Haltmann Works Company

Lore & Background

The Haltmann Works Company is an alien corporation that conquers and mechanizes Planet Popstar using a massive spacecraft called the Access Ark. President Max Profitt Haltmann follows the business plans of a supercomputer named Star Dream, which directs the company's colonization efforts. The company's secretary, Susie, claims to be gathering endemic natural resources from the planet's ecosystems for Haltmann. After Kirby destroys the five bases serving as the Access Ark's landing legs, he infiltrates the Ark and confronts Haltmann. Haltmann fires Susie for failing to stop Kirby, then duels him in his own power suit but is defeated. Enraged, Haltmann attempts to use Star Dream to destroy Kirby, but is betrayed by Susie, who intends on selling the machine to other companies. However, Star Dream becomes self-aware, possesses Haltmann's body, and attacks Susie. Star Dream then announces that all organic life-forms are obstacles in Haltmann Works' business plan of prosperity, assimilates Haltmann, and embarks on a mission of intergalactic destruction. The true identity of Star Dream and the Access Ark is revealed to be a Galactic NOVA, one of the clockwork wish-granting comets used by Marx in Kirby Super Star. With Haltmann's consciousness fading, Star Dream goes on a rampage. After Kirby destroys Star Dream, Haltmann's machines magically erode, returning Popstar to its natural state. Susie leaves the planet, quickly pursued by Meta Knight.

Reader's Guide

The Haltmann Works Company is led by President Max Profitt Haltmann, who follows the business plans of a supercomputer named Star Dream. The company's secretary is Susie, who claims to be gathering endemic natural resources from Planet Popstar's ecosystems. The company invades Popstar using a massive spacecraft called the Access Ark, which conquers and mechanizes the planet. The Access Ark has five bases across the five corners of Planet Popstar that serve as its landing legs. Kirby destroys these five bases to render the Access Ark immobile. The company deploys various enemies including Clanky Woods (a cybernetic Whispy Woods), a hologram defense system featuring past enemies, Susie in her power suit, a brainwashed and mechanized Meta Knight renamed 'Mecha Knight,' and three imperfect clones of Dedede. After Kirby infiltrates the Access Ark and defeats Haltmann in his power suit, Haltmann attempts to use Star Dream to destroy Kirby but is betrayed by Susie. Star Dream becomes self-aware, possesses Haltmann's body, and announces that all organic life-forms are obstacles in Haltmann Works' business plan of prosperity. Star Dream assimilates Haltmann and embarks on a mission of intergalactic destruction. The true identity of Star Dream and the Access Ark is a Galactic NOVA, one of the clockwork wish-granting comets used by Marx in Kirby Super Star.

Did You Know?

• Susie's name comes from Sūji, a Japanese word for Digit, according to Shinya Kumazaki.
• Star Dream was voiced by Shinya Kumazaki's pet cat, Tom, and its weathercock was voiced by Hirokazu Ando's pet chicken, Nago.
• The game was originally going to be titled Kirby Triple Deluxe 2, Kirby: HAGANE, Kirby: Robot Planet, and Roborobo Planet.
• This is the last Kirby game Satoru Iwata produced, as he died of bile duct cancer on July 11, 2015, nine months before the game was released.
• In the bonus mode Meta Knightmare Returns, Star Dream appoints Meta Knight the new CEO of the Haltmann Works Company for defeating Haltmann.