SuperPhillip Central Celebrates 18 Years Online: My Super Sweet 18 Favorite Video Game Franchises

No, your eyes do not deceive you. Well, actually, they do if you read "18" as "16" because SuperPhillip Central has been online for 18 years as of today and not just 16 years. That notwithstanding and lame joke aside, it blows my mind that I started this blog back in 2008, and while my cadence of posts is nowhere near as high as when we started this journey together, I'm amazed SPC is still going and going strong. I believe nowadays SPC is less quantity and more quality of posts. ...Or at least that's what I tell myself!

At any rate, I wanted to do something relatively special for the site's 18th anniversary, and that desire turned into something I don't think I've actually done on this site: list some of my favorite video games franchises of all time in a comprehensive form. By no means can I sufficiently say that I ordered the following 18 franchises in a way that is perfect and best shows my love of each franchises listed, but it's my hope that it does a decent enough job all the same. 

Favorite game(s) in the series: Breath of Fire (SNES), Breath of Fire III (PS1, PSP)

We start off with an RPG series that is pretty much dead. Yes, the fire here has long since been extinguished. To be fair, I could have included myriad different RPG series to replace this one due to its prolonged inactivity--Ys, Golden Sun, Star Ocean, the Mana series, etc.--but Breath of Fire is important to me as an RPG series for one specific reason, albeit there are others, too.

The most important is that the series was the one that introduced me to RPGs to begin with, and that was due to the very first entry on the Super Nintendo. Not going to lie--it was also one of the first RPGs that moved me to tears with NPC Alan and villain Cerl's outcomes in the game. If you know, you know! Either way, the Breath of Fire series is one that lit the flame for my love of RPGs, and despite other RPG franchises outliving or having a better chance of being revived than Breath of Fire, it's still a favorite franchise of mine.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Resident Evil 4 (Multi)

We move on from one Capcom franchise to another, though this one has major endurance. It's Resident Evil, aka Biohazard. I cannot lie here either with this pick, as the OG Resident Evil 4 does a lot of the actual lifting here. The GameCube original was my first RE title, and it remains one of my favorite video games of all time. The recent series of modern remakes--2, 3, and yes, of course, 4--have only further influenced my admiration for the Resident Evil series, and this is also as someone whose passion isn't necessarily that of horror. Far be it, actually!

While not every game in the series has struck the same chord for me as Resident Evil 4, there are plenty of entries that I absolutely adore, such as the original Resident Evil and its GameCube remake, the modern RE2 and less so, RE3, and even spin-offs and side stories like the light-gun shooter Darkside Chronicles and Resident Evil Revelations. Somehow a gaming series led me on a path to enjoy survival horror, and I thank Leon and his seemingly infinite sexiness for being the lure to lead me to trying out the series in the first place.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Star Fox 64 (N64), Star Fox Assault (GCN)

It says a lot about my next favorite franchise where I really only love two games in the series--a series that has been around since the Super Nintendo and has seen multiple entries. Between the incredible Star Fox 64 (so incredible even Nintendo thinks it's worth remaking a second time, and I can't wait for the Switch 2 remake) and the much less so but still entertaining Star Fox Assault, I absolutely adore the Star Fox crew in all its team configurations. Whether it's on-rails, all-range mode, in the sky, on land, or even in the sea, the Star Fox series delivers constant thrills.

Not every entry hits the same highs as the two I listed, but I also have a smaller level of fondness for Star Fox Zero (trying something new and somewhat succeeding with its two screen approach) and Star Fox Command. The latter is one that I dislike its format and fan-fiction levels of story, but I appreciated that it actually attempted to move the series beyond the original Star Fox story, much like Star Fox Assault, which I enjoyed much more. I truly hope this Switch 2 game leads to something entirely brand-new for the Star Fox team, because as much as I'm hyped for this remake and a chance to replay one of my favorite games in a glorious coat of new paint, I yearn for something new for this series.

Favorite game(s) in the series: F-Zero X (N64), F-Zero GX (GCN)

We've got BOOST POWER now with this next favorite franchise of mine. F-Zero started me off with a need for hyperspeed, futuristic racing in Mode 7-based awesomeness with the Super Nintendo original. Since then, the series has had two of my favorite fully 3D racing games of all time with the fantastic F-Zero X on the Nintendo 64 and then the awesome but incredibly difficult F-Zero GX on the GameCube. I wear the accomplishment of my near-complete save file of GX on the GameCube like a letter on a varsity jacket.  

