Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a 2.5D side-scrolling platformer developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Kirby travels across planets collecting crystal shards to stop Dark Matter, inhaling enemies to copy their powers. Its signature feature lets players combine two abilities into unique Power Combos. It includes a co-op helper, boss fights, and multiplayer mini-games.
How To Play Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Control
Action
Control Stick
Move Kirby
A Button
Jump (tap repeatedly to float/fly)
B Button
Inhale enemies; use copied ability; spit stars
Z Trigger
Guard / drop ability
C Buttons
Adjust view
Start
Pause / menu
About Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Release date
JP: March 24, 2000 · NA: June 26, 2000 · EU: June 22, 2001
Sheldon has spent over a decade immersed in retro gaming, from NES classics to arcade gems. He's deeply passionate about preserving gaming history and helping others rediscover these timeless titles. When he's not gaming, Shaun writes about the evolution of video games and their cultural impact.
