Aboulder[1] is a hazardous object introduced inKirby's Dream Land 3. It is - exactly as the name implies - a large chunk of rock, ice, or other material that can usually be seen rolling down slopes or falling in from above or the background. Boulders will harmKirby and other playable characters on contact, regardless of where they may be in relation to the boulder. Boulders typically cannot be destroyed, and instead must be avoided or passed through.
In most games where they appear, Boulders are used as hazards in narrow sloped hallways, often initially propped up by aBomb Block barrier. Once released, Kirby is usually tasked with either keeping ahead of them or avoiding them by slipping into a small crevice that the boulder rolls over. In some titles, it is sometimes possible to pass through boulders by using a lengthy attack,guarding, or otherwise taking advantage of invulnerable states and moving through. In most games, boulders break blocks on contact, including Metal Blocks; in many games, they also defeat enemies on contact.
Boulders make their first appearance as a hazard inKirby's Dream Land 3. Here, they are indestructible large round chunks of rock, metal, or ice that roll or fall in various places.
InKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, boulders come in various sizes and appear in certain stages as hazards, typically falling to the floor or being swept along by currents. Unlike in other games, these boulders can be inhaled by Kirby, but they do not provide an ability if swallowed.
Standard boulders should not be confused withIgnus, which is a different type of falling rock that is named and included in theEnemy Info Card list.
InKirby: Canvas Curse, there are two main varieties of boulder. The first is a chunky stone (or ice) boulder that can be destroyed by tapping it with theNintendo DS stylus. The second is a larger iron ball that cannot be destroyed, so it instead must be avoided. Both types are similar in appearance to the boulders inKirby's Dream Land 3.
InKirby: Squeak Squad, there are smaller boulders which appear in addition to the larger ones, which fall from the ceiling and bounce once before falling off-screen. These boulders can beinhaled, but grant noCopy Ability, making them similar toIgnus.
InKirby Mass Attack, large iron boulders can appear in stages, often ridden byNollys. Unlike other appearances, these boulders are not harmful to the touch, but may flatten a Kirby who gets rolled over.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land /Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]
Kirby's Return to Dream Land features a wide array of boulders that differ in look and size but operate in largely the same fashion. Each level (except forCookie Country) has its own distinctive types of boulders which can move in various patterns, are invincible, and are harmful to the touch under normal circumstances. Most of these are affected by gravity and will start rolling as soon as they are dropped from their support, crushing blocks and vulnerable enemies along the way, while others will float in air or water in various patterns. Boulders can be safely passed through if Kirby manages to make use of invincibility frames from using certain moves (likeStone,Burn orSpin Kick), from post-hit recovery, or when usingInvincible Candy. Using aStomper Boot, Kirby can also hop on top of a boulder and bounce off it without taking any damage.
In theSub-GameNew Challenge Stages, a number of boulders appear in the stages that operate in the same manner as those inKirby's Return to Dream Land, but have distinctive looks. Most resemble big gears made of various materials.
Kirby: Triple Deluxe does not make quite as heavy use of boulders as its predecessorKirby's Return to Dream Land, but they are seen in more dynamic situations in this title. In various stages ofFine Fields,Waddle Dees can be seen operating chutes and lifts that transport boulders made of dirt and grass which then come flying in from the background. If Kirby is hit by one of these while on the ground, he will be flattened like a pancake for a moment. In the latter stages ofOld Odyssey, snow boulders start small when they emerge from igloos and gradually grow in size as they roll down the snow-capped hills.
Kirby standing just out of the way of a dirt boulder flying toward the foreground inFine Fields
Kirby getting hit by a big snow boulder inOld Odyssey
InKirby: Planet Robobot, boulders appear to a certain extent, but take on different forms, shapes, and functions. These include giant spikedDice and billiard balls in the casino stages, and rolling metal bars in the desert stages. These can be attacked and destroyed using theRobobot Armor to gainPoint Stars and other items, so they are not quite invincible.
InKirby and the Forgotten Land, boulders appear in the garden-variety "gray stone" form, and take on a standardized functionality, though appearing in various sizes. Boulders typically roll down a set straight path, fall straight down at ledges, and then keep rolling forward upon hitting the ground. If Kirby or an enemy is underneath, they will be momentarily flattened if not outright defeated.
Relatively small stone boulders fromRaisin Ruins
A large fossil shell boulder fromOnion Ocean
A big ice boulder fromWhite Wafers
Spiky iron boulders fromNutty Noon
Powered metal gear-like boulders fromEgg Engines that climb up and down walls
Magmatic boulders fromDangerous Dinner
Floating fire orbs from Dangerous Dinner
Spiky crystalline boulders fromAnother Dimension
Kirby standing just out of the way of a dirt boulder flying toward the foreground inFine Fields
Kirby getting hit by a big snow boulder inOld Odyssey
Model of a snow boulder
Dice boulders fromResolution Road's casino stage
Rolling metal bars fromGigabyte Grounds
Giant billiard balls fromRhythm Route's casino stage
Kirby moving past rolling boulders inRocky Rollin' Road
Kirby running from a giant boulder