Even the so-called lesser entries like F-Zero Maximum Velocity, F-Zero: GP Legend, and the once Japan-only F-Zero Climax--all on the Game Boy Advance--delighted with their OG F-Zero-like graphics, but they also introduced a lot new to the series as well. An entirely fresh cast in Maximum Velocity, a multiple path story mode in GP Legend, and the first and only track creator in a 2D-based F-Zero game with Climax. Heck, I'm appreciative of F-Zero 99, the Battle Royale-style Switch live-service game, and I hope it has succeeded to show Nintendo there's definitely a market for another racer from Nintendo that isn't Mario Kart.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Pokemon Blue Version (GB)

Pokemon is a special series to me, and that's one that once transcended the games for me, as well. While my Pokemania has long since died down, when the series hit North American shores, I lived and practically breathed Pokemon. I played my copy of Pokemon Blue like a religion--catching all 150 Pokemon eventually upon finally trading via link cable with a friend--I watched the anime, I got sets of the playing cards, I got toys in a desire to catch 'em all (or rather have my mom buy 'em all, in this case!), and I even drew my own comic starring my own inserted character. Yes, Ash Ketchum may catch 'em, but Phil Gotem always got 'em. 

By the Diamond/Pearl era on the Nintendo DS, my love for the series saw itself initiate a burnout period. Like most prolonged hyperfixations from my autism, I moved on from Pokemon, and I wouldn't return save for playing some spin-offs here and there. I'd still collect the mainline entries, but I didn't have the motivation to fully go gung-ho with them like past installments. I'm back into the franchise as of Pokemon Let's Go, Pikachu!, which really hit my gen 1 loving nostalgia, but it's understandably not anywhere near the level I had as a kid. Still, I will always appreciate Pokemon for expanding my creativity, sparking such immense joy in me when it debuted, and it doesn't hurt that the series shares my birthday, as well!

Favorite game(s) in the series: Banjo-Kazooie (N64, XBLA)

Next up is a series that, like a bear, is currently in hibernation. Hopefully that won't be for too much longer, whether that's wishful thinking on my part or not, as there is a strong contingent of fans wanting to see the bear and bird pair of Banjo and Kazooie return to starring in a new game. 

The original Banjo-Kazooie spoke to me like no other 3D platformer has, offering tight level design, a manageable and enjoyable amount of collectibles, a perfect mix of exploration and platforming, and it remains one of my favorite 3D platformers to this day. Rare would make a sequel with Banjo-Tooie, but that one, while still delightfully fun, didn't hit the same highs for me. It was a bit too bloated an experience, which added frustrating friction to the game. Future installments like Banjo-Kazooie: Grunty's Revenge on the GBA took the collect-a-thon fun to an isometric view, while Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts wasn't what most wanted, I found it a worthy entry all the same. That's especially if you take the game for what it is and not what fans like myself wanted it to be instead--as hard as that can be to do.

The pair's most recent appearance in a much beloved, well-known Nintendo crossover series was such a hype-worthy moment for so many fans and just the gaming community in general, so here's hoping Xbox sees a future for Banjo and Kazooie. 

Favorite game(s) in the series: Hot Shots Golf Fore! (PS2), Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 (PSP)

Whether you knew it as Hot Shots Golf or know it now like our European friends have since its inception as Everybody's Golf, this cartoony, arcadey golf series is a big favorite of mine. I love to dabble in video game golf a great deal, despite not really caring for the real life sport, and that's especially so when it comes to less sim-like, more fantastical golf games. Everybody's Golf is a series that meets me halfway between the wackiness of a Mario Golf and a more sim-like approach like a PGA game. It's the type of series that does include lots of sim elements, but also has that charm and personality that enticed me so much back when I first tried out the series with Hot Shots Golf Fore! on the PlayStation 2.

As an aside, is it lame to admit I fanboy'd hard when the announcement of Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots happened during a Nintendo Direct last year? I honestly thought the series had hit the sand trap in the sky for good and had been put out to pasture due to Clap Hanz (the original developer of the series) and Sony parting ways. While that game didn't sink all its putts and shanked some of its shots (I should go back and review that entry, now that I think about it!), it was great to have the Hot Shots crew back in a brand-new game. Here's to more hopefully in the future!

Favorite game(s) in the series: Kirby and the Forgotten Land (NSW), Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (NSW), Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS)

Moving from the green to the pink, specifically Nintendo's adorable pink puffball, we have the Kirby series as number 11 on my list. Kirby is comfort gaming for me, offering breezy gameplay and accessibility, but under that layer for those who dare to dive deeper is one of challenging side content and major intricacies in most games' designs. 

