Meta Knightmare Returns Logo forMeta Knightmare Returns Details Type(s) Time Attack - Solo Levels 6 Players 1 Appears in Kirby: Planet Robobot

Theme music https://wikirby.com/wiki/File:KPR_Meta_Knightmare_Returns_Sample.oga "Return of Meta Knight" Clip of the title screen music for Meta Knightmare Returns.

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Meta Knightmare Returns is anExtra Mode which is unlocked after completing theStory Mode inKirby: Planet Robobot. It starsMeta Knight, having him run through most of the Story Mode stages in a continuous time attack with limited recovery items and enhanced foes.

This is the third title of the "Meta Knightmare" time attack series, with the first two beingMeta Knightmare fromKirby: Nightmare in Dream Land andMeta Knightmare Ultra fromKirby Super Star Ultra, and the first to appear in a non-remake game. In aMiiverse Q&A,Shinya Kumazaki mentioned that this mode is essentially a "what if" scenario disconnected from the main story, so it does not align with thecontinuity of the Story Mode.

Story[edit]

The story is effectively an alternate version of the main story, whereMeta Knight leads the attack on the invadingHaltmann Works Company instead ofKirby, who the player is informed is still taking his nap. Meta Knight battles through all the areas, damaging the legs of theAccess Ark, then climbing inside to deal with itspresident. Once this is done, Meta Knight poses in triumph, presuming his task complete, when he is spotted by the mother computer,Star Dream, who was observing the battle, and now declares Meta Knight to be the new admin. As part of the initiation, Star Dream pits Meta Knight against two of its most powerful clones,Dark Matter Clone andSectonia Clone. When they are defeated, Star Dream summonsGalacta Knight from across dimensions to challenge its new admin, but Galacta Knight deals a decisive slash to the computer as soon as he is freed. With difficulty, Meta Knight defeats his magenta rival, sealing him away once more.

In the Japanese and Korean versions, Star Dream does not summon the clones as a test, but rather to fulfill Meta Knight's wish for battle, much likeGalactic Nova did inMeta Knightmare Ultra. Many of the parallels between Star Dream and Galactic Nova were lost in the other foreign localizations, in particular the "READY. ->", "OK. ->", and "3... 2... 1... GO!" phrases shared between them.^[1]

Gameplay differences[edit]

Meta Knight runs through a continuous stream of stages in each level, with no overworld map to use, and few recovery items to be found along the way. Many of the areas that feature theRobobot Armor in the Story Mode are skipped, though Meta Knight is capable of destroying numerous obstacles with his sword that only the Robobot Armor would be able to in Story Mode, such asIron Balls and giant metal blocks.

At various checkpoints during levels and in-between each level, Meta Knight can find rest areas in the docking bay of theHalberd which will save the player's progress and fully heal Meta Knight. Continuing a game will place Meta Knight back at the last save point used. When a level is complete, the time taken to complete it will be shown to the player with the overall time kept in a top time scoreboard once the game is finished.

Bosses[edit]

Enhanced versions of allbosses andmid-bosses previously encountered in Story Mode are re-fought in this mode (though only up toPresident Haltmann, also excludingMecha Knight+, theInvader Armor and the bosses faced using the Robobot Armor). After Meta Knight defeats President Haltmann 2.0, he is given a triad of new bosses to face.

Meta Knight encounters the following bosses through his run:

• Clanky Woods 2.0 (including chase sequences)
• Holo Defense API 2.0
• Susie 2.0
• Stock Mecha Knight
• Dedede Clone 2.0
• Dedede Clones & D3 2.0
• President Haltmann 2.0
• Dark Matter Clone
• Sectonia Clone
• Galacta Knight Returns

Moveset[edit]

The following table lists Meta Knight's standard moveset in Meta Knightmare Returns:

Meta Knight's moveset inKirby: Planet Robobot
Skill	Image	Button Execution
Overhead Slash		B
Knight Beam		B at full stamina
Meta Triple Slash		B twice after Overhead Slash
Meta Multithrust		B after Meta Triple Slash
Piercing Slash		Dash + B
Knight Spin		Dash + B in midair
Meta Chop and Thrust		B in midair
Down Thrust		↓ + B in midair
Up Thrust		↑ + B
Meta Spin Slash		Hold B, and then release
Mach Tornado		Hold B, and then release + ↑
Sky Knight Sword		Hold ↑, and then B
Underwater Spin		B while underwater
Meta Condor Dive		Dash + ↓ + B in midair
Shuttle Loop		↓↑ + B
Hover		A in midair

Meta Points[edit]

When Meta Knight defeats foes, he gains spheres of energy calledMeta Points from them, which automatically fly to him. Gaining a certain amount of points is necessary to perform special moves (detailed below). Meta Knight can also find bubbles containing large quantities of points inside them, usually from side-chambers, or as a gift fromBandana Waddle Dee. Meta Knight can hold up to 50 Meta Points, which will not reset unless the game is quit and continued from a save point.

Meta Knight's Special Moves
Move	Image	Description	Meta Points Needed
Meta Quick		Meta Knight speeds up for a short amount of time. Does not stack withInvincible Candy.	8
Heal		Meta Knight recovers all of hishealth.	10
Galaxia Darkness		Time stops as Meta Knight sweeps his cape forward and the screen goes dark. After a short time, a flash of light sweeps across the screen in a horizontal line across Meta Knight's position, dealing large damage to all foes in its path. This is directly taken fromhis same Final Smash inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl andSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U.	18
Meta Knightmares		Time stops and Meta Knight jumps off of the screen. His fourMeta-Knights swoop across the stage, then all five land in the foreground and do a triumphant pose, with an explosion in the background. This deals severe damage to all foes on screen, with power similar to the fully chargedCrash ability.	35

Trivia[edit]

• Due to his absence in the games they appeared in, this is the first time Meta Knight has battled some form ofDark Matter andQueen Sectonia, though they are clones rather than the real deal.
  • This is similar toDededetour inKirby: Triple Deluxe, whereKing Dedede foughtDark Meta Knight for the first time, due to his absence inKirby & The Amazing Mirror.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  The results screen, featuring theMeta-Knights with the main man himself.
• 
  Meta Knight relaxes in stage 1.
• 
  Meta Knight makes sure he looks both ways before crossing the street.
• 
  Meta Knight enters a residential laboratory.
• 
  Meta Knight goes gambling in an oversized casino.
• 
  Meta Knight goes sightseeing at the docks.
• 
  Meta Knight takes a short class in chest-finding.
• 
  Meta Knight walking in a winter wonderland.
• 
  Meta Knight ventures to the bottom of the ocean.
• 
  Meta Knight wonders what's in the giant blender.
• 
  One of the rest areas that also functions as a checkpoint.
• 
  A1-Up, very uncommon in this mode

Names in other languages[edit]

References

• Sub-Games
• Extra Modes
• Unlockable
• Time Attack Modes

• Articles which list Japanese names
• Articles which list French names
• Articles which list German names
• Articles which list Italian names
• Articles which list Korean names
• Articles which list Spanish names