Travis “L.D.” Murphy 2/6/2018 Final Draft
Censored Gaming: The Kirby Series
Today we’ll be taking a look into Nintendo’s ever-popular pink puffball, Kirby. Perhaps thanks to his simplistic design, Kirby has won the world over having released more than 20 games that have gone on to sell over 34 million copies worldwide. [1][2]
However, did you know that the Kirby series has undergone numerous changes between regions?
By far the most well-known are the differences between the covers of the Japanese and North American versions of the Kirby games. This has even earned itself its own TV Tropes page titled “American Kirby is Hardcore.” [3]
[Screenshot of TV Tropes web page: https://imgur.com/a/qc4qS]
As the packaging for the American releases often changes Kirby’s happy and carefree expression seen on the original Japanese covers to one that is angry.
[Kirby’s Squeak Squad Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/7/0/76270_front.jpg] [Kirby’s Squeak Squad American Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/6/9/76269_front.jpg]
Nintendo of America’s notorious advertisement for Kirby’s Avalanche and Kirby’s Dream Course from 1995, featuring a mugshot of a scowling bandaged Kirby with a gritty stubble, [4] is often cited as the beginning of Kirby’s “hardcore” American trend.
[1995 Badass Kirby Ad: http://i.imgur.com/qcCw8Qq.jpg]
But Nintendo of America’s attempts to make Kirby seem tougher date back as early as his very first games. In a 1992 commercial for Kirby’s Dream Land, Kirby is compared to “Dashing Superguy,” who may have him beaten in strength, but the narrator instead touts that Kirby’s appetite makes up for it, as it “has a mean bite.” [5]
[1992 American Kirby Commercial: https://imgur.com/a/Uu2GW]
Compare this to the Japanese commercial for Kirby’s Dream Land released the very same year, which alternatively features a young boy happily singing while drawing Kirby. [6]
[1992 Japanese Kirby Commercial: https://imgur.com/a/hq3Ij]
The 1993 American commercial for Kirby’s Adventure took this a step further with Kirby pulling off a number of cool stunts before stating, “…Kirby, he’s cute till you cross him, then he’s one tough cream puff.” [7]
[1993 Kirby Commercial: https://imgur.com/a/9cYd8]
Nevertheless, an angry Kirby would not be seen on the cover for any of his games in the west until 2002 with the release of Kirby’s Nightmare in Dream Land.
[Kirby’s Nightmare in Dream Land Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/6/7/18567_front.jpg] [Kirby’s Nightmare in Dream Land American Cover: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/76/ab/60/76ab60a2c810b60211c92aa7d4cd8695.jpg]
While it is true that the majority of Kirby games since then, including Kirby Air Ride, Kirby Canvas Curse, and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, continued this trend, a few games, such as Kirby Super Star Ultra, did not. Instead sharing cover art nearly identical to the original Japanese release.
[Kirby Super Star Ultra Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/3/0/100230_front.jpg] [Kirby Super Star Ultra American Cover: https://images.launchbox-app.com/d3d7b91d-e267-4fe5-8b1c-5558085f4edf.jpg]
After years of speculation Shinya Kumazaki, the director of Kirby: Triple Deluxe, commented on this in an interview with Gamespot.
To quote:
“For the Japanese versions we are, at HAL, involved in everything throughout development, including the package design. The most powerful image of Kirby is that cute image, we think that's the one that appeals to the widest audience.”
He goes on to explain that, for his home country of Japan, “Kirby's cuteness is his biggest draw...”
However, things are seen differently in North America. Mr. Kumazaki mentions that Nintendo of America calls the shots in the US and provides HAL with "feedback and insight" into the market.
He goes on to state:
“What we have heard is that strong, tough Kirby that's really battling hard is a more appealing sign of Kirby, so that's what we feature in the US.”
{Note to Editor: I recommend showing the interview article on screen here, visually following along the quotes as they are being read}
The director explains that it depends on the title though, as some of the more recent Kirby games feature a “Tough Kirby” even on the Japanese box art, pointing towards his own game. Released in 2014, Kirby: Triple Deluxe was the first Kirby title to have an angry Kirby on the cover art across all regions.
