Nintendo’s pink puff-ball returns in a glorious hand-stitched adventure
Format: Wii Dev: Good-Feel / HAL Laboratory Pub: Nintendo Out: 25/02/11 Players: 1-2
Over the past few years Nintendo has recreated the 2D platformer with an up to date, vibrant, part 3D twist. The latest in this long line of Wii platformers is the glorious Kirby’s Epic Yarn – and, boy, is this game epic. Yes, some of you may be thinking: “[yawn] hero’s another one trying to be the next Super Mario Bros. Wii,” but the little pink marshmallow blob with a big appetite is full of unexpectedness and originality.
The story is in the style of children’s bedtime book (bear with me, this game is for adults too) and begins with Kirby going about his day-to-day business, when the evil sorcerer Yin-Yarn casts a spell on him sending him to Patch Land, where, you guessed it, everything, including Kirby, is made out of fabric.
Some gamers who have played any of the Kirby series before may ask, apart from the fabric concept, what’s new? Unlike the other games in the series and those of you who have played any of the Super Smash Bros. titles, the little spherical hoover has been stripped of his ability to suck and gobble up his enemies, and has been given alternative powers instead. This may seem as bad as taking away a hedgehog’s running shoes and replacing them with let’s, say, a gun – Shadow was a bad move, Sega. Kirby now uses his yarn form to lasso his enemies, (who inadvertently end up in his mouth) turning them into cotton balls which he can hurdle towards enemies, walls and any other obstructions. Simple and fun.
Another twist for the series is Kirby’s ability to transform. With a couple of taps from the D-pad on the controller, Kirby is transformed into a number of objects and animals. Each has unique powers, such as turning into a dolphin to pass by those aquatic areas or a fire engine to drown flames. In fact, Kirby’s transformations seem to be endless and comical.
Like Super Mario Bros. Wii, multiplayer throughout the game is offered, with a second player controlling Prince Fluff, a round blob of yarn, same as Kirby, just blue and with a crown. Although, like SMBW, multiplayer works on the same screen where partnership is needed to complete movements, Kirby’s Epic Yarn makes it simpler. For example, the controls are much easier to grasp in two-player mode, whereas SMBW demanded shakes of the Wii Remote, which frustrating didn’t always work. With the difficulty level of Kirby being minimum, it’s also a certainty that any new player will feel comfortable joining in during any part of the main game.
Aside from fun transformations and entertaining multiplayer, the biggest highlight of the game is the levels themselves. They are your standard platform levels with a twist. On first glance the vibrant fabric background appear 2D, never before has a platformer had so much depth, with so much to uncover. Kirby with his yarn literally pulls away the seams of any level revealing hidden secrets and passageways. He can pull down zips and sew the world back up. This is the first time a game has offered players the ability to interact with its scenery in such a way. Having such depth to vibrant, eye-watering scenery means playing levels over and over again is a joy rather than a tedious practice when going for 100 per cent.
For all its style, there are some niggles. You may have heard from other reviewers that the game is a bit easy… it is. Although the visuals of the game on first impact shout out “children’s game” and it has clearly been aimed to younger audiences, adults will enjoy it too. But it certainly won’t pose a challenge for experienced gamers, after all the toughest bosses die after a few hits. Kirby also never dies. By this I mean no ‘game over’, you just lose a few beads then carry on at a checkpoint in the level. So if you’re into your stealthy shoot-em-ups and mind-boggling puzzle games, this possibly isn’t for you.
Kirby’s Epic Yarn is an enjoyable experience. With its storybook-style and bright colours it takes you back to your childhood, it’s one of those games which you can totally forget about day-to-day stress and enjoy. The controls, story and design are simple, but in a fun way, the kind of fun which many of today’s games forget about. You can virtually play it with anyone, whether it be you flatmate or three-year-old brother. It’s one of those games which make you want to play it over and over again – just like games used to be in the late 80s and early 90s. Just sit back and enjoy it.
Kim Dowthwaite
Tags: co-op, family, kirby, nintendo, platformer
