Kirby's Return to Dream Land/Unused Graphics/Unused Textures
This is a sub-page of Kirby's Return to Dream Land/Unused Graphics.
 | This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes. |
Contents
Unused Ability Textures
Bomb
Inside Bomb Kirby's hat files, there stands a texture that depicts an alternate design for the hat. This texture appears to be the older hat that first appeared in Kirby Super Star! It's unknown if this is a leftover from the game's GameCube incarnation due to the party hat being shown in the game's trailer, although the more cartoony style and design suggests that this is likely a leftover from the third cancelled game instead. The texture won't display correctly if applied to the standard Bomb hat model, however, it can be applied to Sword Kirby's hat model from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The name of the texture is KbBombHat.
Flare Beam
| Kirby's Return to Dream Land (unused) | Super Smash Bros. Brawl |
|---|---|
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Inside Flare Beam's hat files, there is an earlier texture for the hat. This texture is actually the exact same texture used on the Beam Kirby trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl - a particular curiosity, since Beam, unlike many of the abilities depicted as trophies in that game, wasn't in Kirby Air Ride and uses newly made assets! The variant within Flare Beam's files is downscaled, and potentially may have been planned for Kirby's Return to Dream Land earlier in its development cycle and assumed to have been for the GameCube incarnation. The unused texture in this game is named HrKirbyBeamSuperHat while the texture in Super Smash Bros. Brawl is named HrKirbyBeamHat.
| Unused/Super Smash Bros. Brawl | Final |
|---|---|
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There's also another unused hat texture inside both Beam and Flare Beam's files which is also the exact same as the one used for Beam Kirby's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The unused/Super Smash Bros. Brawl texture is named HrKirbyBeamHat2 while the final texture is named KbBeamHat2.
Mike
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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The file of the model for Mike's microphones also contain an unused texture of what seems to be an early version of the Stand Mike texture. The early texture is named KbMikeWeapon01 while the final texture is named KbMikeWeapon03.
Spear
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
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| With Unused Texture | With Used Texture |
|---|---|
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The files for the Spear ability's spear projectile model have an unused version of the reflection effect texture for the spear tip, which appears to be of a lighter shade than the used texture. The unused version of the texture is named KbSpearEdgeRef while the used version of texture is named KbSpearEdgeRef2. The unused texture is not found in the held spear model, nor is it found in any of the models for Bandana Waddle Dee's spear, where the held spear model and the projectile spear model are also separate. Expectedly, the texture used for those spear models is the exact same as the one used in the projectile variant for the spear model for the Spear ability.
Ultra Sword
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
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The contents of Ultra Sword's hat and sword files contain an earlier, lower quality version of the handle texture for the default sword model that goes unused. The unused texture is named FlyingSwordUV, while the used texture is named KbSwordSuperSword.
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
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Also present in the contents is an unused version of a reflection effect texture used for the default sword's blade, which interestingly, is of a higher resolution than the used one. The unused texture is named FlyingSwordRef while the the texture that goes used is named KbSwordSdgeRef2.
| With Unused Textures | With Used Textures |
|---|---|
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The unused textures' filenames are interesting as "FlyingSword" not only isn't the final internal name for Ultra Sword (It's SuperSword), but the name doesn't match up with the context used in the final game, nor do any of the other Super Ability textures have "Flying" in the name.
Water
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
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The files for the Water ability's plume model, has an unused version of the reflection effect texture for the hat model for the Water ability. Although that may not be interesting, the filename of the unused texture on the other hand, certainly is! This is because the unused version's filename, which is KbWaterSuperHatWaterOutLineRef, implies the existence of an unused super version of the Water ability as the filename format matches the ones used for some of the hat textures for the Super Abilities. The used version is named KbWaterHatWaterOutLineRef.
Unused Expressions
Expressions that exist in the files, but for reasons go unused. Those expressions, however, are used in the characters' "Model" animations that also go unused in-game.
Damage Textures
Hothead.01
ChDooEye.01
ChCappy.01
Craby.01
The enemies Hot Head, Waddle Doo, Cappy, and Craby both have a "damage" texture in their files that don't show up anywhere in-game. These were supposed to appear whenever they got hit or grabbed, but they ended up unused for an unknown reason, most likely due to an error. Super Hot Head's hurt texture on the other hand does show up in-game.
| Normal | Hurt |
|---|---|
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Interestingly, both Cappy's normal and hurt textures do also have some slight differences. The same also applies to some enemies whose hurt textures do get used.
Hot Head
Waddle Doo
Cappy
Craby
If applied to the models, the textures display correctly. It's worth noting that both of these textures are used in later games starting with Kirby: Triple Deluxe , albeit modified. All of the enemies listed but Hot Head's damage textures still don't display correctly in the remake.
