I've never truly got into the Kirby games, so what better time than mid-summer to undertake the lengthy task of completing all of them (the platformers that is). It will be easier than say, completing all of the Metroid games because, from the very beginning of the series, Kirby games have been intended for all ages. The fact of the matter is, these are not difficult games, but that doesn't mean they aren't fun enough to warrant getting way into. Because of where I live, the most difficult part of this task will be to actually obtain all of the main Kirby games (of which there are around 15 if I'm not mistaken). Amazon will be very helpful in this respect, but will make the endeavor a fairly lengthy process. I have every intention of finishing the task, but I don't expect to complete it in 2014 (although I very well might). More than anything I decided to do this because I wanted to fully immerse myself in the only Nintendo series which I haven't given a good shot (although Metroid does fall into that category as well, but that's for next summer). Just to lay some ground rules, Star Stacker, Air Ride, and other spin-offs will not be included, but Canvas Curse will because I still consider it to be a platformer (although a fairly unique one). In fact, I might as well make a list of which games I am going to play (if you have any problems with my list, please let me know in a comment, but don't expect me to take everyone's suggestions).
[In no particular order]
- Kirby: Triple Deluxe
- Kirby: Dream Collection (Includes Dream Land 1, 2 and 3, Kirby's Adventure, Kirby Super Star and Kirby 64)
- Kirby: Canvas Curse
- Kirby Super Star Ultra (will probably switch this with the SNES one on Dream Collection)
- Kirby's Epic Yarn
- Kirby: Squeak Squad
- Kirby and the Amazing Mirror (this is one of the two I can't play because I don't own a system it's on, might have to use an emulator)
- Kirby Mass Attack
- Kirby's Return to Dream Land
- Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (hasn't even come out yet but I don't have a Wii U so this might have to be left out)
I've played Dream Land on the 3DS Virtual Console, but it was a while ago so I may replay it to refresh my memory. In terms of games I actually own currently, it's Triple Deluxe, Dream Land, and Canvas Curse. I plan to buy them all over the next few months, it's really just a matter of getting a good deal (as some of the DS games can be up to $70 used on Canadian Amazon. Luckily I'm really enjoying Triple Deluxe so far, because if I wasn't, there wouldn't be much point to continue on with the rest of the series. I'm most excited to see how each game holds up, seeing as I won't be going in chronological order. Without further ado, here are my thoughts so far for Kirby Triple Deluxe!
I've only played the first world of Kirby Triple Deluxe so far, but luckily it has met, and in some cases exceeded my expectations. The thing that separates Nintendo's first party platformers from others, is a certain indescribable special touch (which I think applies for other developers, like Valve, Blizzard, etc.). Kirby Triple Deluxe has this in spades, and while none of the levels have offered anything in terms of challenge so far, I was fully expecting that. DO NOT take "easy" to mean "boring", because this is most certainly not the case for Triple Deluxe. The levels still create a great sense of discovery and wonder, something which is present in all of the best Nintendo platformers, be it Super Mario Galaxy or Super Metroid. In Kirby's case however, everything is coated in an extra layer of cuteness (alright make that 10 extra layers). In all honesty, I'm hard pressed to think of any other game's I've played which are as adorable as Triple Deluxe (aside from Nintendogs, but that's just because it's occupied by puppies). From the way that Kirby expands and shrinks back to normal size when swallowing enemies, to sleeping furry creatures that occupy the game world, every sight and sound in the game is likely to be accompanied by an "aw" from the player. Luckily though, the game doesn't rely solely on it's cute-factor. Levels are varied, due largely in part to Kirby's signature ability to swallow enemies and copy their abilities. This opens up the gameplay in a variety of ways, meaning that Kirby could be spewing fire, slashing with a sword, or even turning into a boulder all over the course of one level. This isn't just used in combat either, as many abilities can be used to open up hidden passages as well. This leads into one of my favorite aspects of Triple Deluxe: the collectibles. I've always loved games which offer replay value through a wide assortment of items to be found and collected, but especially if finding them is a genuinely enjoyable task. In Kirby, it definitely is, and even if it never becomes much of a challenge, it certainly offers up a reason to replay levels and extends the playtime. These collectible come in the form of keychains (which can be zoomed in on and rotated in 3D) and sun-stones (essentially jewels). I've been able to find all of the sun-stones on my first run through so far, but the same hasn't been true for the keychains, which are more of a challenge to find. The game also uses the system's 3D brilliantly, with enemies attacking from the back and foreground, which Kirby can also travel to in some situations. The visuals are bright and colorful, as they should be, with a simplicity that compliments the art style very well. I look forward to continuing with the game and offering up more thoughts as I progress. As an entry point to the modern series, Kirby Triple Deluxe is shaping up to be a great choice.
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