Whether we're talking about mainline adventures like Kirby Super Star and the most recent one, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, or spin-offs like Kirby Air Ride and Kirby Air Riders, there's so much charm and delightful whimsy in the world of Kirby. Though, as fans know, there's also a lot of deep lore, as well, and some truly horrifying Eldritch-like creatures, too. Proof that Kirby as a series embodies the concepts of "more than meets the eye" and "never judging a book by its cover". 

Kirby used to be a series I appreciated but took for granted, but especially with the franchise's first fully 3D entry with Kirby and the Forgotten Land, I've learned to absolutely love and adore the little pink protagonist with the insatiable appetite. 

Favorite game(s) in the series: Metroid Prime (GCN, Wii, NSW), Super Metroid (SNES)

The mother [brain] of a genre, Metroid's latest may have fallen short especially compared to the impossible hype it presented potential players and major fans of the franchise, but as a whole, there have been a multitude more victories than stumbles for the series. My first Metroid games were released on the same day: Metroid Prime and the GameCube and Metroid Fusion on the Game Boy Advance. It was a one-two punch of awesomeness in both 3D and 2D forms respectively, and one hell of a way to be introduced to the franchise.

Since then, I've been a major fan of this particular type of platformer--exploring a menacing world, growing stronger through finding new abilities and items to access new corners of said world, and blazing paths through old areas that once seemed full of hostility when I originally encountered them. Metroid Prime remains a positively transformative experience for me, and I sing its praises (sometimes literally through song, even!) to this day. I kick myself for missing out on Super Metroid as a kid, but am so glad I have had the opportunity to right that wrong and become a massive Metroid fan since.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (PS2), Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (PS2), Ratchet & Clank: Future Tools of Destruction (PS3)

A PlayStation series from the heyday of the PS2 era, where I believe Sony's first party studios were at their most creative and risk-taking, Ratchet & Clank remains a steady series in PlayStation's catalog. Sadly, so many PlayStation franchises have either been discontinued or otherwise ended, which is disappointing to someone who loves PlayStation's legacy titles. 

Enough about that grievance, though--let's talk what made this series so special to me. My first Ratchet & Clank game was Going Commando, and I've been a super fan of Insomniac Games and its lombax and robot buddy pair ever since. Between the absurd amount of inventive weaponry that gets stronger as you continually use them, the creative level of gadgets on display with each entry, superb level design with myriad secrets and challenges within them, and characters and stories that are enjoyable from beginning to end, I love Ratchet & Clank and am so glad it has stood the test of time.

While the edge of the franchise--if you want to call it that--has dulled down quite a bit from its inception in 2002, and many of the games can feel somewhat similar between each other, there's no question that Ratchet & Clank keeps going because it's much beloved and has a corps of fans enjoying it to this day--myself included.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Donkey Kong Bananza (NSW), Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest (SNES), Diddy Kong Racing (N64)

It's on like... like... oh, damn, what's it on like? I forget! At any rate, Donkey Kong (that's it!! That's what it's on like!) takes the number eight spot as one of my favorite franchises with a storied history. From Nintendo's legal battle with Universal, to nowadays being friendly with Universal and having his own section of a theme park, Donkey Kong has never been better. With a leading exclusive on the Nintendo Switch 2 from Nintendo EAD, the masters of the platformer (in this writer's opinion, at least!), with last summer's Donkey Kong Bananza, five excellent 2D and 2.5D platformers with Rare's Donkey Kong Country trilogy and Retro Studios' own DKC Returns duology, several enjoyable spin-offs like the King of Swing duology, and also the classic Donkey Kong as the "villain" games with his tried and true namesake, there is a lot to love about Nintendo's big ape.

And even though he doesn't have a role or even a mention in Diddy Kong Racing, how can I not include that game starring Donkey Kong's best bud, Diddy?! It's only one of my favorite kart racing games of all time, and Nintendo certainly should consider at the very least putting it on NSO or better yet, crafting a remake or sequel! 

No matter if he's in the role of the top banana, a villain, or not even in a starring role at all, Donkey Kong's 40+ year history makes him one of the most iconic characters in video games, and that has been through multiple variations, art styles, and designs. He's changed with the times, and his importance to gaming history is rivaled in size only by his massive weight!

 
Favorite game(s) in the series: Animal Crossing (GCN), Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NSW) 

I love any time a game in my next favorite video game franchise casually rolls into my life, because I know said life will be overtaken by the calm, comfy, cozy, lovely vibes of a new Animal Crossing game. Sure, I may never stick with them for a full year straight like I did with the original when it quietly hit North America on the GameCube, but I'll always rack up hundreds upon hundreds of hours playing and enjoying my time in my virtual Central City. 

