May 2, 2022|

Filed under: Featured, Guest Article, History, Speculation, Super Smash Bros. Series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Dream Smasher: Dark Matter (Guest Article)

This guest Dream Smasher was created by @_TheyWhoRemain_ on Twitter, and thanks to Cart Boy for help with edits.

A staple of Nintendo’s library for just over thirty years, Kirby’s place as one of the company’s most celebrated and consistent properties is inarguable. The titular pink puff’s countless journeys span handhelds and home consoles alike, boasting acclaimed platformers and inventive spin-offs. And with Masahiro Sakurai, the prolific developer behind Super Smash Bros., as Kirby’s creator, the relationship these two franchises have shared is common knowledge. The rich collection of friends and foes that populate Dream Land and beyond are well-represented in the crossover’s latest incarnation, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, with fighters, summons, spirits, and even one of few bosses all making appearances. Speaking of bosses, though, a certain presence’s gaze has been felt throughout this expansive history. It’s not as recognizable as Kirby’s typical mainstays, far from the most obvious candidate for a playable role in Smash, but its villainy is unlike anything Kirby, or the greater Nintendo multiverse, has ever seen. To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of this beloved series, let’s spotlight Dark Matter, its first real villain, and see how it could invade the world of Smash.

What Is Dark Matter?

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Dark Matter is an entity of unknown origin that resides in deep space. Debuting as the primary antagonist in Kirby’s Dream Land 2, the cryptid sets its sights on Kirby’s peaceful home, Planet Popstar. Plotting to shroud the world in complete darkness, it takes over King Dedede’s body (something the king would become very accustomed to in future titles) and steals pieces of the rainbow bridge connecting the Rainbow Islands. Once expelled from the king’s body by Kirby, the nemesis takes on the form of a swordsman and battles the superstar in the skies above Dedede’s castle. Kirby forces Dark Matter to expose its true form, a floating mass of darkness with a single eye, and after a second phase, emerges triumphant and purges the invader from his home.

Dark Matter takes its revenge on Planet Popstar in Kirby’s Dream Land 3, however, and possesses more of Dream Land’s inhabitants, including Ado, Whispy Woods, and, of course, King Dedede. With the help of Gooey, a defected member of Dark Matter’s species, Kirby collects all the Heart Shards and clashes with his polar opposite once more. Foiled again, the true mastermind, Zero, reveals itself. In what seems to be the final confrontation against the cosmic horror, Kirby breaks the floating eyeball down until it is nothing but a pitiful mass of red matter, spiraling out of control and meeting its end.

In Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Dark Matter reemerges with its most sinister plan yet. After corrupting a multitude of planets across the galaxy, the villain attacks the world of the Fairies, Ripple Star. Only one inhabitant, Ribbon, manages to escape, with the Crystal protecting her planet in tow. She doesn’t get far before she is ambushed by a portion of Dark Matter, shattering the Crystal into seventy-four shards that scatter across the galaxy. The refugee teams up with Kirby to find the Crystal Shards, free his possessed friends, and eliminate the interstellar menace once and for all. The Star Warrior dukes it out with the Ripple Star boss, Miracle Matter, and frees the planet from the enigma’s control. Afterwards, with the Crystal Shards united, Dark Matter makes its last stand on the planet Dark Star. Kirby and Ribbon engage 0², likely Zero’s reincarnation, defeating it and finally putting an end to its conquest for good.

Importance to Nintendo & Series

As Kirby’s first truly evil adversary, Dark Matter has been a series mainstay for almost its entire history, either as a direct antagonist or simple cameo. Referred to by fans as the “Dark Matter Trilogy,” Dream Land 2, Dream Land 3, and The Crystal Shards headline Dark Matter as the universe’s most recurring threat. Needless to say, it left a lasting impression on fans, being a dark and downright terrifying presence in otherwise happy and upbeat games. While it hasn’t reappeared as the main villain since The Crystal Shards, secret boss fights and references to its design, name, and attacks have kept its presence known in the minds of Kirby fans. Kirby: Squeak Squad features the star-shaped villain Dark Nebula, implied to be yet another form of Dark Matter, Kirby: Planet Robobot pits Meta Knight against a clone of Dark Matter’s original form, and references to it are routinely seen in bosses all the way up to Kirby’s modern adventures.

