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Road Trip
| Road Trip | |
|---|---|
 Initial title screen for Road Trip. | |
| Details | |
| Type(s) | Racing - Single-player campaign |
| Players | 1 |
| Appears in | Kirby Air Riders |
|
This article or section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it's being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible. Reason: with the game now released, there's a lot to be done. in particular: round up the overview, add more images. crossroads section could probably be turned into "list of characters in the mode" until individual stage pages are made, but for now it can stay. feel free to help |
Road Trip is one of the main game modes in Kirby Air Riders, and the only mode that is brand new to this game. Road Trip is different from the rest of the game, as instead of having multiplayer competitive gameplay, it is a single-player Story Mode campaign, where the rider has to face off against a plethora of different challenges while on their journey towards the unknown, gradually becoming stronger.
Contents
Story[edit]
When the story begins, Air Ride machines have rained down on Planet Popstar. They were sentient but powerless—however, if they came in contact with someone willing to channel their will to them, their engine would spring to life. The beings who did so were called riders, and they became part of Popstar's everyday life. One day, some riders noticed their Air Ride machines were behaving strangely: it turned out that they appeared to be looking to an unknown place. The player's rider decides to head in that direction to uncover the mystery, beginning their grand adventure. Throughout their journey, the player will also encounter a mysterious King Dedede-like being that attempts to stop the player's rider. The rider also finds mysterious pink crystals that reveal the background and lore of the events that led up to the current situation.
A long time ago, a mechanical lifeform named Zorah was flung into space by accident and ended up in its current form after pulling machines, minerals, and meteorites from its surroundings towards it.[1] It arrived on Planet Popstar in an area that would be known as The Farthest Reach. It had no ability to move on its own, and throughout the ages, it remained in one place, wishing to be able to roam the world freely. Eventually, Zorah's wish reached the Fountain of Dreams, which forwarded the message to Galactic Nova. This caused the clockwork star to start the production of Air Ride machines deep within itself, before deploying them to Popstar. These machines became integrated into society, causing riders to become commonplace.
Meanwhile, Nova sent out worker drones to Zorah's location. There, they began ripping and tearing it apart, and most importantly, took its core. They reassembled Zorah into a new creation: the legendary Air Ride machine Gigantes, a weapon that could destroy the planet but was still incapable of moving on its own. Once the project was completed, Nova went to the next step of its plan. Using Gigantes, it sent out a signal to Air Ride machines across the world to return to their origin. While most could not sense the command, some strong-willed pairs received it and set out on a journey, oblivious to the ulterior machinations. Once any pair would arrive at Gigantes' location, their will would be hijacked to the legendary Air Ride machine, awakening it.
However, a fragment of Zorah's will managed to escape, and took on a form known as Noir Dedede. Although its wish had now come true, Noir Dedede could not allow Gigantes to be activated, and it began hunting down riders that came close to the doomsday machine. However, it could not stop one rider—the player's rider.
In the normal ending, once the rider arrives at their destination, their Air Ride machine, against their wishes, awakens Gigantes, which they now have to fight. After bringing its health to zero, the rider has to race with Noir Dedede, who wants to retrieve its core. If Noir Dedede succeeds, it and Gigantes both self-destruct, prompting the player to try the race again. If the player arrives first, they pierce through Gigantes with their machine, neutralizing it. With its equivalent of a heart now gone, the sorrowful Noir Dedede looks at the sunset, its eyes dimming, and withers into dust. Galactic Nova, who has been observing the battle, flies away from Popstar, and the rider returns home.
However, if on a New Game + playthrough the player collects every Air Ride machine available, the true ending will play out instead. When the rider arrives at their destination, Gigantes knocks them off their machine before they even get the chance to get closer. Then, it hijacks every machine and absorbs them, achieving its ultimate, most powerful form—Hyper Gigantes. The rider, now helpless, doesn't know what to do, until Noir Dedede shows up and calls two other legendary Air Ride machines—the Dragoon and the Hydra. The rider picks one, while Noir Dedede picks the other, and together they fight Hyper Gigantes to save Popstar. The defeated Hyper Gigantes flips over on its back, and it is then that Noir Dedede seizes the opportunity and merges with the core to fire a laser into the sky. The laser hits Galactic Nova and materializes, forming a road called Journey's End.
