Notice: It has been suggested that this page or section be split into separate pages forKirby's Dream Land 3 andKirby 64: The Crystal Shards appearances.
Please discuss this on the talk page.
Reason: They have never officially been treated as the same entity/species.
TheDark Matter cloud, also referred to as simply thedark cloud, is a mass of darkness that serves as an antagonistic force inKirby's Dream Land 3 andKirby 64: The Crystal Shards. In those games, it is controlled byDark Matter,Zero, and0² to take over planets and influence the inhabitants ofPopstar andRipple Star. InKirby 64: The Crystal Shards, it is also shown to be capable of splintering into individual beings.
After being defeated inKirby's Dream Land 2, Dark Matter once again tries to take overDream Land, this time bringing along his master, Zero. They use the dark cloud to exert control overPopstar, whichKirby and his friends confront by collectingHeart Stars from each of the bosses and inhabitants of the world. After collecting all of the Heart Stars to form theLove-Love Stick and defeat Dark Matter and Zero, the dark cloud dissipates.
InKirby 64: The Crystal Shards,0² attempts to engulfRipple Star with the dark cloud, but theQueen acts quickly and sendsRibbon with theCrystal capable of defeating it. However, she is quickly ambushed, and the Crystal splits into several shards. Fortunately, Kirby is willing to help defeating the menace. The Dark Matter cloud is not actually directly fought in this game; instead, three beings which come from the cloud called Dark Rimuru, Dark Rimura, and Dark Rimuro possessWaddle Dee,Adeleine, andKing Dedede respectively, forcing Kirby to battle with them as minibosses on Pop Star.[1] After 0² is defeated, the dark cloud dissipates, and Kirby and his friends are rewarded with medals and nominated heroes for saving the fairies and their planet.
Comparison of the English and Japanese manuals forKirby 64: The Crystal Shards. The Japanese manual refers to the Dark Matter cloud as merely "a dark cloud" (黒い雲).
In Japanese, the Dark Matter cloud is referred to as a "dark cloud" separate from the individual Dark Matter who appears inKirby's Dream Land 2 and3. This is also the case in the EnglishKirby's Dream Land 3 manual. However, the English website forKirby's Dream Land 3 and the English manual forKirby 64: The Crystal Shards refer to the dark cloud as "Dark Matter" directly, while the Japan-only book20th Anniversary Kirby Pupupu Encyclopedia confirms that Dark Matter and Zero control the dark cloud. Therefore, it is likely related to the Dark Matter clan, but still a separate being from the individual Dark Matter.
Sketch of Dark Matter from thebad ending credits ofKirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Illustration of Dark Matter from the true ending credits ofKirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Dark Rimuru's model in the cutscene where it is expelled from Waddle Dee's body inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards. The eye is normally not visible in-game.[2]
Illustration of Dark Matter invadingPlanet Popstar, from the instruction manual forKirby's Dream Land 3
Illustration of Dark Matter possessing King Dedede and aWaddle Dee, from the instruction manual forKirby's Dream Land 3
Dark Rimuro from the "Dark Dedede" cutscene inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Sketch of Dark Matter from thebad ending credits ofKirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Illustration of Dark Matter from the true ending credits ofKirby 64: The Crystal Shards![Dark Rimuru's model in the cutscene where it is expelled from Waddle Dee's body in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. The eye is normally not visible in-game.[2]](/image.pl?url=https%3a%2f%2fcdn.wikirby.com%2fthumb%2fd%2fd2%2fK64_Early_Dark_Matter_model.png%2f120px-K64_Early_Dark_Matter_model.png&f=jpg&w=240)
Dark Rimuru's model in the cutscene where it is expelled from Waddle Dee's body inKirby 64: The Crystal Shards. The eye is normally not visible in-game.[2]
Dark Rimuru, Dark Rimura, and Dark Rimuro cameos in the bottom right of the "Chasing Our Dreams"Celebration Picture fromKirby Star Allies
Halloween 2019 illustration from the Kirby JP Twitter, featuringAssistant Waddle Dee dressed as one of the "Dark Rimur"s
![Dark Rimuru's model in the cutscene where it is expelled from Waddle Dee's body in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. The eye is normally not visible in-game.[2]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fwikirby.com%2fwiki%2fFile%3aK64_Early_Dark_Matter_model.png)
