Kracko (クラッコ) is a fictional character from the Nintendo Kirby series. It first appeared as a boss character in Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy console.
It resembles a large cumulus cloud with spikes protruding from all sides, and a single large eyeball in the center. Kracko has a similar battle tactic in each of these games. It will either release electricity clockwise, dive across the screen, drop an enemy, or, more recently, create a damaging rain shower.
Kracko is typically first seen in an "immature form", sometimes called Mini-Kracko or Kracko Jr.. It retains its huge eye, but the eye is surrounded by four orbs, which it either spins rapidly or launches in different patterns. This form either fights as a mini-boss earlier in the game, or immediately prior to transforming to its "adult" form. Mini-Kracko also starts off as a blob in a bigger cloud in Kirby's Dream Land 2, and fights mainly using Co-Krackos (very tiny, mostly harmless Krackos Kirby can inhale). Co-Krackos are also used in Kirby's Dream Land 3.
In Kirby and the Amazing Mirror, it also will do a spiral dive.
Appearances in Kirby Games
Kirby's Dream Land
Kracko was the fourth boss in the game, and the third boss in the game's remake, titled Spring Breeze, in Kirby Super Star. Both times it was the boss of the stage titled Bubbly Clouds. Kracko will drop Waddle Doos which Kirby can inhale and spit back for damage; swallowing them is also possible although useless, as this is one of the rare Kirby games not to feature the ability to copy powers.
Kirby's Adventure
Kracko also appeared as the fourth boss in for NES title and its remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, for the Game Boy Advance. This time it was the boss of the stage titled Grape Garden. Kracko would drop Waddle Doos or Starmen enemies that Kirby could inhale for abilities.
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kracko will drop Mini-Krackos for Kirby to inhale, and use his usual electric attacks.
Kirby's Avalanche
He appeared as one of the characters you challenge to a game of Avalanche.
Kirby Superstar
In the KDL remake, Kracko also drops raindrops, and he drops out Waddle Dees with parasols, which give the player the Parasol ability, or Waddle Doos, which give the player the Beam ability.
Kirby's Dream Course
Kracko appears as one of the courses in two player mode, occasionally shooting lightning at players that pass under him.
Kirby's Tilt 'n' Tumble
Kracko appears as the boss of Levels 3 and 5. Kirby uses the Gravity Balloon item to spit at Kracko many times with air bullets. Kirby must defeat Kracko before it fills up the entire area with Gordos; otherwise, it will dive-bomb him and knock him out cold regardless of anything. It is in Level 5 that Kracko starts shooting lightning.
Kirby's Pinball Land
Kracko starts out as a flying eyeball with small spheres encircling it, and when Kirby hits it enough, it shows its regular form and floats around throwing out Flappers. It attacks the flippers by zapping them with lightning. It is the boss of the Kracko Land pinball board in KPL.
Kirby's Dream Land 3
Kracko has a cameo as one of the paintings the boss Ado creates that comes to life.
Kirby Air Ride
Kracko appears as a weapon in Top Ride, where it will shoot lightning bolts at players opposing the player who picked up the power-up.
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror
Kracko was the boss of Mustard Mountain in Kirby and the Amazing Mirror.
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Kracko was once again a boss, but not in the traditional sense. Kirby faces bosses in a series of mini-games in this installment. Before facing Kracko he must progress through a Breakout style mini-game, using paddles to send him ricocheting about. When fighting Kracko he must hit him and destroy his cloud cover, and then target the eye.
Kirby: Squeak Squad
While not technically the same, a new boss called Mecha-Kracko appears as a boss in this game. It looks and acts very much like the real Kracko. Created and piloted by Squeaks member Doc, it is a machine with four yellow spikes and four holes that constantly spout smoke that covers the robot.
Anime
Kracko appears in the Kirby anime Kirby: Right Back at Ya! episode "Secret of the Star Warrior", aired in the USA as "Dark and Stormy Knight".
It is bought by King Dedede from Nightmare Enterprises and attempts to give Kirby a jolt, but Tiff calls the Warpstar and Kirby rides into battle, becomes Sword Kirby, and defeats Kracko with a few Sword Beams which sliced Kracko in half, causing it to explode and the massive group of black clouds it comes with and hides out inside to disintegrate.
