Maxim Tomato

Maxim Tomato
Artwork of a Maxim Tomato from Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe.
Details
Use	Recovering all health
Game(s)	All main series titles, many spin-offs
Comparable to	Food, Metamato, Reviving Tomato

"Maxim Tomato" on other NIWA wikis:
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This article is about a healing item found in most Kirby games, and should not be confused with the Metamato from Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn.

“

If your health is low, just eat a Maxim Tomato to fully heal yourself. (They're packed with nutrients!) Did these fall through the same vortex as Kirby and his friends, or were they in the new world already? It's hard to tell, but everyone seems to enjoy them—even the Beast Pack!

”

— Figure description from Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Maxim Tomato is an iconic recurring recovery item found throughout the Kirby series, although it is rather uncommon to come across on its own. It is a big, red, juicy tomato with the letter "M" stamped on the front; it serves as a source of food that restores Kirby's health meter entirely or, in Kirby Mass Attack, grants a full 100 fruit points. This item is usually found in easily-overlooked hiding places, areas that are difficult to traverse, or areas that can only be reached with certain Copy Abilities, especially in more difficult levels and modes.

Maxim Tomatoes are often featured growing in trees or otherwise made available in the rest areas of The Arena and other Boss Endurance modes. They are distinct from ordinary tomatoes, which appear as a common food item that restores a small amount of health (particularly in the rest areas of The True Arena and other difficult boss endurance modes).

Instruction manuals and flavor text commonly state that Maxim Tomatoes are Kirby's favorite food; this was first mentioned in the instruction manual of Kirby's Dream Land 2.^[1] Their restorative properties do not apply just to Kirby, but also to any other playable character, as well as King Dedede & Meta Knight (when fought as a boss in Kirby Fighters 2). According to Shinya Kumazaki, even Daroach — who dislikes ordinary tomatoes — will eat Maxim Tomatoes without complaining.^[2]^[3]

Game appearances[edit]

Kirby's Dream Land[edit]

Kirby finding a Bag of Magic Food in Green Greens, in Kirby's Dream Land.

Maxim Tomatoes (here referred to as Bag of Magic Food^[4]) make their first appearance in Kirby's Dream Land as a very uncommon food item.

Kirby's Adventure / Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes return in Kirby's Adventure and Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, being finally given its proper name in the manual. Here, in addition to being found in certain places, Poppy Bros. Jr. can be seen riding them. To get the tomato, Kirby has to inhale the enemy. Attacking any other way will destroy the tomato first. Maxim Tomatoes are also rewarded for defeating the opponent in an Arena.

Kirby's Pinball Land[edit]

In Kirby's Pinball Land, Maxim Tomatoes are not used to recover health (as health does not exist in this game). Instead, they appear to temporarily block the central drain when the right conditions are met on the pinball land being played on.

Kirby's Dream Course[edit]

Despite not appearing in Kirby's Dream Course proper, Maxim Tomato can be picked as a stamp template when customizing a new player's icon.

Kirby's Dream Land 2[edit]

In Kirby's Dream Land 2, Maxim Tomatoes return and serve their usual function. Here they are simply referred to in the manual as Tomato^[1]. In addition to being found in regular stages, tomatoes can also be obtained by playing the Goal Game.

Kirby's Toy Box[edit]

Maxim Tomato along with two Energy Drinks in Kirby's Toy Box - Pinball is a helpful item rewarded for lighting up certain targets on the field. It is temporarily placed directly between the flippers and protects pinballs from draining.

Kirby Super Star / Kirby Super Star Ultra[edit]

Kirby and King Dedede racing towards a Maxim Tomato in Gourmet Race in Kirby Super Star.

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby Super Star and Kirby Super Star Ultra. They can be found in stages and in the Goal Game in Dyna Blade. In Gourmet Race, they are worth 3 points as opposed to 1 point for other food items. In The Arena, five Maxim Tomatoes are available from a tree in the rest area. In Helper to Hero, there are three tomatoes.

In the Sub-Game Snack Tracks, Maxim Tomatoes appear along the conveyor belts and are worth 6 points. However, there is sometimes a bug inside the tomato, which has to be removed first.

Kirby's Dream Land 3[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby's Dream Land 3, serving their usual purpose. They can also be collected during the Goal Game.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, serving their usual purpose (here they are just called "Tomatoes" by the instruction booklet). They can also be collected during the Bonus Game and can be painted for Kirby by Adeleine. When re-matching a boss, it will drop a Maxim Tomato for Kirby when it is defeated if he has less than full health; otherwise, it will drop a 1-Up.

Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble[edit]

In Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, a Maxim Tomato is one of the things that Kirby can get from a ? Hole roulette.

In Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, Maxim Tomatoes (referred to in the manual as just "Tomatoes") can be found in stages, either out in the open, hidden behind blocks, or inside Treasure Chests. They can also be obtained from roulettes triggered by ? Holes and from Gordos when they are flipped. Notably, there are some food items in this game that are more valuable than Maxim Tomatoes (hamburgers and cake) which can only be obtained from the treasure chest opened prior to a boss fight, as these items will overfill Kirby's health beyond its normal maximum.

Kirby Air Ride[edit]

In Kirby Air Ride, Maxim Tomatoes can appear alongside other food items in the City Trial game mode. They can appear in blue boxes, from the Star Pole, in the Castle Hall secret chamber, in the volcano grottos, from Tac, or out in the open.

Kirby & The Amazing Mirror[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby & The Amazing Mirror. They can be found out in the open, in treasure chests, or as a gift from CPU Kirbys when they are called using the Cell Phone.

Kirby: Canvas Curse[edit]

Kirby approaching a Maxim Tomato in a pre-release version of Kirby: Canvas Curse.