These subtle, but significant homages are matched by Smash’s own acknowledgments of the interstellar monstrosity. For instance, although Smash’s lineup of Kirby remixes almost exclusively take after the titles developed by Sakurai, 0²’s beloved battle theme is a notable exception. Moreover, Dark Matter occupies a respectable spot amongst its universe’s list of spirits in Ultimate, sporting the Legend-class. Of course, cameos aside, one look at it’s all it takes to tell that Dark Matter would stand out if it ever got the honor (unless you zoom in on the sword). It’d finally add a real villain to Kirby’s playable cast, a pattern Metroid, Donkey Kong, and Final Fantasy were celebrated for in Ultimate. And as a recurring antagonist with an entire trilogy of games under its belt, it could represent a lot of material currently underutilized by the crossover. As far as renown goes, so many years after its debut, the menace’s impressive legacy has been kept alive by a growing list of beloved bosses. By all means, the uncanny edge that’s blessed Kirby since the beginning owes it all to Dark Matter. Fans anticipate a hint of dread at the climax of every release, but a majority of them riff on this enemy’s iconic imagery. In my opinion, this all makes Dark Matter more than deserving of consideration for a spot on Nintendo’s all-star roster.

Colors & Design

Having taken on many forms throughout its appearances, Dark Matter has plenty of designs to take inspiration from. For Smash, the look it’d sport on the ground, as well as in its character portrait, would be that of its debut appearance: Dark Matter Blade. Wielding a sword that can move independently of its owner (also dubbed the Dark Matter Blade by the Kirby Clash games), the invader appears as a shadowy entity covered by a cloak, with a single eye peeking out from behind a mask. And like with the clone’s Planet Robobot appearance, its spiky “hair” could emit dark particles at all times. Upon taking to the air, Dark Matter would assume its true form, distinguished by its round shape, black-colored body, and single, ominous eye. While moving, this form could also leave dark particles in its wake. From there, other forms could simply be referenced through various attacks.

(Default sprites courtesy of Drshnaps)

(Courtesy of Voyager)

As for Dark Matter’s alternate colors, both forms would have a set that references Kirby’s vast rogues’ gallery. Following the default costume, there would be a white color for both forms (referencing Zero and 0²), gray/gold on the ground and orange in the air (referencing Dark Mind), purple for both forms (referencing Dark Nebula), green for both forms (referencing Dark Matter’s appearance in Kirby Mass Attack), pink/blue for both forms (referencing Queen Sectonia), blue/white on the ground and pink/yellow in the air (referencing Hyness and Void Termina), and a monochromatic palette for both forms (referencing its Dream Land 2 debut, as well as Kirby and King Dedede’s own black-and-white colors).

How Would It Play?

Now, let’s have a look at Dark Matter’s stats:

Can it crawl? Yes
Can it wall jump? No
Can it wall cling? No
How many jumps does it have? 5
Does it have any exclusive abilities, like Peach’s float? Yes
Weight Class: D (around Meta Knight)
Height Class: D & E (around Diddy Kong (Blade) & Kirby (True))
Speed Class: C (around Rosalina)
Is it mirrored when it faces left? Yes

Dark Matter is known for its strange and varied boss battles, most of which should be considered when bringing it to Smash, but something especially worth adapting is its amorphous body and the ways it can contort itself. Thus, Dark Matter would assume two distinct forms as a fighter. On the ground, it would appear as Dark Matter Blade, using its sword to fend off any would-be challengers. It would fight with powerful, unnatural patterns, unlike the other Kirby swordsman and his refined skills, employing a mix of projectiles and uncannily stiff sword strikes.

To terrorize foes from the air, Dark Matter would take on its true form, a one-eyed mass of darkness. It’d assume this appearance the moment it leaves the ground, made possible with a jump, fall, and so on (it would revert to Blade form when hanging from a ledge, though). While airborne, Dark Matter would have excellent mobility and be even more slippery, courtesy of an ability resembling Peach and Daisy’s signature float. It could float in place following any of its five jumps for as long as the princesses can, allowing impressive horizontal movement. Of course, attacking, taking a hit, jumping again, or holding downward would cancel the glide and leave it unusable until the alien touches the ground again.

Overall, Dark Matter would excel at overwhelming opponents by freely mixing up its approach. Being able to handle itself in mid-range and long-distance situations, the invader could employ projectiles to control neutral, a luxury most swordfighters in Smash don’t have. Where Dark Matter would fall short, however, is in its combo game. To make up for its variety of powerful moves, the villain would hardly get to string them together, as its throws would launch foes too far, and its neutral attacks simply wouldn’t be made with follow-ups in mind. Players would need to be careful with what moves they pick in any given situation, or they might just follow their fighter’s lead and get purged over, and over, and over again.