Meanwhile, a new legendary Air Ride machine awakens, one not created by the despicable ancient artifact—the living Leo. Leo joins forces with the player's rider, and the pair makes their way to the interior of Galactic Nova, where they destroy its heart. With Nova having perished, the rider makes their triumphant return to Popstar, just like Kirby did in the past. After "THE END" rolls, it is revealed that Gigantes was destroyed in the aftermath of the firing, but Zorah's core is intact. With the help of the rider's machines, which are now free, it reassembles into its original form and ascends to the sky, at peace with itself after having been able to experience free movement. The world now saved and justice served to the perpetrator of the chaos, the rider peacefully returns home.
Gameplay[edit]
Road Trip is a single-player mode, and serves as the game's Story Mode. It combines elements from the other three modes: Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial, while itself being a mix of Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS's Classic Mode and Super Smash Bros. series' Event Matches. It takes the former's format of journeying across multiple branching paths, and the latter's idea of pre-determined themed challenges.
The mode begins by selecting one of the riders, who is then given a regular Warp Star. The rider starts with their default stats and at Level 1. When on the road, three paths can be chosen, and the player will have an option to switch between lanes to pick the desired option. The options are challenges, items, bosses, shops, or new machines. Challenges span races, battles, or otherwise completing miscellanea of arbitrary objectives. Some riders also have a purple glow around them, indicating a harder difficulty but a greater reward for completion; in every stage, this type of challenge appears at least once as a mandatory challenge. These purple aura challenges also sometimes appear as an intruder and replace one of the current available choices of challenges. Occasionally, Noir Dedede may do the same, and change the challenge into its own, which only includes itself as a rival. It drops a memory fragment on defeat, which shows the next story cutscene when obtained.
Upon winning a challenge, the rider receives one or more patches (which will increase a rider's stat), their level will increase, and they will obtain some Road Miles (the mode's currency). Upon losing a challenge, the player will be prompted to either Retry or Start Over. On Normal or Hard modes, Retry will deduct some Road Miles based on the reward of the challenge up to two times, after which the player can infinitely Retry without consequence. On Easy mode, using the Retry option won't deduct Road Miles at any point. Start Over will reset the player's progress back to the previous rest area, respawning the challenges but keeping player stats. This can be used to prepare for the challenge the player lost to. In Super-Hard Mode, Retry is not possible, and the player can only Start Over at the start point or midpoint of the stage. It is also not possible to save mid-stage.
More Air Ride machines can be obtained throughout the playthrough, by randomly encountering them on the road or buying them from shops, and they can be switched between when entering a new stage, exiting a rest area, or retrying a challenge.
Stats[edit]
- Boost
- Top Speed
- Turn
- Charge
- Glide
- Weight
- Offense
- Defense
- HP
Challenges[edit]
| Road Trip challenges | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Image | Caption(s) | Description |
| Race | "Race to the finish in Air Ride/Top Ride!" | Be the first rider to cross the finish line in an allotted number of laps. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals (in Air Ride mode). | |
| Time Attack | "Reach the goal within the time limit!" | Complete the allotted number of laps within the time limit. | |
| Defeat Rival | "Defeat [character]!" | Eliminate the designated opponent in an Air Ride match, City Trial match, or Dustup Derby Stadium. Copy Abilities and power-up items will spawn frequently throughout. | |
| Destroy Boxes | "Destroy X boxes!" | The player must destroy the designated number of boxes around a sectioned-off part of Skyah within the time limit. Boxes that can appear include green boxes, red boxes, and rare boxes. The player must also contend with several opponents, who will attempt to reduce the player's HP to 0 by attacking and using power-up items. | |
| Timed Race | "Be in the lead when the timer ends!" | The player and several opponents compete in an Air Ride or Top Ride race. The player succeeds if they are in 1st place when the timer expires. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals (in Air Ride mode). | |
| Target the Halberd | "Land on the Battleship Halberd flying overhead!" | The Halberd spawns over Skyah and the player must land on it within the given time limit. No obstacles or opponents appear, but several jump pads are scattered throughout the island and the Flame Wings item spawns frequently. Due to the challenge's nature, this challenge is effectively impossible with bike-type, chariot-type or tank-type machines. | |
| Button Rush | "Push the buttons and earn at least X points!"
"Ride over buttons and battle for control of the area!" |
The player and several opponents are placed in a Button Rush Stadium. The player must either obtain a designated number of points, or have more points than the opponents when time expires. Opponents will attempt to impede the player by attacking and changing buttons that the player has already pressed. | |
| Kirby Melee | "Defeat as many foes as you can!"