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby: Canvas Curse, and can be found at various points in stages. They can also be found in Paint Panic and Cart Run.

Kirby: Squeak Squad[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby: Squeak Squad. They can be found out in the open or during the Goal Game. They can also be created using the Copy Palette by combining other bubbled food items together.

Kirby Mass Attack[edit]

In Kirby Mass Attack, Maxim Tomatoes have a different function, due to the different health system in the game. Instead of healing the Kirbys, collecting a Maxim Tomato will add 100 points to the Fruit gauge, which is enough to completely fill it and either add an extra Kirby or award 10000 points if there are already ten Kirbys.

In the Kirby Quest sub-game, Maxim Tomatoes are provided by the opponents Chef Kawasaki, Chef Shiitake, and Max Flexer, assuming they are defeated properly. Once defeated, these tomatoes restore any defeated Kirbys back to normal.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land / Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Here, they can be found out in the open or inside Maxim Tomato boxes.

In The Arena, five Maxim Tomatoes are available in the rest area, one of which is inside a box. In The True Arena, only three tomatoes are available.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby: Triple Deluxe. Here, they can be found out in the open, during the Goal Game, or from Assist Stars tossed to Kirby by Bandana Waddle Dee. There is also a special variety of Maxim Tomato called a Reviving Tomato which can be used to revive Kirby if he is K.O.'d, but this tomato is only given out if Kirby repeatedly fails a boss fight.

In The Arena, five Maxim Tomatoes are available in the rest area, one of which is inside an Assist Star. In The True Arena, only the Assist Star tomato is available, along with some smaller tomatoes.

Additionally, the Maxim Tomato appears as a keychain, depicted as its sprite from Kirby's Adventure.

Kirby Fighters series[edit]

Meta Knight with his half of the Maxim Tomato which King Dedede shared with him in Kirby Fighters 2.

In the Kirby Fighters games, Maxim Tomatoes restore 120 HP in standard battles. In Kirby Fighters 2, they also appear as distinct story items in Story Mode: The Destined Rivals, where they restore 80% health to Kirby and his buddy.

In Chapter 4 of Story Mode: The Destined Rivals, King Dedede & Meta Knight split a Maxim Tomato in half to restore their health after their first health bar is drained. This is the first time a boss has used a Maxim Tomato. Since the tomato is split in half, its insides are seen for the first time; the tomato's inner veins are shaped like a star. Interestingly, this usage suggests that eating only half of a Maxim Tomato has the same effect as eating one whole.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes can be found in Kirby and the Rainbow Curse at various points in stages. Like other items, they are worth 500 points when collected in addition to restoring health.

Kirby: Planet Robobot[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby: Planet Robobot. Much like in Kirby: Triple Deluxe, they can be found out in the open, during the Goal Game, or from Assist Stars tossed to Kirby by Bandana Waddle Dee. Reviving Tomatoes return in this game as well.

In The Arena, Maxim Tomatoes can appear inside Assist Stars in the rest areas. Maxim Tomatoes do not appear in The True Arena.

Additionally, the Maxim Tomato appears as a sticker, depicted as its artwork from Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land.

Team Kirby Clash series[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in the Team Kirby Clash games as an item that can randomly spawn during battles, usually only when a player is low on health. Just like in every other Kirby game, grabbing one fully restores the health of the Kirby who picked it up and can then be shared with their allies.

Kirby Battle Royale[edit]

In Kirby Battle Royale, the Maxim Tomato appears not as a regular item, but instead as a single-use Boost Orb that can be used during battles.

Kirby Star Allies[edit]

Maxim Tomatoes appear in Kirby Star Allies. They can be found out in the open, inside treasure chests and other containers, painted from blank signs, obtained during the Goal Game, or obtained from amiibo. They also appear in the rest area of The Ultimate Choice, though the number available depends on the difficulty selected.

Maxim Tomatoes also feature in the Celebration Picture titled "A Delicious Picnic".

Kirby and the Forgotten Land[edit]

Kirby serving a Maxim Tomato to a Waddle Dee customer at the Waddle Dee Café.

In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Maxim Tomatoes can be found as one of several food items Kirby must pass out to Waddle Dees in the Waddle Dee Café: Help Wanted! Sub-Game. Kirby can also order a Maxim Tomato himself when he is off-duty to eat at the top floor of the café or take on the go to a stage as a Stock Item. They are also generally accessible in open-space stages and are usually placed in the hallways that lead to bosses.

One of the collectible figures from Vol. 1 features a Maxim Tomato.

Super Smash Bros. series[edit]

In the Super Smash Bros. series, the Maxim Tomato is a recovery item, healing fifty points of damage (one hundred points in the orginal Super Smash Bros.). Despite its name and function in the Kirby games, it is never the most potent recovery item in any particular Super Smash Bros. game, always in the very least surpassed by the Heart Container.

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Maxim Tomato also appears as a sticker. When equipped, it applies the "Maxim Tomato Effect" +50 to Kirby, King Dedede, or Meta Knight. This means that it heals 50 more points of damage for these characters than it otherwise would.

Games in which Maxim Tomatoes do not appear[edit]

The following are Kirby games which do not feature the Maxim Tomato:

Kirby's Dream Course (still features tomatoes as health, but not Maxim Tomatoes)
Kirby's Avalanche
Kirby's Block Ball
Kirby's Star Stacker (Game Boy)
Kirby's Star Stacker (Super Famicom)
Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn (both games feature the Metamato, which is not the same thing)
Kirby's Dream Collection Special Edition (aside from the games featured)
Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe
Kirby's Blowout Blast
Kirby's Dream Buffet (appears on a Character Treat, but not as an item)