Boxing Ring Title: “The Looming Shadow”

Series Icon

Stock Icon

(Courtesy of Voyager)

Kirby Hat

Move Type

Description

On-Screen Appearance

A mess of dark energy appears from the ground, aggressively rising up and taking the form of Dark Matter Blade. It then slashes at the air with its sword and faces the opponent.

Stance

Dark Matter floats in place with its sword pointing toward the ground, as it stares its foe down with a menacing gaze.

Idle #1

Dark Matter casually swings its sword in a vertical motion.

Idle #2

Dark Matter moves its cloak aside, revealing its single eye, then surveys its surroundings.

Walk

Dark Matter ominously glides along the ground.

Dash

Dark Matter leans its body forward and glides faster.

Crouch

Dark Matter’s lower half dissolves into a mass of darkness and partially covers the ground, where it can crawl by snaking its body along the floor.

Jump

Dark Matter assumes its true form and steadily hovers upward at an unusual angle, capable of matching Kirby’s jump count of five. While floating, Dark Matter bobs up and down and occasionally blinks.

Damage

If grounded, Dark Matter flinches and stumbles backward. If airborne, Dark Matter’s eye widens in shock as it recoils.

Shield

Dark Matter guards itself by holding its sword in front of its visor.

Neutral Attack: Vertical Swipe

Dark Matter performs a swift, vertical sword slash.

Forward Tilt: Piercing Beam

Dark Matter executes a swift and spammable beam attack, shooting a sword-shaped projectile straight ahead that deals little damage, but flinches opponents.

Up Tilt: Shadow Spike

Dark Matter’s sword thrusts itself upward and creates shadowy particles at the tip, serving as a fast anti-air tool.

Down Tilt: Low Stab

Dark Matter remains motionless as its sword thrusts itself toward the ground, launching foes directly upward.

Dash Attack: Blade Thrust

Dark Matter dashes a short distance forward as its sword points outward.

Forward Smash: Mass Wave

Dark Matter’s sword points up, then slashes forward and sends a crescent-shaped projectile ahead.

Up Smash: Matter Burst

Dark Matter enters its blade as it forcefully points upward, leaving its cloak and visor on the ground. It then erupts as a mass of darkness at the tip of the blade, and briefly reforms itself upon completion. This is its most powerful grounded attack, but also its slowest.

Down Smash: Black Hole

Dark Matter’s sword pierces the ground and creates a swirling vortex underneath it that pulls in nearby enemies, then launches them away with a burst of dark energy.

Neutral Aerial: Bulbous Spin

Dark Matter’s orange appendages spin around its body, serving as a quick get-off-me tool that resembles Kirby’s neutral aerial.

Forward Aerial: Dark Laser

Dark Matter floats in place for a moment, then shoots a bolt of black lightning from its eye. During the attack’s windup, its angle can be adjusted by inputting up or down.

Back Aerial: Star Shower

Dark Matter emulates Dark Nebula and propels itself forward, leaving short-lasting, star-shaped projectiles in its wake.

Up Aerial: Tail Pierce

A green, thorny tail emerges from Dark Matter’s body, which strikes upward three times before disappearing, like Duck Hunt’s up aerial.

Down Aerial: Gazing Blast

Dark Matter points its eye straight down and fires a beam toward the ground. This attack deals multiple hits to foes and launches them at the end, but is virtually useless if used close to the ground, and leaves Dark Matter vulnerable due to its long cooldown. If used while floating, the player can tilt the control stick to move Dark Matter mid-attack.

Grab: Mini Matter

Dark Matter executes a disjointed grab by sending a miniature copy of itself forward to ‘possess’ an opponent and drag them closer to the main body. When the vessel is thrown (or escapes), the clone will be ejected from their body and return to the swordsman.

Pummel: Optic Burst

From within the ensnared foe, the Dark Matter’s clone summons an orange orb that circles back to the opponent and bursts on impact.

Forward Throw: Needle Stab

Dark Matter lobs the foe and extends a needle-like appendage forward, launching them away with a stab and referencing Miracle Matter’s Needle Copy Ability.

Back Throw: Ice Glide

Dark Matter freezes the area underneath itself and slams the foe into the ice as they drift away, referencing Miracle Matter’s Ice Copy Ability.

