Summary
He’s round, he’s pink, and he’s here to save the world!Kirbyhas been immensely popularever since his debut in 1992’sKirby’s Dream Landfor the Nintendo Game Boy. With games that span almost all of Nintendo’s different consoles, it’s no surprise that Kirby’s cemented himself as a Nintendo staple for many gamers.
There were eight officialKirbygames released for the Nintendo DS and 3DS systems, with four games available for purchase on the dearly departed Nintendo DS eShop. From piloting mechas to drawing platforms out of yarn, which Kirby games stood the test of time - and which ones were forgotten in Dream Land?
Part of the 3DS’s collection of 3D remakes of classic games,Kirby’s Adventureis a port of the original NES game. The gameplay is identical to the original, but with 3D capabilities thanks to the 3DS.
Reviews of this game were underwhelming, as the port brought very little new content to the game’s already stellar original version. Most critics deemed it good, but nothing new from the original version.
Kirby’s squaring up against himself inKirbyBattle Royale, a multiplayer arena-style game where Kirby must fight other versions of himself.Battle Royalewas part of Kirby’s 25th anniversary celebration. The game features ten different game modes, as well as a story mode explaining why there are so many Kirby clones.
WhileBattle Royaleis jam-packed with content, reviews were pretty average. Perhaps it was too harrowing to watch Kirby defeat other Kirbys?
Anything For A Slice Of Cake, Right?
Kirby Squeak Squad
Inhale And Conquer!Float, jump, and battle through eight huge worlds as Kirby takes on a diabolical band of rodent robbers called the Squeaks!- Mix, match, and make new abilities and items using the Touch Screen.- Over 25 upgradeable abilities, including new ones like Animal and Bubble!- Use Kirby’s abilities to freeze water, burn grass, and alter the environment.- Play multiplayer sub-games over local wireless!
Kirby would do anything for a slice of cake, including saving the world.Kirby Squeak Squadtakes players across Dream Land to get back Kirby’s dessert from the nefarious Squeaks, who stole far more than just a shortcake.
Reviews were average forSqueak Squad, especially regarding the mini-games and lack of originality compared to previous Kirby games for the DS.
A Faithful & Improved Remake Of A Classic
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Kirby Super Star Ultra re-imagines one of the most beloved Kirby games of all time. Kirby Super Star Ultra features new graphics and fully rendered animated cut scenes. With so many adventures waiting to be unlocked, there will never be a dull moment as Kirby runs, floats, copies enemies and uses Helpers to fight King Dedede and Meta Knight. New modes like Revenge of the King and Meta Knight Ultra await, along with classics like The Great Cave Offensive and Milky Way Wishes. On top of the main modes, there are also three new touch-screen-controlled mini-games that can be played with up to three friends via DS Download Play. Not only that, but players can go on Kirby adventures with a friend via local wireless as well.
King Dedede stole all the food in Dream Land! It’s up to Kirby to get it back from that dastardly penguin king in thisKirby2D platformer.KirbySuper Star Ultrais a remake of the originalKirby Super Star, released for the SNES in 1996.Super Star Ultrabrought several new gameplay modes, including a racing mini-game, a boss arena, and a story-driven mode about defeating Meta Knight.
While some reviewers criticized the game’s easy difficulty, they praised the fact that the remake held up as a faithfully improved rendition ofKirby Super Starthat also commemorated Kirby’s 15th anniversary.
Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarnis a 3DS port of the Nintendo Wii’sKirby’s Epic Yarn, featuring some new content and copy abilities exclusive to the 3DS version. The port was also the last physical 3DS game released by Nintendo.Extra Epic Yarnfollows the same plot as the original Wii game: Kirby, newly transformed from… whatever Kirby’s made of, into a soft yarn version of himself, must help Prince Fluff gather magic yarn pieces that will stitch Patch Land back together. Two new mini-games were added to the 3DS port in “Dedede Gogogo” and “Slash & Bead,” as well as a new, more challenging game mode called Devilish Mode.
