| “ | A benevolent creature, 0² rarely presents any trouble in the cloud levels of Shiver Star.” |
| — Description • Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards Official Strategy Guide (Prima) |
0² is the main antagonist and final boss of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. Although it is not directly stated, 0² is presumed to be a reincarnated or reborn form of Zero, due to the bandage on its head and appearance, which resembles a fallen angel. It resides deep within Dark Star, a gargantuan sphere of amassed Dark Matter.
Background
Rather than taking control of Planet Popstar, the Dark Matter under 0²'s control infest the equally peaceful home world of the Fairies, Ripple Star. While not seen to be producing any Dark Matter, 0²'s role as final boss as well as the location being fought, suggests with the same reasons for Zero that it is the intelligence behind Dark Matter-related events. Judging from the Dark Matter invasion, it appears that 0²'s goal, whatever it plans to do with the infested planets, is exactly the same as its predecessor's.
Since the Dark Matters' first priority on Ripple Star is the destruction of the Crystal in Ripple Star Palace,it is apparent that 0² knows the Crystal presents at least a credible threat to the plans in motion. It is seen near the end of the game that the reunited Crystal has the capability to purge Dark Matter from the person being infested (Queen Fairy in this case) with a beam of light and relieve them of its possession without the victim receiving a thorough beating beforehand. Comparatively speaking, the Crystal (and its Ribbon's Shard Gun derivative) is to 0² is the Love-Love Stick to Zero. Playing into the fairly clear light and dark themes the game presents, it suggests Zero, 0² and Dark Matter are weak against light from the Crystal at least, as well as certain positive emotions as suggested by the effects of the Love-Love Stick against Zero previously in Kirby's Dream Land 3.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
0² isn't encountered until very late in the game; its influence is mainly felt through its Dark Matter minions wrecking havoc. 0² is the real villain behind the destruction of the Crystal on Ripple Star and causing trouble on the different planets.
Kirby and Ribbon battle 0².
0² is a secret, optional boss that can only be faced if the player has every single Crystal Shard. Unless every shard in the game is collected, Miracle Matter serves as the "final boss". Kirby has Ribbon's Shard Gun during the fight, and Ribbon uses her wings to guide Kirby around. At first, 0² is impervious to absolutely any attack, and fires exploding energy balls at Kirby with decent accuracy. However, 0² can be stunned by continuously shooting at its eye; while it is stunned, Kirby must fly up and aim for the halo. After enough damage is done to the halo, 0² flips over, revealing a long, green, thorn-like tail on its bottom. This is its weak spot, so Kirby has to shoot it as many times as he can before 0² flips back over and the whole cycle repeats; however, this is complicated by the harmful green gas clouds the weak spot generates. It is also possible to damage 0²'s wings while he is stunned, which will result in it moving much more slowly and make him lose the ability to follow Kirby: if this is done, Kirby can simply move up and attack the halo without bothering to stun 0² first.
After blasting 0² with a sufficient number of Crystal Shards from the Shard Gun, the monster explodes, destroying it and Dark Matter once more and ending its reign of terror on the galaxy for the time being.
Concept art of 0² can also be seen in the game's ending credits.
Physical Appearance
0² looks in appearance to be Zero combined with a fallen angel. It has a bulbous white sphere for a body and a large bloodshot eye, with a white pupil, in its center. New additions include a pair of segmented wings, a halo, a bandage at the top (only visible when it flips forwards) and a tiny spike or tail on its bottom. When the spike is exposed as his weak spot, it extends in length, turns bright green, and gains spines, making it look like a cactus.
As Kirby enters the core of Dark Star, 0² first wears an amiable visage; two black dots resembling beady eyes above its barely open eye, which looks like a wide smile. As Kirby and Ribbon form the Crystal Shard Gun, its "mouth" opens up wide, its trademark blood-red eye is revealed, its false eyes disappear as the face melds together, and the battle initiates. This may be a reference to Gooey.
Trivia
- During this fight, on the pause menu, the "Try Again" option is replaced with "Tough It Out!". This option has the same effect as "Continue."
- A remix of 0²'s theme can be unlocked in Super Smash Bros. Brawl by collecting 5,000 or more coins in coin matches.
- 0² is one of the few characters who appears to bleed when he is fought. The others are Zero, Dark Meta Knight, and Shadow Dedede. These four are the most gruesomely-depicted characters in the series.
- The Prima strategy guide for Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is notably flawed; it states that 0² is a peaceful character who appears in Stage 2 of Shiver Star. Dark Star is left out entirely.
- Magolor Soul resembles 0²'s fake form in that they both have "mouths" that are actually large eyeballs.
- 0² is the first of five final bosses to be a reincarnated form of a previous final boss; the other four are Drawcia Soul, Marx Soul, Magolor Soul, and Soul of Sectonia.
Gallery
.png "Zero Two (False).png (389 KB)")
.png "Zero Two (Halo and Bandage).png (503 KB)")
.png "Zero Two (Spikes).png (512 KB)")
