History VideoGame / KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror

''Kirby & The Amazing Mirror'' (known in Japan as ''Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū'', or "Kirby of the Stars: Great Maze of the Mirror") is the eighth main series ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game, and the second to be made for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, released in 2004. The game was published by Creator/{{Nintendo}} and developed by HAL Laboratory with assistance from Creator/{{Capcom}}, Akira, Creator/{{Dimps}, and Flagship. The title is most notable for the shift from ''Kirby'''s typical style of a PlatformGame to a nonlinear {{Metroidvania}} with optional cooperative multiplayer.

''Kirby & The Amazing Mirror'' (known in Japan as ''Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū'', or "Kirby of the Stars: Great Maze of the Mirror") is the eighth main series ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game, and the second to be made for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, released in 2004. The game was published by Nintendo and developed by HAL Laboratory with assistance from Capcom, Akira, Dimps, and Flagship. The title is most notable for the shift from ''Kirby'''s typical style of a PlatformGame to a nonlinear {{Metroidvania}} with optional cooperative multiplayer.

''Kirby & The Amazing Mirror'' (known in Japan as ''Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū'', or "Kirby of the Stars: Great Maze of the Mirror") is the eight main series ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game, and the second to be made for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, released in 2004. The game was published by Nintendo and developed by HAL Laboratory with assistance from Capcom, Akira, Dimps, and Flagship. The title is most notable for the shift from ''Kirby'''s typical style of a PlatformGame to a nonlinear {{Metroidvania}} with optional cooperative multiplayer.

''Kirby & The Amazing Mirror'' (known in Japan as ''Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū'', or "Kirby of the Stars: Great Maze of the Mirror") was the first original ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' outing on the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, released in 2004. It shifts from the standard PlatformGame to a nonlinear {{Metroidvania}} with optional cooperative multiplayer.

The story begins with Meta Knight discovering that the Mirror World, which floats in the sky over Dream Land, had been invaded by a sinister presence. The mirrors of this country have the mysterious power to make any wishes reflected in them come true, so realizing that this means the mirrors could only reflect bad things, Meta Knight flew to save it. Meanwhile on the ground, Kirby was unexpectedly slashed by a shadowy-looking Meta Knight, splitting him into four different-colored Kirbys. The four Kirbys then board a Warp Star and chase their attacker into the Mirror World.

The game is essentially what you get if you throw the {{Metroidvania}} genre in a blender with ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'' and the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' franchise. The player must traverse a maze of nine interconnected areas, finding the maps for each, pressing buttons to connect them to the HubLevel, and defeating their bosses to collect the eight Mirror Shards to restore the Dimension Mirror, the path to the FinalBoss. While you're doing that, the other three Kirbys are off on the adventure too, and you can call them by cell phone at any time to help you fight enemies or solve puzzles which need an extra Kirby or two; the game also has a multiplayer mode which is pretty much the same thing except other players fill the roles of the other Kirbys.

!! ''Kirby & the Amazing Mirror'' contains examples of:

''Kirby & The Amazing Mirror'' (known in Japan as ''Hoshi no Kirby: Kagami no Daimeikyū'', or "Looking-Glass Great Maze") was the first original ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' outing on the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, released in 2004. It shifts from the standard PlatformGame to a nonlinear {{Metroidvania}} with optional cooperative multiplayer.

* ArtificialStupidity: Yellow, Red, and Green Kirby. At least '''one''' of them is smarter than the other two!

* BraggingRightsReward: [[spoiler:You only get the Master ability right before the FinalBoss, but you can use it to access areas you couldn't before]].

* EmergingFromTheShadows: The fight against Meta Knight starts as this, he appears as a colorless shady figure, then he becomes suddenly colored and proceeds to strike toward you ''without'' [[MythologyGag giving you a sword]]. [[spoiler: this is the first sign he's an impostor, he's actually [[EvilKnockoff Dark Meta Knight]].]]

