Channeling Childhood
Many gamers are cynical people. They develop notions of a game based on it's style, the team behind it or even the platform it is released on. Such may be the case for those who wish not to play Good Feel's "Kirby's Epic Yarn" for the Nintendo Wii. But if you find yourself able to put any pre-conceived notions about this game behind, you will find yourself transported back to a simpler time in your childhood, when playing games was all about having fun.
The first console platforming Kirby game in 10 years, "Epic Yarn" finds Kirby being whisked away into an alternate dimension inside of a gym sock, all made of fabric. Even the pink protagonist finds himself turned into yarn, which means his usual means of combat (sucking in enemies and gaining their powers) has been changed. Instead, Kirby uses a yarn whip to disable enemies, swing himself around or even change the environment. Using your whip to peel back on little tabs can reveal whole new areas to explore, or even treasures to collect.
There are some minor additions to the game to add re-playability, but overall this game is relatively short. There is two-player co-op, in which the second player can play as Prince Fluff. You can also collect items for an apartment, which you can then decorate said apartment with. Doing so will bring you more friends to play a small collection of mini-games with. This seems somewhat tacked on, and while not detracting to the overall experience, it is something you will most likely not re-visit.
The game itself is not difficult, as it seems that it was made to appeal to all audiences. However, this does not detract whatsoever from the overall experience. What this game lacks in it's difficulty, it is made up for in it's fluidity. The environment is extremely detailed, with everything from yarn dust that you kick off the ground, to fabric water and fire. You will find yourself always moving forward to see what future levels look like. Also thrown in throughout the levels are instances where Kirby will transform into various forms, such as a tank, or a UFO.
The strongest feature of this game is just the sheer amount of fun you will have with it. This game has such a charm, that simply breezing through the un-challenging levels is surprisingly entertaining. Just playing this game to see what it offers may bring you back to your childhood, when you didn't have a care in the world and you played games because they seemed like one of the coolest things in the world. So often with the recent additions of super competitive gaming, or the completion of menial tasks to get virtual achievements, we forget why we started playing games in the first place. To sit back, relax, and have fun.
Sure "Epic Yarn" may not have the challenge of a "Halo: Reach," or the re-playability of a "Fallout: New Vegas," but this game is such a short-yet-sweet experience that I firmly believe that most gamers should see for themselves. Just don't be surprised if you have a big dumb grin on your face the whole time you play it.
