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.

In Their Own Story

One day, a massive spacecraft called the Access Ark suddenly conquers and mechanizes Kirby's home, Planet Popstar. King Dedede and Meta Knight try to fight back, but Castle Dedede and Meta Knight's airship, the Halberd, are both easily destroyed by a single shot of the ship's laser defense systems. Kirby, who slept through the entire invasion, awakens to find his planet being stripped of its energy and sets off to make things right. Kirby destroys the five bases across the five corners of Planet Popstar that serve as the Access Ark's landing legs. In the midst of doing so, he acquires the Robobot Armor, a mysterious power suit that adapts to and enhances his powers of absorbing and copying abilities. Kirby also encounters an alien secretary of the Haltmann Works Company named Susie, who claims to be gathering endemic natural resources from the planet's ecosystems for her boss, President Max Profitt Haltmann. As Kirby fights back against the company's colonization, he also battles Clanky Woods (a cybernetic Whispy Woods), a hologram defense system featuring some of his past enemies, Susie in her power suit, a brainwashed and mechanized Meta Knight renamed 'Mecha Knight,' and three imperfect clones of Dedede. After destroying the five bases and rendering the Access Ark immobile, Kirby infiltrates the Ark and confronts Haltmann after freeing Meta Knight from his brainwashing. Haltmann fires Susie for failing to stop Kirby. He then duels Kirby 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. As Susie reawakens and, with a change of heart, implores Kirby to stop Star Dream, Meta Knight returns with the repaired Halberd and Kirby fuses it with his Robobot Armor to confront the supercomputer. Kirby fights and destroys Star Dream, but it revives and takes control of the Access Ark, transforming itself into a sentient, mechanical planet. As Kirby destroys its armor, the true identity of Star Dream and the Access Ark is revealed - a Galactic NOVA. With Haltmann's consciousness fading, Star Dream goes on a rampage and damages the Halberd before Meta Knight ejects Kirby from the airship, who screams as he destroys Star Dream with a gigantic drill. Kirby's dying robot uses the last of its power to send him back to Popstar. Haltmann's machines magically erode, returning Popstar to its natural state. As Dedede awakens in the wreckage of his castle and Susie leaves the planet, quickly pursued by Meta Knight, Kirby rushes off on his next big quest after waving goodbye.

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*. 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.

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.