Kirby Sass Attack: Why the Feisty Kirby's Avalanche Never Released in Japan

As you gather with friends and family for the holidays, you may consider returning to 2022's Kirby's Dream Buffet—a budget-friendly party game that packs a lot of fun into $15. While not a traditional Kirby game (he's just rolling in ball form here), Dream Buffet still has tons of unlockables and more than twenty food-inspired stages of racing, battles, and mini-games. For this episode, Bridget, Sean, and Gigi dig into the feast of secrets and trivia both within and surrounding the game, including details from its related Japanese light novel and the unique way it was marketed in Brazil as the first Kirby game translated into Brazilian Portuguese. And if you do decide to go head to head this holiday season, they've also got some strategies to help you triumph over your family in sweet victory.Want to reach out? You can email us at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode.We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases.***Also--want to win $300 in a special holiday giveaway we're doing with our friends at Flashback 64? Check out our audio scavenger hunt, where you can win gift cards by answering trivia questions about our two podcasts. Check out all the details here.***Join us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur opening music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode we're heading back to 1990--and forward to 2056--for Kabuki: Quantum Fighter, a pre-Kirby sci-fi platformer that marked the first time HAL Laboratory published a game they did not develop themselves. Sean and Bridget are here to discuss this bizarre adventure, in which a kabuki actor (actually a colonel who got uploaded into Earth's main defense computer) flips and hair-whips his way to defeating an evil virus. It might not be one of HAL's greatest hits, but if you're into classic NES platformers, Kabuki: Quantum Fighter is still a good time today (although you might want to make use of that level select cheat to help dull the difficulty).Along the way they also look back on its appearance in Nintendo Power issue 21 (https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-021-february-1991/page/26/mode/2up) and its "bodacious" 90's commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVgIJqadh5w).Our outro music is a little different today--the Round 1 music from Kabuki: Quantum Fighter.Want to reach out? You can email us at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode.We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases.***Also--want to win $300 in a special holiday giveaway we're doing with our friends at Flashback 64? Check out our audio scavenger hunt, where you can win gift cards by answering trivia questions about our two podcasts. Check out all the details here.***Join us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur opening music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's almost 2025, and while the biggest announcements for the Switch's successor are still shrouded in mystery, there's already a lot we know about what's coming for Kirby next year. In this episode, Sean and Gigi break down what for sure is coming, what is likely coming based on our best estimates, and even a few more wild predictions toward the end.Want to reach out? You can email us at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode.We will also now be uploading more visual versions of each episode to YouTube! Subscribe to us there, and you can expect new uploads a few days after each new episode releases. Join us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know Kirby's Avalanche is the only Kirby game never to release in Japan? That's because it's the Western version of Super Puyo Puyo, redesigned with Kirby characters instead of the usual Puyo Puyo crowd. (This also explains why Kirby is a little sassier in this one, as his personality is modeled after Puyo Puyo protagonist Arle Nadja.)For this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through the history of this classic Kirby puzzle game, with an avalanche of trivia, history, other puzzle games we recommend, and even notes on the XBAND, an early modem licensed by Nintendo that made Kirby's Avalanche the first Kirby game with online multiplayer! Whether you're a Puyo Puyo pro or just looking to try one of Kirby's more overlooked titles, Kirby's Avalanche is a tough but fun entry in the series that is still worth checking out almost thirty years later.Want to reach out? You can email us at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode.Want to enter our Bluesky giveaway to win a $50 gift card of your choice? Follow us there and repost this post to enter. Join us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialIG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Halloween approaching for our staff and listeners in the U.S., for this episode we decided to explore our favorite scarier or high-tension moments from Kirby games. From frightening final bosses to surprisingly sophisticated moments that explore themes like death or colonialism, the Kirby series is no stranger to going to some darker places. (Lest this sound like a heavy episode, we have plenty of fun with this topic along the way, and in fact this interplay between Kirby games' lighter and darker sides is something we feel many players enjoy about the series.) And in the last few minutes, we also share some of our picks for favorite games or levels to check out if you're in the mood for something spooky or scary this time of year.Also please note: SPOILERS ABOUND in this episode! Our conversation includes discussion of several games' final bosses or later plot-twists, so please