[Kirby: Triple Deluxe Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/4/6/5/301465_front.jpg] [Kirby: Triple Deluxe American Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/0/8/9/157089_front.jpg]
Also note the removal of the cannon-like enemy, Shotzo, from the North American cover which remained intact in every other region.
[Kirby: Triple Deluxe European Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/0/9/0/157090_front.jpg] [Kirby: Triple Deluxe Australian Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/9/9/0/349990_front.jpg] [Kirby: Triple Deluxe South Korean Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/8/5/362285_front.jpg]
This was possibly done to bring it in line with the ESRB’s “Principles and Guidelines for Responsible Advertising Practices,” which prohibits “Graphic and/or excessive depictions of violence” from video game advertising including “guns/weapons [being] pointed toward [the] reader/audience.” [9]
[ESRB’s Principles and Guidelines Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/G2VJE]
Triple Deluxe’s direct sequel, Kirby: Planet Robobot from 2016, as well as 2017’s Kirby Battle Royale have since followed suit, containing an angry Kirby on the box art throughout every region.
[Kirby: Planet Robobot Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/3/5/8/596358_front.jpg] [Kirby: Planet Robobot American Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/3/4/4/596344_front.jpg] [Kirby Battle Royale Japanese Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/4/4/4/647444_front.jpg] [Kirby Battle Royale American Cover: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/5/7/3/647573_front.jpg]
Speaking of Kirby covers in other regions, since 2002 the box art for the European releases of the Kirby games have gone back and forth between using the “angrier” North American art, as seen with Kirby: Canvas Curse, or Kirby: Power Paintbrush as it is known in Europe, in 2005…
[Kirby: Canvas Curse Japan: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/1/1/64211_front.jpg] [Kirby: Canvas Curse North America: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/1/2/64212_front.jpg] [Kirby: Power Paintbrush Europe: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/2/1/3/64213_front.jpg]
Or using the happier original Japanese art, such as with Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, or Kirby’s Adventure Wii as it’s called in Europe, in 2011.
[Kirby’s Return to Dream Land North America: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/0/1/5/80015_front.jpg] [Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Japan: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/0/1/4/80014_front.jpg] [Kirby’s Adventure Wii Europe: https://gamefaqs.akamaized.net/box/0/1/6/80016_front.jpg]
But packaging art hasn’t been the only thing that has changed on Kirby’s travels overseas. For instance, even the art within the games themselves have been modified, such as in 1997’s Kirby’s Star Stackers. In the original Japanese version of the game Kirby can be seen humorously sobbing tears of joy on the Versus Mode results screen.
[Japanese Vs. Mode Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/e/ec/KStackerWin1PJP.png]
Whereas in the international releases Kirby’s expression was noticeably toned down. [10]
[International Vs. Mode Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/9/95/KStackerWin1PINT.png]
Another example can be seen with the Normal Mode’s Round Clear screen where Kirby and his animal pal Rick enjoy a picnic together. The Japanese game sees Rick enjoying some onigiri, or rice balls, while Kirby holds hanami dango, a sweet treat traditionally consisting of 3 rice dumplings colored pink, white, and green, skewered on a stick, overhead with what seems to be a thermos at his feet. [11]
[Japanese Normal Mode Clear Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/b/ba/KStackerEasyJP.png]
As was typical of the era, the international releases replaced these ethnic Japanese foods with ones that could be more easily recognizable to western audiences. As you can see, Rick now holds an apple with a box of sandwiches at his feet, while Kirby holds up a smore on a stick and the thermos has vanished. For whatever reason though the deviations don’t end there as Kirby’s pose has changed, Rick’s eye is now closed, and butterflies flutter overhead too. [10]
[International Normal Model Clear Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/e/eb/KStackerEasyINT.png]
Japanese foods have been taken out of a number of other Kirby titles, including 2000’s Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards where onigiri was once again replaced with sandwiches in the international releases.