"Defeat more foes than anyone else!" |
The player and several opponents are placed in a Kirby Melee Stadium. The player must either obtain a designated number of points, or have more points than the opponents when time expires. | |
| Short Race | "A single-lap race around Skyah!" | The player and several opponents are placed in a Short Race event course in Skyah. The player must cross the finish line before their opponents. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals. | |
| Rail Panic | "Navigate the grind rails to take the lead!" | The player and several opponents are placed in a Rail Panic Stadium. The player must cross the finish line before their opponents. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals. | |
| Tourney Race | "Lower-placing riders will drop after checkpoints!" | The player and several opponents compete in an Air Ride or Top Ride course. The player must win the race, but also must cross several checkpoints while being ahead of a minimum ranking requirement, which increases after each checkpoint. CPU players are not eliminated this way if they are behind the rank requirement. | |
| Treasure Hunt | "Find a key and open the treasure chest!" | The player and several opponents are dropped into a sectioned-off part of Skyah. The player must locate a key and then escort it to the chest to open it. The chest's location will be briefly shown at the start of the challenge before disappearing. A guidance marker will appear underneath the player pointing them to the location of the key if they do not already have it. Unlike the respective City Trial event, the chest's location will not be revealed again after collecting the key unless time is about to run out, in which case a guidance marker appears underneath the player directing them to the chest's location. Opponents will attempt to impede the player by attacking and using power-up items. | |
| Gourmet Race | "Gobble up as much of the feast as you can!"
"Eat X food items!" |
The player, alongside any opponents, is placed in a Gourmet Race Stadium, Drag Race Stadium, or Top Ride course. The player must either obtain a designated number of points, or have more points than the opponents when time expires. If in a Drag Race course, a large food item will appear at the end, awarding 15 points if collected. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals. | |
| Survival | Survive until time runs out! | The player and several opponents are placed in a Dustup Derby Stadium. The player must survive to the end of the event without allowing their HP to drop to 0. Opponents will attempt to incapacitate the player with abilities and power-up items. | |
| Skydive | "Dive quickly by Boosting. Aim for a high score!" | The player and several opponents are placed in a Skydive Stadium. The player must earn more points than their opponents by diving through point rings. Due to this challenge's nature, this challenge may be difficult for bike-type, chariot-type, or tank-type machines. | |
| Oval Circuit | "Race around a closed circuit!" | The player and several opponents are placed in an Oval Circuit Stadium. The player must cross the finish line before their opponents. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals. | |
| Capture Tac | "Take down X fleeing Tacs!" | The player and several opponents are dropped into a sectioned-off part of Skyah alongside several Tacs. The player must defeat a designated number of Tacs within the time limit. Tacs in this challenge have significantly lower health and can be easily defeated in a single blow. Opponents will attempt to impede the player by attacking and using power-up items. | |
| Defeat 'Em All | "Defeat all of the machines!" | The player and several opponents are placed in an Air Ride course or Dustup Derby Stadium. The player must eliminate all rivals within the time limit. | |
| VS. Dyna Blade/Kracko/Grand Wheelie | "Defeat [boss]!" | The player must defeat the designated enemy within the time limit in a City Trial match. Power-up items and Copy Abilities will spawn frequently throughout the arena. If opponents are present, they will attempt to impede the player by attacking and using power-up items. | |
| Destroy the Huge Pillar | "Smash the stone pillar until it breaks!" | The player and several opponents are dropped into a sectioned-off part of Skyah. The player must destroy the huge pillar within the time limit. Opponents will attempt to impede the player by attacking and using power-up items. | |
| Beam Gauntlet | "Slip past the harmful lasers and make it to the end!" | The player and several opponents are placed in a Beam Gauntlet Stadium. The player must cross the finish line before their opponents. This challenge can also be completed by eliminating all rivals. | |
| VS. Robo Dedede/Zero Two/Nightmare/Marx | "Defeat the transforming robot!"