* OddballInTheSeries: This is the only ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game to be a full {{Metroidvania}} instead of a straightforward PlatformGame the series' main games are known for (it's somewhat of a SpiritualSuccessor to ''The Great Cave Offensive'' from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' in that regard). It's also the ''only'' game in the entire series where [[AntiVillain King Dedede]] does not make an appearance, not even as a minor cameo.

** The fight against [[MyNameIsQuestionMarks ? ? ?]] ([[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight]]) in Radish Ruins somewhat qualifies, he attacks similarly to the Meta Knight boss battles in previous ''Kirby'' installments. [[spoiler:It wasn't long before you battle against him again in the Dimension Mirror.]]

* AntiFrustrationFeatures: Because of how open the game is due to its numerous branching paths, the game includes a map system that marks off areas you've already gone to, and also shows areas and paths you haven't accessed yet [[QuicksandBox to keep the player from getting lost or overwhelmed.]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler:Dark]] Meta Knight [[spoiler:appears to be one at first.]]

* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler:Dark Mind, who has seized the Mirror World for his own (presumably) dark machinations.]]

* KingMook: King Golem, a Whispy Woods-esque fellow.

* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Dimension Mirror, which is only accessable if you collect all eight mirror shards. [[spoiler:It consists of a rematch against Dark Meta Knight and [[GreaterScopeVillain the true mastermind]] behind the corruption of the Mirror World...Dark Mind.]]

* UnexpectedSHMUPLevel: [[spoiler:Dark Mind's final phase.]]

!! ''Kirby & the Amazing Mirror'' contains examples of:'''

!!'''''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheAmazingMirror'' contains examples of:'''

* OddballInTheSeries: This is the only ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' game to be a full {{Metroidvania}} instead of a straightforward PlatformGame the series' main games are known for (it's somewhat of a SpiritualSuccessor to ''The Great Cave Offensive'' from ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' in that regard). It's also the ''only'' game in the entire series where [[AntiVillain King Dedede]] does not make an appearance.

A successor for the Nintendo DS (called ''VideoGame/KirbySqueakSquad'') was released two years later (minus the {{Metroidvania}} gameplay), which uses a few of the same mechanics such as treasure chests, vitality hearts, and spray paint cans.

* GoodAllAlong: [[spoiler:Meta Knight, as well as Shadow Kirby (see ''Dark Is Not Evil'').]]

* BigBad: [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight]] appears to be one at first.

* BigBad: Meta Knight [[spoiler:appears to be one at first.]]

* ArtificialStupidity: Yellow, Red, and Green Kirby. At least ONE of them is smarter than the other two!

** Granted, you ''can'' call the other Kirbys just before you deal the finishing blow to him in the fireball form battle, and then as many Warp Stars appear as needed to chase down Dark Mind.

* IncredibleShrinkingMan: The "Mini" ability shrinks down Kirby to the size of a button. While he can only jump and run when such a small size, he can also fit into small passageways allowing him to reach the treasure chests.

* PaletteSwap: The three other Kirbys, as well as [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight]] and Shadow Kirby. [[spoiler:(Just because the latter has a dark gray skin color doesn't mean he's actually evil, see Dark Is Not Evil above.)]]

The game is essentially what you get if you throw the {{Metroidvania}} genre in a blender with ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords'' and the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' franchise. The player must traverse a maze of nine interconnected areas, finding the maps for each, pressing buttons to connect them to the HubLevel, and defeating their bosses to collect the eight Mirror Shards to restore the [[TitleDrop Amazing Mirror]], the path to the FinalBoss. While you're doing that, the other three Kirbys are off on the adventure too, and you can call them by cell phone at any time to help you fight enemies or solve puzzles which need an extra Kirby or two; the game also has a multiplayer mode which is pretty much the same thing except other players fill the roles of the other Kirbys.

* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: The Dimension Mirror, which is only accessable if you collect all eight mirror shards. It consists of a rematch against [[spoiler:Dark Meta Knight]] and [[GreaterScopeVillain the true mastermind]] behind the corruption of the Mirror World...[[spoiler:Dark Mind.]]