Kirby Super Star Ultra is a
side-scrolling platform game. Similar to previous entries in the
Kirby series, the player controls
Kirby to complete various
levels while avoiding obstacles and enemies. Kirby can walk or run, jump, swim, crouch, slide, and inhale enemies or objects to spit them out as bullets. He can fly for a limited time by inflating himself; while flying, Kirby cannot attack or use his other abilities, though he can release a weak puff of air. By eating certain enemies, Kirby can gain copy abilities,
power-ups allowing him to take on the properties the enemy possessed.
Returning modes •
Spring Breeze: an abridged
remake of the first
Kirby game, ''
Kirby's Dream Land'' (1992), with new added gameplay enhancements.
King Dedede has stolen food from the citizens of Dream Land, and Kirby must reach the King's castle to challenge him. The bottom screen displays the current level and score while playing this mode. It takes place across three courses. Players earn points from eating food and bonus points for finishing first in a race; whoever earns the most points by the end of all levels wins. Players can choose to race either King Dedede or a "ghost" (the player's best attempt at the race), or simply race alone for the fastest time. An expanded display has been added to the bottom screen, showing the location of Kirby and Dedede through each course, along with the past high-score for each course. Some generic treasures have been replaced with items referencing more recent Kirby titles, for example, the 'Dud' with the
'Cell Phone'. The bottom screen displays an extensive map that shows the player's current location, treasure and gold count, and if the player has found all the treasure in a specific area. The mode also features
scrolling shooter elements. Unlike the other modes, Kirby cannot use copy abilities; instead, he collects "Copy Essence Deluxes". Once in Kirby's possession, they allow the player to select and tap a copy ability from the bottom screen, and are kept permanently. The bottom screen also shows the player's current location. •
The Arena: a
boss attack mode that challenges the player to fight every boss in the game with only one life and a free selection of power-up at the start of the game. The player can replenish their health up to five times total between rounds, and are granted two power-ups at random. The current boss and time are now shown on the bottom screen.
New modes •
Revenge of the King: After being beaten by Kirby so many times, King Dedede vows to defeat him in one last ditch attempt.
Revenge of the King is a more faithful remake of ''Kirby's Dream Land'
s extra mode, which essentially serves as a longer and more difficult version of Spring Breeze
. Kabula, the one boss present in Kirby's Dream Land
but not Spring Breeze'' has been added, along with harder versions of bosses, longer levels, and a completely revamped final fight. It is notable for being the last time canonically that King Dedede serves as a major antagonist to Kirby out of his own volition. •
Helper to Hero: A boss-rush mode where the player can control any one of the twenty Helpers in the game and utilise their unique movesets. In each Helper's campaign, their respective trials always culminate in a surprise final fight against Wham Bam Jewel, a newer and tougher version of Wham Bam Rock (the final boss of
The Great Cave Offensive) who is fought immediately after the latter's defeat. •
Meta Knightmare Ultra: A condensed and remixed version of five of the seven original modes with new level layouts, allowing the player to play as Meta Knight. Meta Knight wishes to become the galaxy's greatest warrior, so he embarks on a long quest through Dream Land until he reaches his Halberd and flies into space with the intention of reviving the destroyed Nova from
Milky Way Wishes. Nova then grants his wish to fight the greatest warrior in the galaxy, Galacta Knight. The player can activate special abilities using the bottom screen, which cost magic points to cast. •
The True Arena: A harder version of the regular Arena mode, containing all of the new bosses and mid-bosses added to the game, along with a unique version of Marx called Marx Soul that serves as the hidden final boss of the game. It is unlocked after completing all other modes. ==Development and release==