"Dodge its attacks and aim for the eyeball!" "Defeat the king of bad dreams!" "Defeat the twisted jester!" |
The player is placed in a VS. Boss Stadium and must defeat the boss within the time limit. | |
| Air Glider | "Fly X yards/meters!" | The player and opponents (if any) are placed in an Air Glider Stadium. The player must either travel a designated distance, or fly farther than any opponents. Due to this challenge's nature, this challenge may be difficult for bike-type, chariot-type, or tank-type machines. | |
| Target Flight | "A one-shot competition! Earn at least X points!" | The player and opponents (if any) are placed in a Target Flight Stadium. The player must either earn a designated number of points, or earn more points than any opponents. Due to this challenge's nature, this challenge may be difficult for bike-type, chariot-type, or tank-type machines. |
Road Events[edit]
| All Road Events | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Image | Explanation |
| Burning carts |  |
Explodes and gives its contained patches, at the cost of half of the rider's current HP. |
| Bomb |  |
You'll take damage but also get a reward for your trouble! Destroys the other rivals, granting their rewards at the cost of half of the rider's current HP. |
| Treasure Chest |  |
Test your luck, and you could power up! Gives 1-3 patches. |
| Super-jump ramp |  |
Skip a challenge, and also grants 2 Glide patches. |
| Flame Wings |  |
Automatically finishes the challenge to the side of the flame wings, granting its reward. |
| Chickie |  |
Lowers the difficulty of the next challenge. |
| Dash Ring |  |
Automatically finishes the next challenge in the same row, granting its reward. |
| Cannon |  |
Will launch you back to an earlier spot on the road. Launches the rider back, allowing them to pick up more challenges/items on the return trip. |
Shop[edit]
A Waddle Dee merchant cart can be seen at certain spots in each stage, where goods are sold (like machines, patches, or copy abilities) in exchange for Road Miles. Prices of the goods vary. The following are goods offered by the shop:
- Air Ride machines, rarely
- Patches
- Copy Abilities
- Items
Rest areas[edit]
Once encountered, rest areas offer a Gummy and a choice between three patches and will heal the rider's vehicle to maximum health. Each rest area has a unique building in the background, and will occasionally show hints for the crossroads event at the end of the stage.
Stages[edit]
| Stages in Road Trip | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reached from | Stage | Leads to |
| Stage 1 | ||
| N/A |  Grassland Lane A grassy flatland that serves as an introduction to the mode. |
|
| Stage 2 | ||
|
 Big Brawny Jungle A jungle-themed stage based on the starting area of Cavernous Corners. Riders wear bunny ear hats. |
|
 Mega-Blossom Meadow A stage filled with abnormally huge flora. Based on Floria Fields and Flower. |
| |
 Sugarcoated Straightaway A stage made of sweets. |
| |
| Stage 3 | ||
|
 Glowtree Garden Drive A grassland featuring crystal hills and cherry blossom trees. Riders wear bows. |
|
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 Metro Motorway An urban-themed stage. |
|
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 Lake-Breeze Lane A lake-themed stage set on a boardwalk. |
|
 Prism Overpass A sky-themed track set on a rainbow pathway. Riders wear halo hats. |
| |
| Stage 4 | ||
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 Freezing Freeway A winter-themed stage based on the starting areas of Mount Amberfalls and Mountain. |
|
|
 Full-Throttle Racetrack A raceway-themed stage based on the Oval Circuit stadium. | |
|
 Mushgloom Route A mushroom forest-themed stage. Riders wear the "round ears" Headwear. | |
| Stage 5 | ||
|
 Reefside Ride A water-themed stage full of coral reefs and small islands. Based on Waveflow Waters and possibly Flow. |
|
| Stage 6 | ||
|
 Mt. Daylight Pass An autumn-themed stage based on Mount Amberfalls and Mountain. |
|
 Sunset Shoreline A beach-themed stage with the backdrop that of a setting sun based on the ending portion of Mount Amberfalls. |
| |
| Stage 7 | ||
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 Bone-Dry Run A desert-themed stage. |
|
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 Silent Side Street A bleak city-themed stage full of mist and fog. | |
|
 Low-Road Cavern A cave-themed stage. Possibly based on the cavern section of Cavernous Corners and Cave. | |
| Stage 8 | ||
|
 Digital Superhighway A cyber-themed stage based on Cyberion Highway and Cyber. |
|
 Neon Promenade Another cyber-themed stage with neon light elements. | ||
| Stage 9 | ||
|
 Foundry Thoroughfare A lava factory-themed stage based on the blast furnace area of Steamgust Forge. |
|
 Crystal-Clear Crossing A crystal cave-themed stage based on Crystalline Fissure and Crystal. | ||
 Boiler Boulevard An industrial-themed stage based on the outer area of Steamgust Forge and Steam. | ||
| Stage 10 | ||
|
 Ruinous Runway A ruins-themed stage based on Airtopia Ruins and Air. |
|
 Deep-Dive Drive An underwater cave-themed stage. | ||
| Stage 11 | ||
|
 The Farthest Reach A desolate valley-themed stage, where Zorah fell. The final stage in the normal ending. |
|
| Stage 12 | ||
|
File:KARs Road Trip-Journey's End Stage Icon.png Journey's End A rainbow bridge reaching into space, created by Noir Dedede and Gigantes, leading to Galactic Nova. Serves as both a boss rush and the final stage in the true ending. |
N/A |
Crossroads[edit]
At a certain point while traversing the stage, the rider will be presented with a choice of two or three items or characters. At the end, they will encounter an obstacle blocking their way, but soon after, the newly collected item or character will clear the way for the rider. The cutscenes for these transitions have a unique clip-art artstyle not seen anywhere else in the mode.