Reviews for the Wii game and the 3DS port alike were generally positive, as critics were pleased to see new gameplay modes and interesting new mechanics for the Kirby series. However, some Copy Abilities were introduced during levels that didn’t require their usage, which some reviewers were quite annoyed about.
Kirby: Triple Deluxeis the tenth mainline game released in theKirbyseries, and it didn’t disappoint. The story follows Kirby as he travels across six worlds to rescue King Dedede from arachnid antagonist Taranza, who mistakenly kidnaps him while in search of Kirby. Guess Kirby and Dedede can call it even for now?
Kirby Triple Deluxefeatured two mini-games after completing the main story: “Kirby Fighters,” a Kirby vs. Kirby battle royale, and “Dedede’s Drum Bash,” a rhythm game set to staple songs from the soundtrack. Both mini-games were later released onto the Nintendo eShop for download.
Reviews gaveTriple Deluxeplenty of praise regarding its gameplay, the use of 3D, and the new Copy Abilities, but commented on the easiness of the game making it too simple.
Get In The Robot, Kirby
Kirby: Planet Robobot
Planet Popstar is being invaded by the Haltmann Works Company and its robotic army, and only Kirby can put a stop to it in Kirby: Planet Robobot, only onNintendo 3DS family systems. Take the fight to the evil corporation using Kirby’s trademark Copy Abilities, including all-new abilities, and turn their own technology against them by taking control of the powerful Robobot Armour! For a breather from the main adventure, you can also get stuck into some fun minigames: partner with pals to take on bosses in Team Kirby Clash, or go for a high score in Kirby 3D Rumble!In his latest platforming adventure, Kirby can explore Planet Popstar in brand new ways, using the Robobot Armour’s handy Wrench to move scenery, access new areas and uncover secrets. That’s not all this super-strong armour can do either: by scanning enemies, it can transform and use more powerful versions of some of Kirby’s well-known Copy Abilities.By analysing an enemy with the Jet Scan Spec, Kirby’s Robobot Armour will engage Jet Mode, letting it fly across the screen in shoot-‘em-up style, while the Wheel Scan Spec activates Wheel Mode, turning Kirby’s Robobot Armour into a speedy car that can race between the foreground and background! You can even customise the Robobot Armour using Stickers that are hidden in each stage, or received from other players via StreetPass.
The franchise’s first foray into science fiction comes withKirby: Planet Robobot, where Kirby finds a power suit that allows him toenhance hisCopy Abilitiesand destroy heavy obstacles. This game features plenty of callbacks to earlier antagonists in the series, including Meta Knight, Marx, and Galactic NOVA, and some new gameplay mechanics inKirby’s Robobot Suit. LikeTriple Deluxe,Planet Robobot’smini-games, “Team Kirby Clash Deluxe” and “Kirby Blowout Blast,” were later released on the Nintendo eShop for download.
Reviews were generally positive, with critics comparing it to several different mecha anime, includingGurren Lagann.
After being split into ten small Kirbys by Necrodeus, the leader of the Skull Gang, Kirby (and the Kirbys) must work together to become one again inKirby Mass Attack, the final game released for the original Nintendo DS before the 3DS’s release.Mass Attackdoesn’t use any buttons for gameplay, and instead relies entirely on the DS’s stylus to move, attack, and dodge the player’s army of Kirbys through the Popopo Islands (which, for hardcore Kirby fans, isan homage to Kirby’s original name).
Reviews of this short and sweet platformer were generally positive, as critics appreciated the clever design and overall cuteness. Kirby’s just too adorable, especially as ten miniature Kirbys.
Players draw their way through a painted Dream Land inKirby: Canvas Curse. Another Kirby game to use the stylus exclusively for gameplay,Canvas Curseis all about drawing levels for a newly limbless Kirby to roll, drop, and ride along.
Canvas Cursewas deemed a feat of touch-screen gaming by many critics, and they praised the innovative design of the gameplay itself. A Wii U sequel,Kirby And The Rainbow Curse, was released ten years later, but some critics deemed it lackluster compared to the original DS game.
