0² is the true main antagonist and final boss of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. It resides deep within Dark Star. Rather than taking control of Planet Popstar, Dark Matter invades the equally peaceful home world of the Fairies, Ripple Star. While not seen to be producing Dark Matter forces, 0²'s role as the final boss, as well as the battle's location, suggest that it is the intelligence behind these events.
Since Dark Matter's first priority on Ripple Star is the destruction of the Crystal in Ripple Star's palace, it is apparent that Dark Matter and/or 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 or related forces from the infected people (the Fairy Queen 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 is to 0² as the Love-Love Stick is 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.
Rather than taking control of Planet Popstar, Dark Matter invades the equally peaceful home world of the Fairies, Ripple Star. While not seen to be producing Dark Matter forces, 0²'s role as the final boss, as well as the battle's location, suggest that it is the intelligence behind these events.
Since Dark Matter's first priority on Ripple Star is the destruction of the Crystal in Ripple Star's palace, it is apparent that Dark Matter and/or 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 or related forces from the infected people (the Fairy Queen 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 is to 0² as the Love-Love Stick is 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.
This dropdown contains the synopsis of 0²’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Kirby 64
0² isn't encountered until the very end of the game, and only if all 74 Crystal Shards are collected. Unless every shard in the game is collected, Miracle Matter serves as the "final boss." In the bad ending, the existence of another evil force is only hinted when the Fairy Queen suddenly smirks in villainous triumph towards Ribbon as Kirby and friends fly away. However, if all the shards are collected, the fully reformed Crystal blasts the Fairy Queen with a beam of light, knocking her unconscious and revealing that she was being possessed by a massive concentration of Dark Matter, and presumably 0² itself.
Kirby has the Ribbon + Crystal Power Combo 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. The halo changes color each time it is hit. After enough damage is done to the halo, it disappears (and reappears after a short period of time), revealing its bandage, which only requires one hit. After shooting the bandage, 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 it is stunned, which will result in it moving much more slowly and make it 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's tail with a sufficient number of Crystal Shards from the Crystal Gun, the villain explodes, destroying it along with Dark Star and its inhabitants.
Alignment:Neutral Evil (The Dark Matter's go after planets and proceed to possess and corrupt everyone in the vicinity, spreading throughout multiple galaxies and 0² leads them to do this)
Dark Matters: The Dark Matter species is a race of beings that are often characterized by having a single eye. Most members and speculated members appear as a major antagonistic force in various games of the Kirby series. Although their goal may vary between individuals, most of them attempt to invade planets and cover them in darkness. Presumably being made of darkness and negative energy, some members are weak to light and positive energy, as shown with the Rainbow Sword and the Love-Love Stick. Members of the species also have the ability to possess and control others’ bodies to do their bidding. In the past, Hyness’s clan worshipped the “matter of darkness.” This implies that the Dark Matter species (or the material they’re made of) was worshipped by them.
Dark Star: Dark Star is the final boss level of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards that only appears once Kirby collects all 74 of the Crystal Shards (72 not counting the shards Kirby and Ribbon had in the second cutscene). 0² resides inside the core of Dark Star, and is likely the presence that possessed the Fairy Queen and also behind the shattering of the Crystal. It is similar in concept to the Hyper Zone in the game's prequel, Kirby's Dream Land 3. Once Miracle Matter is defeated with this condition, the Dark Matter cloud surrounding Ripple Star will leave and explode. However, the completed Crystal will suddenly shoot a beam of light at the Fairy Queen, excising another force that appears to be more Dark Matter. The ball of Dark Matter will leave the atmosphere and expand in size exponentially, forming the mass of Dark Star. Kirby whips out his cell phone and dials a Warp Star to taxi him and his friends through space. Upon entering the Dark Star, Kirby gets help from Adeleine, Waddle Dee, and King Dedede on his way towards 0². Waddle Dee opens up a path lower to Dark Star by bursting out of the ground, breaking one of the hexagonal platforms that amass Dark Star. Adeleine, as always, gives Kirby a Maxim Tomato if he needs health, or a 1UP if his health is full. King Dedede launches Kirby up into the battle with 0² via a seesaw-type mechanism, and the final battle commences. Unlike other planets in the game, Dark Star has one level, as it is the secret final boss level. The only type of ground in the Dark Star are hexagonal tiled platforms with various colors (mostly red and yellow). The background is dark red with ribbons of Dark Matter energy, making it red and black. The only enemies found in Dark Star are a bunch of N-Zs, which makes it a short level to get through with few problems. After 0² is defeated, Dark Star explodes and seemingly nothing is left of it. Hyper Zone previously exploded in a similar fashion, but it did not stop Dark Matter from returning, so it cannot be made certain that either Dark Matter or any of Zero's incarnations are gone for good.
Other
Standard Tactics: 0² will fight within the Dark Star flying around with it and sending out Dark Matter clouds to attack the opponent. If the opponent resists the affects and confronts them to fight then 0² fires exploding energy balls with decent accuracy and is impervious to absolutely any attack (in context to Kirby with the crystal gun), unless the attack comes into contact with its eye. If one destroys it's halo and shoots it's bandaged spot, and then finally fires at it's tail, green toxic gases will come out to attack the opponent.
Although their connection is stated to be unclear, 0² is commonly presumed to be the revived form of Zero, due to the bandage on its head and appearance that resembles a fallen angel.
The Bad Boss Brothers Celebration Picture depicts all of the Kirby series' final bosses (up to Kirby Star Allies), excluding different forms of existing members or characters that are only final bosses of certain sub-games. Here, Zero and 0² are both depicted, suggesting that they are in fact different characters entirely, despite their similarities.
0²'s appearance may be based on one of the forms of Lilith, the second angel in the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.
During this fight, on the pause menu, the "Try Again" option is replaced with "Tough It Out!". Selecting this option has the same effect as "Continue." No matter what option the player chooses, once the true final battle starts, there is no way out except to defeat 0², expend all of Kirby's lives, or reset the game.
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.
The description seems more fitting of the enemy Mopoo, which appears prominently in the cloudy area in Shiver Star.
Magolor Soul, Void Termina's core, and its derivatives (Void Soul and Void), resemble 0² in that they have what appears to be a mouth, which is then revealed to also be a giant eyeball.
Void Termina's angel form also has wings similar to 0². Soul Melter changes the entire boss' color scheme to mostly white, which gives Void Termina's angel form a much closer resemblance to 0².
0²'s theme mixed with Miracle Matter's theme and Ripple Star’s stage select theme plays when fighting Morpho Knight in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! while playing as Kirby (Franchise)/Adeleine & Ribbon.
When playing as Adeleine & Ribbon, Dark Meta Knight, or Kirby (Franchise)/Daroach in Guest Star ???? Star Allies Go! in Version 3.0.0. or in The Ultimate Choice, the animated background of Dark Star's core is visible through a pool on the ground of the arena used for the final boss rush.
