Fans are really excited about the upcoming Nintendo Switch game Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This will be the first time Nintendo's pink puff will make his way into the third dimension. Kirby games have usually been sidescrolling platforms, so this 3D outing is long-awaited. But just as exciting as the new dimension is Kirby's new ability.
The trailer for Forgotten Land shows off the new ability Ranger Kirby. The internet is absolutely blowing up with the reveal that this ability gives Kirby a blunderbuss. "Kirby with gun!" gamers are shouting from the rooftop. However, Kirby's had a gun much earlier than this, and much more modern guns than a blunderbuss.
Joker Kirby - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Obviously, a lot of Kirby's strangest abilities are coming from Super Smash Bros. This crossover allows Kirby to meet and copy all sorts of crazy characters. When the roster opened up to gaming as a whole, even more possibilities emerged. One surprising new fighter was Joker from the M-Rated Persona series of RPGs.
Before Ranger Kirby, Joker's ability was probably the most well-known instance of Kirby with a gun. Kirby and Joker wield a realistic-looking TT-33 handgun. This surprised fans of Smash, since it usually avoids realistic firearms. Although technically, Joker actually uses a model gun that enemies perceive as real through mental powers, so this probably isn't a real gun at all.
Quick Draw - Kirby's Adventure
In truth, Kirby with a gun has a long history. The first appearance of Kirby brandishing a pistol can be found in his second ever game! Kirby's Adventure had a mini-game called Quick Draw, which could be played for extra lives. It took the form of a wild-west shootout, and it was clear the competitors were packing real heat.
The gameplay was a simple reaction game; hit the button as soon as the prompt appears. But variations of the game appeared in future Kirby titles, like Samurai Kirby in Super Star (which replaced Quick Draw in Adventure's remake). While there have been western-inspired Kirbies since, this is the only one to have a realistic revolver. Fans can even buy a plush of this Kirby.
Crystal Gun - Kirby 64
During the finale of Kirby games, Kirby always gets a "Final Weapon." This weapon is typically a new ability that lets him hurt the final boss. In the case of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Kirby received an ability combo of "Ribbon + Crystal." What this meant was that Kirby would be flown around by the fairy Ribbon while shooting a crystal gun.
Kirby's ability combos were a unique feature of this game, and the two used here only appeared here. This crystal gun allowed Kirby to fire crystals into the eye of the final boss, which would then bleed. It's pretty hardcore stuff. Adeleine the free DLC character in Kirby: Star Allies, managed to get her hands on the Crystal Gun as well.
Scope Shot - Kirby Return To Dream Land
Kirby's Return To Dreamland, like most Kirby games, featured its own slate of mini-games. Scope Shot was based on the Super Scope, mimicked with the Wii remote. The Super Scope was a successor to the NES Zapper. Meaning that despite its more bazooka-like appearance, it's still a gun.
Scope Shot also had a very fun premise. Four Kirbies would be positioned at the bottom of the screen and open fire on giant robots. These robots were giant versions of enemies from the series and had big screen-filling attacks. This made it a really fun little exercise between levels with friends.
King K. Rool Kirby - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Kirby's Ranger ability from the new game does look very fun. But not only is it not the first time Kirby has had a gun, it's not even his first blunderbuss. That would be the ability Kirby gets from inhaling King K. Rool of Donkey Kong Country fame. Kirby mimics his pirate persona from Donkey Kong Country 2.
With this move, K. Rool and Kirby fire out a cannonball and then activate a suction after firing. In the original game, players are meant to throw the ball back into the blunderbuss. But in this game K. Rool and Kirby turn it into an extra utility. This move is one of the most useful in the game.
A Blockbuster Battle - Kirby: Right Back At Ya!
Kirby: Right Back At Ya! was one of the strangest properties in the franchise. The original Japanese Hoshii no Kaabi was conceived as "an anime for beginners." It was much the same as Kirby, which always was "for beginners" as well. This resulted in a strange slice of life anime based on the video game, including one where Kirby got a gun.
The "Cop Kirby" gif is somewhat common on the internet, but most viewers won't see it in the anime. This scene was removed from the Western broadcast of the episode "A Blockbuster Battle". During a scene where the protagonists visit a police station, a gun falls on Kirby and he fires wildly. This was probably cut so kids couldn't imitate it.
Kirby On The Draw - Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby Super Star Ultra for DS was a fantastic video game remake of Kirby Super Star for SNES. This game clearly owes some aesthetic inspiration to Quick Draw. This game actually appears alongside Quick Draw's replacement Samurai Kirby. It's easy to see why; this is a point-based game rather than a reaction one.
In this game, players must shoot the cardboard pop-ups of outlaws. It's similar to the NES game Hogan's Alley. It just used the DS's touch screen rather than the Zapper. It's certainly a fine game to inherit Kirby's old cowboy design.
Crackler - Various Kirby Titles
The crackler item first appeared in Kirby's racing game Kirby Air Ride. It went on to appear in other, more traditional Kirby games afterward. Technically, it's a cannon, not a gun. But the way it can be aimed and used to take out enemies from long distances makes it more like a gun in utility.
In its debut, it was essentially a sniping weapon to hit players from across the map. Even when it was moved to 2D games and given an arc to its shots it had this utility. It can be used on both enemies and other players, making it an essential tool to grab whenever a player sees it.
Halberd - Kirby: Planet Robobot
Debuting in Kirby Super Star was Meta Knight's massive gunship, the Halberd. It has his face on the front (lampooned in Smash Bros Brawl's excellent Metal Gear Solid style Codec conversations) and lots of guns. Kirby would raid it in many different games, usually dueling Meta Knight at the helm. But in Kirby: Planet Robobot, Kirby finally got to pilot it himself.
In the game, Kirby gets a mecha that can copy and assimilate things. For the game's final weapon, it copies the entire Halberd. Kirby then flies it into space to combat the final boss. It's one of the most over-the-top and exciting finales in the franchise.
Bayonetta Kirby - Super Smash Bros. 4
The truth is that this list could be entirely filled with Kirby's abilities from Smash Bros. Unmentioned are characters like Fox, Falco, Samus, Inkling, and more, who all provide Kirby with guns or cannons. But it would be the most M-rated challenger in the series who would provide Kirby with his first unambiguous gun ability. Bayonetta in Super Smash Bros. 4 was exciting for everyone, including Kirby fans.
Bayonetta is known for her over-the-top gunplay, fitting four guns from every one of her limbs. Kirby mimics this; flipping over to fire from his feet when not in the air. He even gains her guns from Bayonetta 2, Love Is Blue, when he uses this attack. Bayonetta Kirby mimics not only her gunplay, but her effortless style doing so. Fans hope that the Ranger ability will be just as fun to use as this one.