[Kirby 64 Japanese Onigiri: https://tcrf.net/images/a/ac/Kirby64JapanRiceBall.png] [Kirby 64 International Sandwich: https://tcrf.net/images/c/c4/Kirby_64_-_Sandwich.PNG]
Curiously though, Waddle Dee can still be seen chowing down on some onigiri in the picnic bonus round at the end of every stage in every version of the game. [12]
[Kirby 64 Picnic: http://media.tumblr.com/a0a2fd458ebec4465e3c6adcef9099ca/tumblr_inline_mqqcb3SZYq1qz4rgp.gif]
1996’s Kirby Super Star took this to the next level. Due to the Gourmet Race sub-game, Kirby Super Star contains a great number of food items for Kirby to devour. 12 of the distinctly Japanese foods, including mochi, takoyaki, and oden, were once again changed to western meals such as hot dogs, pancakes, and fries. [13]
[Kirby Super Star Japanese Foods vs. International Foods: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/e/e7/KSSFoodComp.png/revision/latest?cb=20150718030725&path-prefix=en]
Another fascinating regional change from Kirby Super Star can be seen on the tutorial screen upon choosing a sub-game. In the Japanese edition, two vertical slices of a yellow and green V-shaped emblem fly in from opposite sides of the screen and slam together over text asking the player if this is the first time they’ve played the sub-game before.
[Japanese Kirby Super Star Tutorial Screen: VIDEO 1]
This emblem is officially known in Japan as the “Shoshin Untensha Hyoshiki,” or the “Beginner Driver’s Sign,” but is more commonly called a “Shoshinsha” or “Wakaba” mark. New drivers in Japan must display this mark on their vehicle for a year after receiving their license, but may choose to leave it on thereafter should they desire. [14] While this emblem has become synonymous with novices in Japan, it would go over the heads of most players elsewhere. Thus, it was simply changed to two slices of a smiling Kirby coming together outside of Japan.
[International Kirby Super Star Tutorial Screen: VIDEO 2]
A similar change could be seen in Kirby: Triple Deluxe as well. During the tutorial of the Japanese version of the game, players will receive a red circle upon successfully completing a task. [16]
[Japanese Kirby Triple Deluxe Tutorial Success: https://tcrf.net/images/1/19/KTDTutorialJP.png]
This is known as a “marujirushi” in Japan and it is used as an affirmation for something that is correct. This is especially common on graded schoolwork for example. [17]
[Himouto! Umaru-Chan Graded Test: https://imgur.com/a/283Bc]
The marujirushi was replaced in the international releases with its western equivalent, a checkmark. The checkmark was also recolored green, probably since green is seen as a positive color in many western countries. [16]
[Western Kirby Triple Deluxe Tutorial Success: https://tcrf.net/images/c/ce/KTDTutorialInt.png]
In 1995, Kirby’s Dream Land 2 had another reference that was cut for western audiences. In the game there are rooms where Kirby can free either Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, or Kine the Sunfish. But should Kirby try to enter one of these rooms while already riding one of his animal friends he’ll usually find Gooey instead. However, there’s a very small chance that players will find a girl named Chao in Gooey’s place in the Japanese version of the game. [18]
[Japanese Kirby’s Dream Land 2 Chao Discovery: http://www.nindb.net/gb/kirbys-dream-land-2/img/cameos/chao.png] [Japanese Kirby’s Dream Land 2 Chao Sprite: https://tcrf.net/images/4/4c/KDL2FemaleJP.gif]
Chao is the heroine of the 1989 Famicom Disk System game Famicom Mukashibanashi: Yūyūki. As the Disk System add-on was never released outside of Japan, this adventure game loosely based on the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, was never released overseas. [19]
[Yūyūki Chao Art: https://i.warosu.org/data/vr/img/0037/96/1486965055365.png] [Yūyūki Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/qu3iB]
Again, as this reference would be missed by most western players, the international version of Kirby’s Dream Land 2 replaced Chao with a female version of Gooey. [20]
[International Kirby’s Dream Land 2 Female Gooey: https://imgur.com/a/0Xxht]
This also forced the developers to revise the Sound Test and Boss Endurance Clear screens as well. [20]
