Kirby's Dream Course
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Main other{{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | child = | subbox = | bodyclass = ib-video-game hproduct {{#ifeq:|yes|collapsible {{#if:|{{{state}}}|autocollapse}}}} | templatestyles = Infobox video game/styles.css | aboveclass = fn | italic title =
| above = Kirby's Dream Course
| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image={{#invoke:WikidataIB |getValue|rank=best|P18 |name=image |qid= |suppressfields= |fetchwikidata=ALL |onlysourced=no |noicon=yes|Kirbydreamcourse.jpg}}|size=|sizedefault=frameless|upright=1|alt=|border=|suppressplaceholder=yes}}
| caption = {{#if:Kirbydreamcourse.jpg|North American cover art|North American cover art}}
| label2 = Developer(s)
| data2 = HAL Laboratory
Nintendo EAD
| label3 = Publisher(s) | data3 = Nintendo
| label4 = Director(s) | data4 = Takashi Saito
| label5 = Producer(s)
| data5 = Satoru Iwata
Shigeru Miyamoto
| label6 = Designer(s)
| data6 = Shinichi Shimomura
Kensuke Tanabe
Hideki Fujii
| label7 = Programmer(s) | data7 = Template:If first display both
| label8 = Artist(s) | data8 = Template:If first display both
| label9 = Writer(s) | data9 = Template:If first display both
| label10 = Composer(s) | data10 = Hirokazu Ando
| label11 = Series | data11 = Kirby
| label12 = Engine | data12 = Template:If first display both
| label13 = Platform(s) | data13 = Super Nintendo Entertainment System
| label14 = Release | data14 = Template:Vgrelease
| label15 = Genre(s) | data15 = Sports (mini golf)
| label16 = Mode(s) | data16 = Single-player, multiplayer
| label17 = Arcade system | data17 = Template:If first display both
| data30 =
| below = Template:EditOnWikidata
}}Template:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|ignoreblank=1|preview=Page using Template:Infobox video game with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"| alt | arcade system | artist | caption | border | child | collapsible | commons | composer | designer | developer | director | embedded | engine | fetchwikidata | genre | image | image_size | image_upright | italic title | modes | noicon | onlysourced | platform | platforms | producer | programmer | publisher | qid | refs | release | released | series | state | subbox | suppressfields | title | writer }}Template:Main other{{#if:Kirbydreamcourse.jpg|}} Kirby's Dream CourseTemplate:Efn is a 1994 miniature golf video game developed by HAL Laboratory and Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). A spin-off of the Kirby series and the first released for the SNES, players control the pink spherical character Kirby through a series of courses by launching him towards the goal hole at the end. Kirby can hit enemies to collect power-ups that grant him unique abilities, such as those that allow him to destroy certain obstacles or fly around the level.
HAL Laboratory originally designed Dream Course as a standalone game called Special Tee Shot. Though it was previewed in several magazines and displayed on the packaging for the console, HAL replaced the game's original characters with those from the Kirby series following its popularity on the Game Boy. Special Tee Shot was later released for the Satellaview peripheral in Japan. Dream Course received favorable reviews, both at release and retrospectively, for its unique design and absurdity. Some were critical of its high difficulty level and controls. It has been re-released through the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console digital storefronts and the Super NES Classic Edition. A sequel for the Nintendo 64 was in development but later canceled.
GameplayEdit
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Kirby's Dream Course is a mini golf video game set at an isometric perspective, similar to games such as Marble Madness (1984).<ref name="Allgame">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its plot involves Kirby's nemesis King Dedede stealing all of the stars in the night sky. Kirby sets out to stop Dedede and return the stars to the sky.<ref name="Manual"/>
In single-player, players maneuver Kirby around a miniature golf course by deflecting him towards a specific area of the playfield within a limited number of strokes.<ref name="Manual"/> Players must set the power, angle, and spin to connect with various enemies found throughout the levels, claiming a star for each enemy defeated.<ref name="USG"/> When only one enemy remains, that enemy transforms into the goal hole.<ref name="Manual">Template:Cite book</ref> Kirby can knock himself into certain enemies to acquire a Copy ability, which can be used to clear courses in a faster period of time.<ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="IGN"/> These Copy abilities include Kirby turning into a tornado, a sparking ball that can destroy certain obstacles, and a UFO that allows Kirby to float and move at will for a short time.<ref name="Manual"/>
The game has eight single-player courses, with eight holes in each.<ref name="GSpot"/> Completing courses awards the player with medals, which can be used to unlock extra features such as alternative versions of courses. The type of medal awarded is based on how well the player performed, with gold being the best.<ref name="Manual"/>
In multiplayer, players take turns and compete for the most stars in unique courses. The second player controls a yellow palette swap of Kirby named Template:Nihongo, who shares all of Kirby's abilities. Connecting with a star causes it to take the player's color (either pink or yellow), and players can "steal" stars from each other by connecting with them to change their color. The players can attack each other using Copy abilities, potentially forcing one player to skip their turn. The goal hole is worth two stars; when one player reaches the goal, the round ends and both players' stars are tallied. The winner is the player with the most stars at the end of eight rounds.<ref name="Manual"/>
DevelopmentEdit