Up Throw: Cutter Clash

Using a serrated blade, Dark Matter swings upward to send its imprisoned victim sky-high, referencing Miracle Matter’s Cutter Copy Ability.

Down Throw: Burning Rupture

Dark Matter drops the opponent and sets them ablaze with a violent blast of fire, launching them at a low angle, referencing Miracle Matter’s Fire Copy Ability.

Neutral Special: Dark Orb

Dark Matter points its blade (or eye, if airborne) upward, forms a ball of dark energy above its head, then fires the projectile at a slightly downward angle. The longer the input is held, the stronger and larger the projectile is.

Side Special: Jaws of Despair

Dark Matter’s eye (from within its cloak if grounded) morphs into a set of teeth as it dashes forward and bites at the air three times, dragging enemies struck by any of the chomps into the rest. Holding the input down strengthens the attack, but shortens the dash.

Up Special: Wings of Zero

Dark Matter sprouts wings inspired by 0²’s, flies a considerable distance upward, and launches any foes in its way, like Kazuya’s up special.

Down Special: Mirror Guard

Dark Matter summons two shards of glass that surround the entity for a short time. Like with Mega Man’s Leaf Shield, the shards can damage opponents upon contact and will disappear afterwards. Additionally, the shards can reflect a weaker projectile when active, also making them disappear with use.

Final Smash: Dark Star Conquest

Dark Matter warps to the stage’s background, assumes a monstrous form, and sends extremities made of darkness toward the area it began its attack at. Any foes struck by the corruption are sent to a cinematic where they helplessly struggle in a darkened arena. Finally, 0² appears and ambushes the fighters with a barrage of sinister attacks before banishing them with a powerful laser, fired from its eye.

Up Taunt

Dark Matter’s eye drops down and morphs into a smiling face resembling 0²’s, then returns to normal.

Side Taunt

Dark Matter swings its sword from side to side as it takes on a rainbow-colored gleam, referencing the Rainbow Sword once used to defeat it.

Down Taunt

A small clone of Dark Matter’s true form emerges from the ground and orbits the fighter for a moment, but is then shooed away by the annoyed swordsman.

Victory Pose #1

A canvas that displays Adeleine’s painting of Dark Matter flies by, but is then set ablaze by a laser of the subject in its true form.

Victory Pose #2

Dark Matter glides into view in its true form, changes to its Blade form and slashes at the air a few times, then menacingly stares at the screen with its sword drawn.

Victory Pose #3

Kirby is seen taking a nap as Dark Matter, in its true form, creepily glares at the snoozing puffball, readying itself to strike at a moment’s notice. (referencing the defeat screen of Kirby’s Dream Land 3‘s boss rush mode).

Victory Theme: Dark Matter’s victory theme would probably be a remix of “Duel in the Darkened Sky” from Kirby’s Dream Land 2, which was remastered as “Darkness Returns” in Kirby: Planet Robobot. This chaotic and enigmatic theme is the obvious choice here, as it’s become synonymous with the swordsman.

Outro

Considering Kirby’s sheer success and iconicity, its steadily growing collection of content within Nintendo’s signature gathering is more than justified. However, as both series have evolved and continued to pay their respects to each other, Smash’s way of honoring Sakurai’s original series has become infamously lopsided. The three mainline Kirby titles he’s worked on, Kirby’s Dream Land, Kirby’s Adventure, and Kirby Super Star, have each received some of the most content a single game’s ever gotten in the crossover, easily eclipsing the installments he wasn’t involved in (even Kirby Air Ride’s gotten a lot of love, despite being a spin-off). This is all common knowledge, but no matter the reason behind it, a monumental portion of one of Nintendo’s greatest properties is virtually absent. So, if Smash favors the older Kirby too much, why should that be rectified by inviting a villain that debuted nearly thirty years ago? Simply put, Dark Matter is a fantastic blend of uniqueness and significance. Its inconsistent shape and repertoire would stand out, while embodying a collection of titles that absolutely deserve their due. Our subject isn’t the most viable, likely, or discussed would-be fighter from the land of dreams, but that’s to be expected of such an oddity. Whether it strikes again on this unexpected battleground, another Kirby staple gets the honor, or Smash stays the course and sticks with its admittedly exceptional trio of Kirby, Meta Knight, and King Dedede, the heights these two franchises have reached together is inspiring. Hopefully, this synergy is far from over, and we’ll get to continue seeing them support each other for years to come.