[Japanese K:DL2 Sound Test Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/a/a4/KDL2SoundTestJP.png] [International K:DL2 Sound Test Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/0/0a/KDL2SoundTestINT.png] [Japanese K:DL2 Boss Endurance Clear Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/8/8c/KDL2_Boss_Endurance_JP.png] [International K:DL2 Boss Endurance Clear Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/4/42/KDL2_Boss_Endurance_US.png]
Intriguingly, the Sound Test screen in itself is yet another reference to a scene from Yūyūki. [21]
[Yūyūki reference screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/ZNg4U] [Japanese K:DL2 Sound Test Screen: https://tcrf.net/images/a/a4/KDL2SoundTestJP.png]
It’s especially odd then that Chao did not consequently get cut out of the North American release of Kirby’s Dream Land 3 in 1997, and even appeared alongside the star of Yūyūki, Goku. [18][21]
[Kirby’s Dream Land 3 Yuyuki References: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/b/b4/Kirby1- 4_4.gif/revision/latest?cb=20130428150441&path-prefix=en]
Meanwhile, Kirby’s Dream Course would not be so lucky, as the game received numerous cuts on its way to the west. This was likely done to cut down the ROM size to fit the game onto a cheaper to produce 1-megabyte cartridge, compared to the Japanese release which required a 2-megabyte cartridge. [22] These included missing test courses, debug menus, and the Japanese version’s vibrant animated title screen being replaced with a much simpler one. [22]
[Kirby’s Dream Course Japanese Title Screen: VIDEO 3] [Kirby’s Dream Course International Title Screen: VIDEO 4]
The most significant cut however was the animated story cutscene seen after the title screen of the Japanese version of the game. Accordingly, the song that plays over this cutscene was removed as well. Western players on the other hand had to catch the story by reading the instruction manual. [22]
[Kirby’s Dream Course Japanese Opening: https://tcrf.net/images/3/34/KDCStory1.png] [Kirby’s Dream Course American Manual: https://imgur.com/a/hQ1J7]
The content of the stories are largely the same, except that while the Japanese game’s cutscene directly follows Kirby, the North American manual is primarily written from the perspective of the inhabitants of Dream Land. Also, in the Japanese cutscene Kirby directly catches King Dedede in the act of stealing a star from the sky and gives chase. Whereas in the North American manual the inhabitants of Dream Land simply suspect that King Dedede is behind the disappearance of the stars, causing Kirby to set off and deal with King Dedede. [22][23]
We’ve just scratched the surface of the changes throughout the Kirby series’ lifetime, but’s that’s all we have time for in today’s episode of Censored Gaming. If you’d like to see more then consider leaving a comment, hitting like, or subscribing to our channel. Thanks for watching!
References
1: https://web.archive.org/web/20121113235242/http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/jVx2Irt 7Rnqt9xQNUU3yrcn-xZZFTR6t
2: https://www.resetera.com/threads/nintendo-software-and-hardware-sales-data-from-1983-to- present.2725/
3: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AmericanKirbyIsHardcore
4: The copyright on the bottom left corner of the advertisement reads, “©1995 Nintendo of America, Inc.”
5: https://youtu.be/tuuLLRElbXw
6: https://youtu.be/RAGDHpNiyZU
7: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGWtykgFeRo
8: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-kirby-always-angry-in-the-us-nintendo- explains/1100-6419263/
9: https://www.esrb.org/ratings/principles_guidelines.aspx
10: https://tcrf.net/Kirby%27s_Star_Stacker#Regional_Differences
11: https://www.snakku.com/blogs/news/15576548-whats-a-dango
12: https://tcrf.net/Kirby_64:_The_Crystal_Shards#Regional_Differences
13: http://kirby.wikia.com/wiki/Food
14: https://99percentinvisible.org/article/wakaba-mark-japanese-car-stickers-signal-levels- driving-experience/
15: https://tcrf.net/Kirby_Super_Star#Tutorial
16: https://tcrf.net/Kirby_Triple_Deluxe#Regional_Differences
17: https://www.jappleng.com/education/course/study/1/jplearn/lesson/286/japanese-honorifics- beginner
18: http://kirby.wikia.com/wiki/Chao_%26_Goku
19: https://web.archive.org/web/20100626033751/http://www.nindb.net/game/yuuyuuki.html
20: https://tcrf.net/Kirby's_Dream_Land_2#Regional_Differences
21: https://web.archive.org/web/20100619080110/http://nindb.net/cameos/yuuyuuki.html
22: https://tcrf.net/Kirby%27s_Dream_Course
23: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clvs/manuals/common/pdf/CLV-P-SAAKE.pdf