| Obstacles and scenarios | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Obstacle | Stage | Scenarios | Leads to |
 Jungle thicket The road is overrun by the jungle bushes, preventing further advance. |
 Solite Comes from behind, shining a light at the thicket, creating a multicolored entryway. The rider then drives through, leaving the Solite behind. |
||
 Tortuilding Falls from above, crushing the bushes, then retreats into its building. The rider then drives through. |
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 Paintra Paints a rainbow trail over the road, destroying Lovely's base and reducing her to just a flower bud. |
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 Candy pile A massive pile of candies blocks the way. |
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 Gnawcodile The bottom of the screen floods with water as it comes up underneath the pile, eating it so the rider can pass. |
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 Barricade A barricade blocks the road. |
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 End of the road The boardwalk ends abruptly, leaving only water ahead. |
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 Wheel The rider uses the Wheel ability, revving up and driving through a brief gap in the lightning strikes. |
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 Crystal-throwing hands Strange hands throw multicolored crystals at the rider from behind. |
 Checkered Flag The checkered flag starts waving to block the crystals, and the rider accelerates forwards. |
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   Corals A mass of corals blocks the road. |
   Noir Dedede The shadowy tendrils of the defeated Noir Dedede smash through the corals as it retreats, allowing the rider to pass. |
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 Sand dune A huge pile of sand stands in the way. |
 Golem Jumps and slams the ground several times, causing a cave entrance to erupt from beneath the pile. |
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File:KARs Road Trip-Stage 7a Crossroads Mr. Bright.png
Mr. Bright The rider is attacked by Mr. Bright. |
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 Computer Virus Blocks Mr. Bright's attack with its main window, also creating a portal that the rider enters. |
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 Holo Defense API Draws a large holographic portal over Shadowbite, allowing the rider to pass through. |
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 The darkness The rider gets lost in the darkness. |
 Computer monitor Activates and sucks the rider into the monitor. |
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 Dead end The road suddenly ends, with only a hostile, glitched void ahead. |
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 Flow of lava The rider is stopped by a flow of lava on the road. |
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 Crystal portals Crystals begin erupting from glowing lights on the road, approaching the rider. |
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 Leaky boiler A boiler that's about to burst blocks the path, creaking and leaking water. |
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 Kapar Throws its cutter, bouncing ineffectually off the metal. It and the rider are caught in the flood when the boiler bursts. |
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 Noir Dedede drives off, and the rider gives chase. |
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Trivia[edit]
- In at least version 1.0.0, it is possible to collect every Air Ride machine on a non-New Game + playthrough, provided the player picked paths carefully and refreshed Road Shops by starting stages over multiple times. Thus, it is possible to get the true ending of the game without having to see the normal one. [needs verification]
- Road Trip's title screen depicts the most recently played stage, otherwise defaulting to Grassland Lane if the mode hasn't been played.
- In addition, completing either ending adds the rider's icon to the title screen and displays it at the bottom, though it always shows their default palette even if a different one was selected. If multiple riders finish Road Trip, their icons are displayed in order of completion, with the order shifting if a rider completes Road Trip again after a different rider.
Gallery[edit]
-
License sticker of the Road Trip icon from Kirby Air Riders -
Meta Knight notices his Shadow Star is acting strange -
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ロードトリップ[2] Rōdo Torippu |
Road Trip |
| English | Road Trip[2] | Term for a long-distance journey on the road (typically by car or motorcycle) |
| Chinese | 公路旅行[2] Gōnglù Lǚxíng |
Road Trip |
| Dutch | Roadtrip[2] | - |
| French | Road Trip[2] | - |
| German | Road Trip[2] | - |
| Italian | Road Trip[2] | - |
| Korean | 로드 트립[2] Lodeu Teulip |
Road Trip |
| Portuguese | Pé na Estrada[2] | Expression that roughly translates to "On the road". |
| Spanish | Escapada[2] | Escapade |
