you! |
| Hi-Jump Challenge | 3 | 4 | 35 | 45 | Hi-Jump Challenge | Hi-Jump EX | Your postjump maneuvering is critical. React quickly and shoot for the stars! |
| Bomb Challenge | 4 | 5 | 50 | 55 | Bomb Challenge | Bomb EX | Use your Bomb Throw quickly and accurately. Go for all direct hits! |
| Mecha Challenge | 5 | 6 | N/A | 75 | Mecha Challenge | Mecha EX | Fire up the new Mecha ability, and find the best timing for charged attacks! |
| Water Challenge | 5 | 6 | 70 | 95 | Water Challenge | Water EX | This challenge measures prudence. Keep a close eye on your health. |
| Wing Challenge | 6 | 7 | 90 | 110 | Wing Challenge | Wing EX | Can you master the Hover Flap? This is an airborne challenge with almost no land. |
| Item Challenge | 7 | 8 | 120 | Item Challenge | Item EX | The final stage is the Item Challenge! The time limit is 3:30 for this true test! | |
Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition[ ]
| Name | Copy Abilities | Level | How to Unlock | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword Challenge | Sword | Happiness Hall | Unlocked at the start | SC2 | Can you master the king of weapon-based Copy Abilities? |
| Parasol Challenge | Parasol | Complete the Sword Challenge | PC | Block falling objects, fill your parasol with wind, and take to the sky! | |
| Spark Challenge | Spark | Complete the Sword Challenge | SC3 | Spark puts the power of electricity in your hands! Time for a Spark Barrier! | |
| Magolor Race 1 | Sword Parasol Spark |
Complete the Sword, Parasol, and Spark Challenges | MR | Race against Magolor! Unleash all of your skills to claim victory. | |
| Whip Challenge | Whip | Apricot Atrium | Complete Magolor Race 1 | WC4 | Crack your whip to grab foes and items or lash out with a Whip Tornado! |
| Fighter Combat Chamber | Fighter | Complete Magolor Race 1 | FCC | Test your skills as a Fighter and punch your way to victory! | |
| Wing Challenge | Wing | Complete Magolor Race 1 | WC5 | Flap your wings for a brief flight. Spread them wide and feel all right! | |
| Magolor Race 2 | Whip Fighter Wing |
Complete the Whip and Wing Challenges, and the Fighter Combat Chamber | MR2 | Can you beat Magolor a second time? This race will be tougher than the last one! | |
| Smash Combat Chamber | Smash | Last Land | Complete Magolor Race 2 | SCC | The ultimate challenge! Can you master Kirby's Smash moves? |
| Normal Challenge | None | Complete Magolor Race 2 | NC | Kirby is powerful even in his Normal form, without a Copy Ability. Inhale, spit, and attack! | |
| Magolor Race 3 | Sword Parasol Spark Whip Fighter Wing Smash |
Complete the Normal Challenge and the Smash Combat Chamber | MR3 | Magolor won't be fooling around this time. He wants to win! Be careful, Kirby! | |
| Smash Combat Chamber EX | Smash | Complete Magolor Race 3 | SCC2 | The ultimate challenge of Smash skills continues in Smash Combat Chamber EX! | |
| Magolor Race EX | Sword Parasol Spark Whip Fighter Wing Smash |
Complete Magolor Race 3 | MR4 | Magolor wants one more shot at victory. Can you beat him in an EX race? |
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse [ ]
A challenge door.
A Challenge is a sub-game in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse . These can be accessed by collecting a specific number of Medals or by completing a number of challenges.
