Rocket Star
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| “ | The machine's normal race speed isn't very fast, but if you hold down A to completely fill your Boost Gauge and then release it, this machine will do a massive charged-up Boost! | ” | — Kirby Air Ride North American instruction booklet, page 33 |
The Rocket Star is a rideable machine in Kirby Air Ride. It is best known for having, far and away, the highest boosting attribute in the game.
Appearance[edit]
The main body of the unit has an arrowhead-like shape, with convex left and right sides. Its body appears to be covered in a gray-brown leather-type material, which is sealed with a large zipper, running from the front tip of the vehicle, under the rider's seat, and to the back. Extending out from the rear, on the left and right sides, are two propulsion units, which expel a yellow gas at diagonal angles pointing outwards somewhat, rather than straight behind. The most apparent feature of this machine's appearance is a large orb on the rear, which stores a glowing white core with a blue hue. While this vehicle charges on the ground, the orb grows dramatically larger, and as it does so, lines of white energy can be seen drawing towards the core. Just when the vehicle's charge is almost full, a unique sound plays, and immediately after it is full, the orb stops growing, and the lines of energy disappear.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby Air Ride[edit]
Mechanics[edit]
The Rocket Star's most notable trait is its high boosting capability. After a full grounded charge is loosed, the vehicle will be shot forward at a speed above 31.07 mph (50km/h). However, most of its attributes are below average, with poor turning capabilities, gliding distance and flight height. Its top speed is a very low 9.64 mph (15.52 km/h), when not coasting off its immense boosting capability. In addition, its various combat statistics are considered to be relatively low. Despite its massive boosting capability, it completely lacks the ability to charge while gliding, and does not get any boost from a grounded charge unless it is charged to the maximum.
Its traits make the Rocket Star a very challenging machine to use in most modes in the game, with every attempt to boost having an inherent risk relying on whether or not the full charge can be built up in sufficient time. When used in City Trial, a rider can have enough patches to boost its initially low stats and make it a formidable machine in various Stadium modes, especially Drag Race and Single Race modes.
How to unlock[edit]
To unlock this machine for use in Air Ride mode, the player must enter a Free Run in Machine Passage with any vehicle. Once any lap is completed in less than 01:05:00, the machine will be unlocked.
In City Trial, the Rocket Star can occasionally be found randomly throughout the city and be mounted like most other air ride machines. It is always available in Free Run as well.
Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]
This vehicle makes a cameo in the Paint Panic Sub-Game of Kirby: Canvas Curse, as one of various pictures Paint Roller can create, and the player must mimic. The main body must be drawn before the blue orb on the rear.
In Kirby: Right Back at Ya![edit]
| “ | Our next Air Ride Machine is the Rocket Star! It takes a while to charge up, but once the Rocket Star blasts off, look out! | ” | — N.M.E. Sales Guy, in Air-Ride-in-Style - Part I |
The Rocket Star appears in Kirby: Right Back at Ya!, ridden by one of the Air Riders in Air-Ride-in-Style - Part I and Part II. Kirby rides it while battling the flail-wielding Air Rider, but is forced to ditch the Rocket Star when it runs out of fuel and then explodes. He does not end up riding one in Fright to the Finish.
Gallery[edit]
Smaller but transparent artwork
Artwork of Yellow Kirby wielding a bomb while riding atop the Rocket Star
Concept art of the Rocket Star
Ripped model from the game's data
The Rocket Star as seen in the City Trial ending.
Artwork of Kirby riding atop the Rocket Star from Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Alternate artwork from Kirby: Right Back at Ya!
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ロケットスター Roketto Sutā |
Rocket Star |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Rocket Estrela (Kirby: Right Back at Ya!) | Rocket Star |
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