The Kirby series has been a familiar face in family fun since its debut in the early 90s. Still, despite its brightly colored, approachable nature, there’s an element of challenge within most of its releases. Even though it has been renowned as one of the most easy-going franchises from Nintendo, within its expansive timeline, a handful of levels has left players infuriated for one reason or another.
From showcasing a mass of enemies on the tiny screen of a GameBoy to forcing players into speed-based platform challenges, Kirby presents difficulty in a way that has always made players repeatedly repeat themselves for decades.
10 The True Arena - Kirby Super Star Ultra
The True Arena is the final sub-game in Kirby Super Star Ultra and ultimately the most complex challenge throughout the game as a whole. It can be unlocked when all other mini-games are completed - not including other sub-games.
Within this confined arena, the player is challenged to face off against ten bosses with minimal access to Maxim Tomatoes and general food/healing items. With a hoard of bosses to face off against, players have been facing defeat in this arena since 2008.
9 Battleship Halberd - Kirby's Epic Yarn
As Battleship Halberd is the final stage in Kirby’s Epic Yarn, a level of difficulty is expected to accompany it. Taking flight through the Halberd, Kirby takes control of the Star Shooter Metamortex to face off with a barrage of oncoming enemies.
Although the mechanics of the level is easy, the constant appearance of enemies and the small amount of screen space to attack is what raises its difficulty. However, the same can be said for most Kirby games on DS and GameBoy. Screens were dominated by enemies, which became overwhelming for players hence their famed difficulty. In addition, it’s hard to take aim and fire when the end isn’t in sight!
8 The Great Cave Offensive - Kirby Super Star and Super Star Ultra
Although this area seems relatively simple from the get-go to any Kirby veterans attempting to 100% KSS and SSU, The Great Cave Offensive is home to fifty treasure chests which players are tasked with finding to receive the coveted 100%.
Locating these chests feels relatively simple, but there’s always a catch with challenges like this one. Rather than being a simple meander through a cave system, the ability to go back through a route already visited is revoked. So, if a chest is missed, the entire procedure must be repeated.
7 Magolor Soul - Kirby’s Return to Dreamland
Despite being a boss battle rather than a stage, Magolor Soul from Kirby’s Return to Dreamland remains one of the most tedious encounters in the entire franchise. With a colossal spectrum of phases, this boss boosts challenge as the whole factor of the game.
In the true arena, encountering this boss may appear simple after the challenge of reaching it in the first place. Still, it's a different league when increasing the difficulty of Dreamland. Little to no HP means Kirby is susceptible to attack, and healing seems few and far between. As a result, facing off with Magolor Soul is almost a guaranteed Game Over.
6 Kirby, the Master of Mouthfuls! - Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Every Treasure Road in Kirby and The Forgotten Land is pretty challenging, but Kirby, the Master of Mouthfuls! has been titled the final test of his ability. As the last Treasure Road Kirby takes on in his adventure through the Forgotten Lands, this road has some speed-reliant severe platforming.
Six different Kirby ‘Abilities’ are utilized within this treasure road, making it the most hands-on and fast-paced within The Forgotten Land, thus the most challenging. Although, unlike other Kirby adventures, it’s significantly less infuriating. The amusing nature of how fast this level moves means it has a considerable element of replayability, despite its challenges.
5 The Wonder Lilane - Kirby: Canvas Curse
The Wonder Lilane is the final standard level of Kirby: Canvas Curse and is divided into three areas. Frozen Fantasy, Mad Mechanism, and Spectacle Space are the three elements of this excruciating adventure, and all present an unexpected challenge from a once family-friendly franchise.
In Frozen Fantasy, Kirby can find Copy Abilities, but these are hard to keep a hold of for later areas even though they would be beneficial. Likewise, Mad Mechanism is frustrating due to the sheer amount of indestructible hazards scattered across the map, and Spectacle Space relies on the player’s ink since Kirby has little to no ground to rest on. Nevertheless, a little goes a long way in this area, which is an integral piece of information to get through the level.
4 Mustard Mountain - Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
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Much like every other area in Kirby titles, Mustard Mountain seems harmless and peaceful, but upon visiting, Kirby discovers an active volcano filled with lava. This is semi-expected from Kirby’s previous experiences with mountainous landscapes but still presents a challenging threat regarding level design.
Infested with awful enemies, Kirby’s main challenge is evading hazards and following a one-way door system. An extra element of difficulty is added to any player wanting to 100% this level since this one-way system means no backtracking. If an item is missed, the whole level will need to be repeated, which seems to be a recurring theme regarding the difficulty in Kirby games.
3 Green Grounds Stage Four - Kirby Mass Attack
Set in two underground caverns, Kirby is accompanied by at least two clones to begin Stage Four of Green Grounds. Of course, this area is much easier depending on how many Kirby clones join the adventure, but with a requirement of three, it’s easy to assume it can be completed with the minimum. Unfortunately, this is a mistake many players make the first time.
Following the routine of evading hazards and defeating enemies, there isn’t anything to make this level seem particularly difficult. But keeping every Kirby clone in line is chaotic. The more Kirby’s gathered towards the end of Kirby: Mass Attack, the easier the endgame will be. This is why not losing any in small levels like this one is so important. But it’s easier said than done. Herds of enemies barreling towards the protagonist make it extremely easy to lose track of clones, and this level keeps producing them until the end.
2 City Trial - Kirby Air Ride
City Trial is one of three game modes available in Kirby Air Ride and is admittedly the most challenging. Two to four Kirby’s are challenged with flying through a large, inhabited cityscape on air ride machines. Along the way, boxes, food, and additional air ride machines are scattered into several subsections of the city. Once again, a relatively simple concept, but in execution, there is almost too much to collect.
Additionally, an event occurs every two to five minutes during the trial, ranging from covering the screen with fog or particular areas or rail stations catching fire, making them virtually impossible to use. The sheer amount of things to collect to progress in these levels make these events more inconvenient than fun, and the frustration makes it all the more difficult to gel with this title.
1 Volatile Volcano - Kirby: Canvas Curse
Volatile Volcano, the seventeenth stage of Kirby: Canvas Curse, is arguably the most frustrating element of the title. Within this level, Kirby must avoid large expanses of magma while defeating enemies, being fired from canons, and being whipped around the map by a somewhat concerning mechanical arm.
A well-timed line saves players from a Game Over, but it’s hard to keep up with Kirby’s whereabouts due to how many flashing graphics dominate the screen during this level. Of all areas in Kirby: Canvas Curse, this one heavily relies on the player's knowledge of the site and wise use of ink. So losing a life may benefit the next run-through.