Kirby's Dream Course was developed by HAL Laboratory and Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). HAL originally designed the game as a standalone title called Special Tee Shot in 1992, which featured its own original characters and art assets.<ref name="NLife STS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Though it received several previews from magazines and was displayed prominently on the packaging for the console, the company shelved the project following the success of its Kirby series on the Game Boy.<ref name="NLife STS"/><ref name="Siliconera">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> HAL later reworked Special Tee Shot into a Kirby game by replacing many of the original characters with those from the Kirby series, and implementing several mechanics to make it fit into the Kirby universe, such as the power-up system.<ref name="NLife STS"/><ref name="Siliconera"/>
While Kirby was always intended to be pink, Shigeru Miyamoto assumed during development of Kirby's Dream Land that Kirby was yellow, as there was no color artwork of Kirby available at the time.<ref name="shmuplations">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In reference to this, the developers of Kirby's Dream Course repurposed Miyamoto's color choice as the second player's character, a yellow version of Kirby nicknamed "Keeby". The character's name is a portmanteau of 黄色 kīro "yellow" and カービィ Kābī "Kirby".<ref name="20th Anniversary">Template:Cite book</ref> Following the appearance of an unnamed yellow Kirby in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2000), a yellow color palette became a recurring colorization for additional players playing as a Kirby in the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. series (often as the second player). This palette was named once as "Keeby Yellow" in Kirby's Dream Buffet (2022).<ref>Template:Cite video game</ref>
Kirby's Dream Course was released in Japan on September 21, 1994, as Kirby Ball.<ref name="Famitsu">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was released in North America on February 1, 1995,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and in Europe later in the year. Special Tee Shot was later re-released in 1996 for the Satellaview, a peripheral for the Super Famicom that played games via satellite broadcasts.<ref name="NLife"/> Dream Course was digitally re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2007, and the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan in 2013.<ref name="Famitsu"/> It is one of thirty games included in the Super NES Classic Edition miniconsole.<ref name="USG"/>
In 1995, Nintendo and HAL began work on a sequel named Kirby Ball 64/Kirby Bowl 64 for the then-upcoming Nintendo 64. It was shown off as a playable demo at Nintendo's annual Shoshinkai trade show, alongside Super Mario 64. Kirby Ball 64/Kirby Bowl 64 was designed to take advantage of the system's analog stick to allow for more precise movement, in addition to utilizing gouraud shading for its graphics.<ref name="Edge 64">Template:Cite news</ref> It also featured an additional gamemode where the player controlled Kirby on a snowboard.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The sequel was never released, though some of its concepts were later implemented into Kirby Air Ride (2003).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReceptionEdit
Template:Video game reviews Kirby's Dream Course received praise for its wacky nature and innovation.<ref name="GPro"/><ref name="NGen"/> GamePro writer Scary Larry claimed it was just as refined and fun to play as earlier games in the Kirby series.<ref name="GPro"/> A writer for Next Generation found its mini golf-inspired gameplay unique compared to other games, as did a reviewer from Electronic Gaming Monthly.<ref name="NGen"/><ref name="EGM">Template:Cite news</ref> Next Generation and Larry also highlighted Dream CourseTemplate:'s complexity, which was uncommon for a golf game at the time.<ref name="GPro"/><ref name="NGen"/> The game's colorful visuals were also praised for their offbeat design and sense of humor.<ref name="GPro"/><ref name="NGen"/><ref name="EGM"/> Electronic Gaming Monthly noted that the game's controls required time getting used to;<ref name="EGM"/> Larry added the accuracy of the player's shots were sometimes questionable and not well-refined.<ref name="GPro"/> Tom Guise of Computer and Video Games believed its originality made it one of the best SNES games,<ref name="CVG"/> which Electronic Gaming Monthly agreed with.<ref name="EGM"/> Javier Abad, a reviewer for Nintendo Acción, commented on the game's difference in design from other games in the series, but felt Kirby fans would enjoy it for the controls and graphical style.<ref name="NAccion"/>
Retrospective commentary on Dream Course has also been favorable. Staff from Nintendo Life compared its silliness to Electronic Arts' Zany Golf (1988), and that it possessed fun gameplay and a balanced level of difficulty. They also believed its isometric perspective worked well, and its graphics were aesthetically pleasing.<ref name="NLife"/> IGNTemplate:'s Lucas M. Thomas believed Dream CourseTemplate:'s unique concept made it incomparable to other games.<ref name="IGN"/> Thomas and GameSpotTemplate:'s Frank Provo both enjoyed its power-ups for their usefulness and novelty.<ref name="GSpot"/><ref name="IGN"/> USgamer writer Nadia Oxford applauded its abnormal level design and comical presentation, and said it offered a break from the more action-oriented games on the console: "Kirby's Dream Course isn't the most exciting game on the SNES Classic Edition, but it's cute, fuzzy, and fun – much like the big pink macaron who runs the course."<ref name="USG">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> IGN ranked the game 38th on their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time."<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
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