be careful listening to this one if you don't want anything given away that you would prefer to discover for yourself.Want to reach out? You can email us at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social IG: @kirbyconversationsThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we're flashing back to the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii with Gooey and McKenna of the Nintendo 64 podcast Flashback 64. Even with the KRtDL remake out on Switch, the original still holds up with its distinct art style, motion controls, and even some unique content. And for fans of retro Kirby games, it may come the closest of any of them to capturing that spirit of the lost GameCube game once shown in trailers so many years ago. Some of us from Kirby Conversations recently appeared on Flashback 64 to discuss Kirby's Dream Land, so it was a pleasure to have Gooey and McKenna join us on our show, too. Check out their website https://flashback64.neocities.org/ and give them a follow wherever you listen to podcasts.Have a question or comment for the show? Reach out at [email protected], and we may read your letter on a future episode.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gigi has been translating Japanese developer interviews from the Kirby Star Allies artbook, and with it she's discovered some intriguing new insights about the history of KSA's extensive DLC. So for this episode, we're talking all about KSA's final DLC mode Heroes in Another Dimension and all the character additions the game received throughout 2018. How do we feel about DLC in Kirby games, and how did the developers' plans change (drastically) from what they originally had in mind? And what do we make of the complex, inspired, and sometimes technologically boundary-pushing challenges of Another Dimension? Listen as we set off in search of 120 Friend Hearts and new trivia on this unique celebration of Kirby history. Have a question or comment for the show? Reach out at [email protected], and we may read your letter on a future episode.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.And lastly, we hope you'll check out another gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Bridget, Ky, Sean, and our new team member Gigi share their picks for other games we think Kirby fans would like. From games that involve copying enemy abilities to inclusive platformers with similar vibes and themes, we cover more than a dozen games in this episode—including some pretty deep cuts you may not have heard of before.What unexpected or lesser-known non-Kirby games would you recommend to a Kirby fan? Let us know at [email protected] and we may read your letter on a future episode. If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.Games mentioned in this episode:Brave Fencer Musashi Einhänder Shin Megami Tensei V Magical Tarurūto-kun DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure Avenging Spirit Cotton seriesA Hat in TimeBoxBoy seriesToontown OnlineKlonoa seriesBloodstained: Ritual of the NightSeveral of Koji Igarashi's Castlevania gamesGimmick!Super Mario OdysseySpyro seriesPersona seriesSmushi Come HomeFollow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigiCarrd linkOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi everyone. There's no regular episode this week, but we've got a few updates about the show to share. Most importantly, we are happy to announce that we will now be joined by Gigi, WiKirby Editor-in-Chief and avid translator of non-English Kirby content, as a new official member of the Kirby Conversations team! Welcome Gigi!And among other news, we also have a new giveaway running, where you can win a $50 Nintendo eShop gift card! You can enter at this Gleam giveaway page. We hope everyone who listens to this show can throw their name into the hat, and good luck to everyone that enters.After a short break, we will be back with the next new episode of Kirby Conversations on 9/17. See you again soon!Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousGigi: Carrd linkOur show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you've ever read an English translation of a Kirby article or developer interview that was originally published in Japanese, chances are you've encountered the work of Gigi. We've cited her work several times on this podcast in the past and also refer frequently to WiKirby, the massive Kirby wiki for which she serves as editor-in-chief. So it's an honor to have her join us on this episode for a wide-ranging interview, where we cover topics like how she become such a prolific Kirby translator, the most surprising Kirby facts she's ever unearthed in Japan-only content, and what Kirby culture is like in Brazil, her home country. We learned so much in just an hour with her, and chances are you'll walk away from this episode having learned about more than a few pieces of Kirby content, from novels to board games, that you never even knew existed.We encourage listeners to give Gigi a follow on Bluesky at @gigi9714.bsky.social you can follow this Carrd link to her many projects and communities.Got a question or comment for the show? You can reach us at [email protected], and we may share your letter on a future episode.If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could leave us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.Follow us online:Kirby ConversationsIG: @kirbyconversationsBluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.socialThreads: @kirbyconversationsBridgetThreads: @no1kirbyfanSean DouglassBluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.socialKy "Captain Dangerous" ParkerIG: @captaindangerousOur music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.