Galacta Knight
MetaEye.2
MetaEye.3
Galacta Knight has textures for closing his eyes, which end up going unused in-game as when he breaks out of the crystal, which is the only time where he doesn't open his eyes, his eyes instead fade quickly from black when he reveals them. The eye expressions, however, do also get used in an animation of his named Model, that expectedly, also goes unused.
Miscellaneous
ChTickBody.03
ChTogekukiBody.01
Both the enemies Tick and Totenga have unused miscellaneous expressions that don't show up in-game. Interestingly, Tick, in the game's remake, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, has that same expression in their files, although in better quality, where it is also unused. Tick's unused expression, was going to be used for a moving animation like in Kirby's Dream Land 3 and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, which along with the expression, also goes unused in this game. Where Totenga's expression could've been used for on the other hand, is unknown as the expression is used in none of their animations used in-game and even their unused attacking animation as well!
Tick
Totenga
Like with the others, the textures display correctly when applied on the models.
Unused Enemy Textures
Walf
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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| With Unused Texture | With Used Texture |
|---|---|
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The files for the turtle-like enemy Walf include textures for an alternate design. Compared to the final design, the early one is missing the blue cap on its head, has a lighter shell, and a simpler eye. There are no alternate facial expression textures to go with it. The early texture is named EmWalf00, while the final texture is named EmWalf.00.
EmWalfEye.00
EmWalfEye.03
I see...
Also included in the files is this eye texture along with its hurt variant. It appears to be another unused design for Walf's eye that appears to be even simpler than the others. The model is set up to use a single texture, so this eye cannot even be applied to it properly. The eye textures are named EmWalfEye.00 and EmWalfEye.03.
Gordo
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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The files for the enemy Gordo include an unused, earlier version of their body texture which isn't compatible with the final model, but it is compatible with the model from Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This texture eventually gets used in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS albeit slightly modified. The early texture is named ChGordoBody00 while the final texture is named ChGordoBody01.
Galbo
Unused
ChGalbo.00
ChGalbo.01
ChGalbo.02
ChGalboBody
Used
ChGalboAllS.0
ChGalboAllS.1
ChGalboAllS.2
The files for the enemy Galbo include unused earlier textures which aren't compatible with the final models. The unused textures greatly resemble the style used in the third cancelled game.
Water Galbo
Unused
ChWGalbo.00
ChWGalbo.01
ChWGalbo.02
ChWGalboBody
Used
ChWGalboAllS.0
ChWGalboAllS.1
ChWGalboAllS.2
The same case goes with the enemy, Water Galbo as well.
Needlous
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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| With Unused Texture | With Used Texture |
|---|---|
  |
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an unused texture, which works perfectly when applied to the final model. Strangely, this texture is found in Broom Hatter's files rather than Needlous's. Compared to the final version, it has less shiny eyes, lighter shading, and lacks the hairy texture.
The earlier texture doesn't have a hurt variant present in the files, unlike the final one. Both of the textures are named ChNeedlous.00.
Super Waddle Doo
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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| With Unused Texture | With Used Texture |
|---|---|
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The super variant of Waddle Doo, Super Waddle Doo contains an earlier, unused version of their body texture, which compared to the final texture, has a more saturated body color and a more lighter shade for the hair color. The unused texture is named ChDooBody, the same filename for Waddle Doo's body textures in this game, while the used texture is named ChSpDooBody.
| Character Model | In-game |
|---|---|
|
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ChDooEye.00
ChDooEye.01
Super Waddle Doo has separate eye textures that are used for their model, which are green rather than blue unlike those for the regular Waddle Doo. However, due to unknown reasons, said eye textures go unused in-game, resulting in the regular variant of Waddle Doo's eye textures being used instead despite Waddle Doo's eye textures being absent in Super Waddle Doo's files. Additionally, Super Waddle Doo and Waddle Doo's eye textures have the same filenames as shown above. The separate eye textures are later implemented in-game in the remake, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, suggesting that them going unused in-game was due to an error. The damage texture however, still goes unused in the remake like with the damage texture for Waddle Doo.
Additionally, Super Waddle Doo also has an unused texture named ChDooKari00 which is basically just completely black! It is unknown where it was going to be used as "Kari" has multiple meanings in Japanese, but in this instance, it most likely means temporary.
Pacto
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
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Pacto appears to have an unused body texture named "ChPacto01" that likely was for its back (which in this game, doesn't have an eye unlike the front), but as Pacto's back is never seen in-game, it would be unnecessary to use it, so therefore the back instead uses the same texture as the front, but is still mapped differently to not have an eye on the back. Pacloud however, doesn't have a variant for the unused texture.
Poppy Bros. Jr.
