Kirby Super Star hits different when it boots instantly in your browser. Released in 1996 on the Super Nintendo, this retro classic from Nintendo is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
It is part of the Kirby series of video games by HAL Laboratory. Games and minigames include: Spring Breeze, Dyna Blade, Gourmet Race, Milky Way Wishes, The Great Cave Offensive, The Arena, Revenge Of Meta Knight, Megaton Punch, and Samurai Kirby.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| B (bottom) | X | Bottom face |
| A (right) | Z | Right face |
| Y (left) | S | Left face |
| X (top) | A | Top face |
| L | Q | Left shoulder |
| R | E | Right shoulder |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
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The Story Behind Kirby Super Star
The third was an omnibus format." The addition of cooperative gameplay was something Shigeru Miyamoto requested. This was partially due to the influence of Rare's Donkey Kong Country (1994), a game that incorporated computer-generated (CG) graphics. For Kirby Super Star, Sakurai "had three pillars in mind.
Sakurai and Iwata traveled to Kyoto; there, Miyamoto told them he wanted cooperative gameplay, something uncommon in side-scrolling platform games. While Sakurai knew a SNES Kirby game would mean bigger, more detailed characters and graphics, he wanted to hear from Miyamoto before thinking about the foundation and other important aspects. While noting that it seems unrelated to the game, Sakurai commented that this cover illustrated the heart of Kirby Super Star and praised Itoi's idea.
How Kirby Super Star Plays
Kirby can walk or run, jump, swim, crouch, slide, and inhale enemies or objects to spit them out as bullets. If the Helper loses all their health, there is a short time for Kirby to grant it a new power before it disappears. The player can also grant the Helper a different form or revert them into a power-up in an emergency.
He can fly for a limited time by inflating himself; while flying, Kirby cannot attack or use his other abilities, though he can release a weak puff of air. In Kirby Super Star, Kirby gains the ability to guard so he can defend himself from weak attacks. Similar to previous entries in the Kirby series, the player controls the titular character Kirby to complete various levels while avoiding obstacles and enemies.
Why Players Still Load It Up
In 2021, Charlie Rosen and Jake Silverman arranged the composition "Meta Knight's Revenge" for The 8-Bit Big Band. The four-person review team of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) applauded the large amount of content, simultaneous two-player mode, graphics, and Kirby's power-absorbing ability. A stage based on The Great Cave Offensive appears in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Many of the music tracks in Kirby Super Star have been remixed in various games, such as the Super Smash Bros. series; the Nintendo 64 game, for instance, had a new version of the Gourmet Race theme as Kirby's theme song. It features a unique mechanic dubbed the "Danger Zones", stage hazards that instantly KO any fighter whose damage percentages exceed 100%. Their cover was subsequently nominated for and won the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella.
Kirby Super Star — Frequently Asked Questions
How many players does Kirby Super Star support?
Kirby Super Star supports 1 player(s) in this browser version.
Can I play Kirby Super Star online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play Kirby Super Star?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.
Who developed Kirby Super Star?
Development was handled by HAL Laboratory, with Nintendo publishing the release.