Kirby can encounter challenges within many levels, however a game mode called Challenge Mode exists in which Kirby can collect Treasure Chests to get medals after completing the challenges with all of the treasures.
| Challenge | How to Unlock | Image | Number of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Medals needed to open: 1 | KaTRC Challenge Room 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Gold Medals needed to open: 3 | KaTRC Challenge Room 2 | 4 |
| 3 | Gold Medals needed to open: 5 | KatRC Challenge 2 | 4 |
| 4 | To open, defeat the Level 1 boss! | KaTRC Challenge Room 4 | 4 |
| 5 | Collect 3 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 5 | 4 |
| 6 | Collect 5 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 6 | 4 |
| 7 | Collect 10 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 7 | 4 |
| 8 | Play 6 One-Minute Challenges to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 8 | 12 |
| 9 | Gold Medals needed to open: 7 | 4 | |
| 10 | Gold Medals needed to open: 12 | KatRC Challenge Room 10 | 4 |
| 11 | Gold Medals needed to open: 20 | KatRC Challenge Room 11 | 4 |
| 12 | To open, defeat the Level 2 boss! | KatRC Challenge Room 12 | 4 |
| 13 | Collect 15 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 13 | 4 |
| 14 | Collect 20 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 14 | 4 |
| 15 | Collect 30 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 15 | 4 |
| 16 | Play 12 One-Minute Challenges to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 16 | 12 |
| 17 | Gold Medals needed to open: 25 | KatRC Challenge Room 17 | 4 |
| 18 | Gold Medals needed to open: 32 | KatRC Challenge Room 18 | 4 |
| 19 | To open, defeat the Level 3 boss! | KatRC Challenge Room 19 | 4 |
| 20 | To open, defeat the Level 4 boss! | KatRC Challenge Room 20 | 4 |
| 21 | Collect 40 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 21 | 4 |
| 22 | Collect 50 Treasure Chests to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 22 | 4 |
| 23 | Play 18 One-Minute Challenges to open! | KatRC Challenge Room 23 | 12 |
| 24 | Play 24 One-Minute Challenges to open! | 12 | |
| 25 | Gold Medals needed to open: 36 | 4 | |
| 26 | Gold Medals needed to open: 42 | 4 | |
| 27 | To open, defeat the Level 5 boss! | 4 | |
| 28 | To open, defeat the Level 6 boss! | 4 | |
| 29 | Collect 60 Treasure Chests to open! | 4 | |
| 30 | Collect 70 Treasure Chests to open! | 4 | |
| 31 | Collect 80 Treasure Chests to open! | 4 | |
| 32 | Play 30 One-Minute Challenges to open! | 12 | |
| 33 | Gold Medals needed to open: 48 | 4 | |
| 34 | Gold Medals needed to open: 54 | 4 | |
| 35 | Gold Medals needed to open: 60 | 4 | |
| 36 | To open, defeat the Level 7 boss! | 4 | |
| 37 | Collect 90 Treasure Chests to open! | 4 | |
| 38 | Collect 103 Treasure Chests to open! | 4 | |
| 39 | Collect all of the Secret Diaries to open! | 4 | |
| 40 | Play 36 One-Minute Challenges to open! | 12 | |
| 41 | To open, defeat the Level 1 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 42 | To open, defeat the Level 2 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 43 | To open, defeat the Level 3 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 44 | To open, defeat the Level 4 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 45 | To open, defeat the Level 5 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 46 | To open, defeat the Level 6 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 47 | To open, defeat the Level 7 boss without taking damage! | 4 | |
| 48 | Gold Medals needed to open: 68 | 12 |
Trivia[ ]
Fire's icon in Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition
- An icon depicting the Fire ability exists in the code of Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition . This implies that a Fire Challenge was considered for the New Challenge Stages, but was ultimately unused.
- The Dedede's Drum Dash sub-game in Kirby: Triple Deluxe (as well as the downloadable Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe ) uses a similar grading scale and features Medal rewards, seen in both Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition.
- The Kirby 3D Rumble sub-game in Kirby: Planet Robobot (as well as the downloadable Kirby's Blowout Blast ) is also inspired by Challenge stages. The Team Kirby Clash sub-game (as well as its standalone follow-ups Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Super Kirby Clash ) also uses the same grading scale and Medal rewards as Challenge stages.
- Due to the way certain Challenges in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse are unlocked, it is impossible to play them all in numerical order.