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
  |
  |
Poppy Bros. Jr. has unused versions of his textures that aren't compatible with his final model. Like Needlous's, the unused textures don't have a hurt variant present in the files unlike the final ones. The unused textures are found in the files of his bomb model rather than the files of his character model. Like Galbo and Water Galbo's unused textures, Poppy Bros. Jr.'s unused textures also greatly resemble the style used in the third cancelled game. His used and unused textures also both have the same filenames as well, with the body texture being named ChPoppyJrBody.00 and the specular texture being named ChPoppyJrBodySp in both instances.
Halcandran Bowby
| Unused | Used |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Inside the files of the arrow model used for the Halcandran variant of Bowby, contain an unused version of their body texture that isn't compatible with their final model, that also has some visual differences such as the eyes and more. The unused texture also contains a full mapping for the arrow, which is also never used in-game for the arrow model at all! The unused body and face texture is named ChHalcanBowbyArrow, while the texture used in-game is named ChHalcanBowby.00. Unlike the used face texture, there aren't variants for the expressions for the unused face texture.
Squishy
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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 |
Squishy has an unused body texture in their files that isn't compatible with their final model, which also doesn't have any variant for the eye textures it as they seem to have became the used body textures, judging by their filenames. The unused texture is named EmSquishyBody, while the used texture is named EmSquishyEye.00. Just like the unused textures for Galbo, Water Galbo, and Poppy Bros. Jr., Squishy's unused body texture again, greatly resembles the style used in the third cancelled game.
Mr. Sandbag
| Early | Final |
|---|---|
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Same case goes with Mr. Sandbag, with his unused texture not being compatible with his model. The early and unused texture is named "ChSandbagBody", while the final texture is named "SandbagBody0".
Coconut
| Coconut01 | Coconut02 (used) | Coconut03 |
|---|---|---|
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| Coconut01 | Coconut02 (used) | Coconut03 |
|---|---|---|
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The coconut model also has 2 unused textures, one being a more cartoony texture (left) and the other having slightly more shading (right) than the used one.
Mega Rocky
Mega Rocky
MegaRocky.00
MegaRocky.01
MegaRockyH
Rocky
Rocky.00
Rocky.01
Rocky2
RockySp
The files of Moundo EX's model contain textures for a larger variant of the enemy Rocky, which the textures name as "Mega Rocky", who never gets used in-game. The only leftovers of them in the files are said unused textures as they don't have a model, most likely due to getting replaced by Moundo. Interestingly, the textures are nowhere to be found in the files for Moundo's model! Mega Rocky's headband textures aren't compatible with Rocky's model. Unlike Rocky, Mega Rocky has a red and white headband rather than a blue and white one, their body textures are of a higher resolution than Rocky's, Mega Rocky also lacks Rocky's specular texture, named "RockySp", which like Mega Rocky's body textures is of a higher resolution than Rocky's body textures. The location of the textures suggests that Mega Rocky was most likely a mid-boss that ended up getting replaced by Moundo.
Unused Boss Textures
Dedede Robo leftovers in HR-D3
BsDedederoboDedede0
BsDedederoboDededeEyeL0
BsDedederoboDededeEyeR0
BsDedederoboStar0
BsDedederoboStar1
BsDedederoboGlass0
BsDedederobo1Ref0
Warp Star with the unused texture.
Textures for King Dedede and a Warp Star are included in HR-D3. King Dedede's texture sheet here is incompatible with his actual model, although his eye textures are identical to those used in Kirby Air Ride. Interestingly, this seems to indicate that his Air Ride model was either used as a basis for, or was reworked from, his model from the GameCube era of development, as the body texture sheet is incompatible with his Air Ride model. Since HR-D3 is based on Dedede Robo from said cancelled game, where it was piloted by King Dedede, this is almost certainly a leftover from that model. The presence of a Warp Star texture also seems to corroborate this, as a Warp Star could be seen inside Dedede Robo in footage of the game.
Early Whispy Woods and Goriath Textures
Whispy Woods
WhispyNewBody1
WhispyBush6
WhispyBush7
WhispyBody1
Goriath
GTamarinBody1
GTamarinFace.00
GTamarinFace.01
GTamarinFace.02
GTamarinFace.03
GTamarinFace.04
GTamarinFace.05
GTamarinFace.06
Goriath with Textures
Similarly, Whispy Woods and Goriath have sets of unused textures that differ heavily from their final designs. Whispy's foliage textures greatly resemble the art style used in the "pop-up book" era of the game's development, while Goriath's simply refer to him as "GTamarin" and depict him with red and purple fur, as well as teal facial markings. Unlike the body and face textures, there isn't an unused variant for Goriath's hair textures, which like the used textures, refer him as "Goliath" instead. Whispy's body textures are also not compatible with the final model, but his leaf textures are. Additionally, the unused textures are also found in their EX models as well.
