Challenge

“	Can you finish this challenge stage before time runs out? Collect coins and points! Try for a perfect score! Defeat enemies to raise your score even higher!”
	— Sword Challenge Guide • Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition

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

Main article: Ordeal Door

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

Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

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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.

Trivia

• 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.

Stage maps

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe

Logos

Tip images

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe