Pet Partner Guidelines

It shouldn't be difficult to make an Animal Friend. There's six perfect examples of how they should be between Rick, Kine, Coo, Nago, Chuchu, and Pitch. That's just enough to show a good basis while not weighing down the prospect. There's a lot of information that can be covered, but going over every detail may not be ideal for every submitter. Here's the key high points that must be considered:

  1. Make a Critter - an Animal Friend needs to be an animal, after all.
  2. Give a Ride - how the pet benefits Kirby when joined.
  3. Change Abilities - powers are modified, for better or worse.

There's also the advantage of hindsight. Since a similar contest was already held in If You Could Make an Animal Friend, fan reactions and my commentaries are already posted for general goods and bads. Additionally, if you entered before and liked your pet, feel free to give it a face lift and re-enter it in this round. Or, scrap it and make up a new one. Either/or.

- See What Others Submitted -

- Submissions are Closed -


Further Explanation

While none of the above is complex, it may be a little too simple for some. There's plenty of room to flesh out just what is meant in a simple sentance, and here those fuller notes are:

Choose an Animal: The rules have changed from before. While anything went in the past, there really is enough examples from the animal kingdom to sample from. Thus, using existing characters like mini-bosses or enemies is no longer allowed nor are inanimates like a bucket or utinsil. While the entry should be living, it doesn't necessarily have to be real or currently alive. Just, not something that you made up. Extinct or mythical, good. Your childhood imaginary friend, not so much.

Mode of Transport: The main purpose of a pet is to get the player around levels easier. Rick has traction control, Kine can swim with ease, and Coo is an aerial expert. Sometimes, these advantages are expressed as certain manuevers, like Nago's triple jump or Chuchu's ceiling cling. The point is that Kirby chooses the right ride for the right situation, or Kine 'cuz that's just who you need to get the Rainbow Drop!

Ability Augmentation: While getting from point A to point B can be helped or hindered with pet selection, the aspect most recognized is modifying Kirby's copied powers. In true Dark Matter Trilogy fashion, only a select few core powers can be chosen from for examples of combining: Burn, Clean, Cutter, Ice, Needle, Parasol, Spark, and Stone. While your favorite Ability X is absent, the point of the pairings is that they could imitate that ability, like how Rick's Spark is Beam. See Dream Land 3 Copy Abilities for all examples.


All Out Entry

While many are just happy participating and having their ideas be seen, others are quite cutthroat in these competitions. To go from just an entry to a power player, take this further advice into consideration.

Round & Simple - Rick is a hamster but looks more like a snowman. Chuchu is an octopus, for Pete's sake. While creatures, they are still quite cartoonish as everything on Pop Star is.

Unique Union - Kirby rides on Rick's back, but sits in Kine's mouth. Nago rolls him like a ball while he holds onto Pitch. How the pairing intereacts can be interesting, too.

Interesting Intake - Kirby sucks, but everyone else doesn't necessarily have to. Rick gobbles up food by walking into it while Chuchu lashes with a tentacle. So, who's method takes precedent? The ride or the rider?

Short & Sweet - Names are typically one syllable, six letters at the longest. Let's not have any "Daikurappu" excessive namings. They also have their species name, but note that it's "Kine the Fish" and "Nago the Cat" and not "Ocean Sunfish" or "Bobtail Cat". Simple.

Various Variety - Not every ability combo is great, but they all have their uses. The important thing is that they are all different.

Mobility Over Missile - Many ability don't just boringly shoot something forward. Nago creates a frosty jet stream that gets him airborne. Chuchu soars like a witch with Clean. Even when shooting, attacks can be lobbed overhead, scattered, or burst.

Trilogy Legacy - Animal Friends were the brain child of Shinichi Shimomura, director of the Dark Matter Trilogy set of games. This trio has a distinctive style of gameplay that set it apart from the titles like Super Star and later games. Things are more fun and charming rather than rarg! and kill! Also, there are no ability hats.

Don't Dethrone - Kine is the best swimmer. Coo is the best flier. No one could get better at what they do and certainly shouldn't handle worse when on foot. The first three covered the three terrains, and the next lot filled gaps. That's what you're doing -- filling holes.

Set in Stone - Someone, be it the player or pet, turns into a rock when the Stone ability is used. Of all the powers that "shoot stuff", this shouldn't be it.

Unspoiled Umbrella - Parasol combos always feature the actual two-tone canopy, not something "like" or that changes to the shape of. It can be used as a putter or a pogo stick, but it's still there.

The DDD-Distance - For the whole package, make a gridded image of eight to ten pictures of your pet demonstrating all (or most) ability pairings, its special mobility, unique actions, etc.

Beginner's Fumble - For the love of gravy on dumplins, please don't make the first words of your submission "[Name] is a [animal]". People always seem to think that readers going from the entry's title to the body of text that this knowledge suddenly leaves them. It's just annoying!


- See What Others Submitted -

- Submissions are Closed -

Last Updated - May 23rd, 2010