I greatly enjoy meeting and greeting new villagers, and I also remember greatly being disengaged and disappointed when favorite villagers spontaneously left in the OG Animal Crossing, too. I adore simple things like collecting furniture, growing my collection, amassing wealth to pay off Tom Nook, and of course, the online features with friends that debuted with Wild World on the Nintendo DS. 

Between the series' various entries, I've easily put in over 3,000 hours of playtime across them all, and this was never wasted time. I was always doing something fun, working towards a goal, or building up my town--particularly with the awesome additions of customization as seen in New Leaf and especially New Horizons. Animal Crossing, like Kirby before it, is comfort gaming. It was an immense help for many during 2020 and the pandemic, and it continues to give me the very best vibes with each and every entry.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (GEN), Sonic Adventure 2 (Multi), Sonic Mania (Multi), Sonic X Shadow Generations (Multi), Sonic Racing CrossWorlds (Multi)

A blue streak speeds by, and it's none other than Sonic the Hedgehog. Say what one will about the Blue Blur's adjustment from 2D to 3D (it's been less than stellar, in my opinion), the highs are positively magical for this series. I was--if my picks for favorite franchises didn't give this away already--a Nintendo kid growing up. My family owned the NES and then the Super Nintendo, but that didn't mean I didn't have the option to play SEGA stuff. My dad had a SEGA Genesis at his house, and of course, one of the first games I was able to experience on that system was the original Sonic the Hedgehog. As they say, the rest was history.

While I definitely don't enjoy every Sonic game (looking at you, 2006's Sonic the Hedgehog, for starters), I do my best to at least give them a chance and promptly "suffer" through them quickly. The winners do have some high highs, and the losers of the Sonic series certainly have the lowest lows. It's quite the uneven franchise, but it speaks to how popular the idea and character of Sonic are. With so many "duds" of games, his popularity continued, he literally endured. And now, we're in a Sonic Renaissance with awesome gems like Sonic Mania, Sonic X Shadow Generations, and awesome racers like Sonic Racing CrossWorlds. It's a totally way past cool time to be a Sonic fan.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Final Fantasy IV (SNES), Final Fantasy VI (SNES), Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1), Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN)

There's something about Final Fantasy that speaks to me. And it's not just because I'm an old fart comparatively to most video game players nowadays. Sure, one can easily argue Final Fantasy as a franchise has failed to hook new, younger generations and pretty much exclusively has the older set--boomers, if you will--as fans. 

Either way, Final Fantasy was an important part of my childhood. After my love for RPGs took off with the aforementioned Breath of Fire, I turned to a little game called Final Fantasy II on the Super Nintendo (aka Final Fantasy IV), and my admiration for RPGs and Final Fantasy grew further from there. While I don't have many of the mainline games beaten, it's really the spin-offs like Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Chocobo's various games, and heck, even the Monster Hunter clone Final Fantasy Explorers, that appeal to me the most. 

Final Fantasy as a franchise continues even with all of its stumbles and failings. It's still an event when a numbered Final Fantasy gets released in gaming, and it's a franchise that is constantly reinventing what being a "Final Fantasy" game means. Looking at the vast difference between Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX, or even Final Fantasy XV compared to Final Fantasy XVI, there's an entry for essentially everyone. If you don't like what was presented in one game, just wait for the next--it'll be completely different. While it's not always a positive reinvention, it definitely is always an interesting one.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Super Smash Bros. Melee (GCN), Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (NSW)

We're not done with Final Fantasy's Cloud Strife yet. Or Sonic. Or Kirby. Or Star Fox. Or Donkey Kong. Or... etc., etc. That's because they're all within Super Smash Bros., a fighting game franchise that transcends its gameplay and has become a legitimate event in gaming. Every modern reveal gets a massive amount of gravitas to it. It's a literal event. That's because it's not just Nintendo's history being celebrated anymore with the Super Smash Bros. series--it's pretty much ALL of gaming history being celebrated now with this series.

Masahiro Sakurai and his team show dedication, love, and appreciation for each character, stage, and feature included and referenced within the series, and it absolutely, positively shows. It helps that the games themselves are so mechanically brilliant and utterly addicting. 

What started with a Nintendo 64 game with a roster of eight base characters and four unlockables (and I was surprised that not even Nintendo Power Magazine gave this game a dedicated cover story back in the day) has since evolved into a massive collection of tremendous star power in gaming. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was the culmination of all of this, and it seems quite unlikely it will ever happen again. Still, the future is exciting for the franchise, and I'm eager to see what Super Smash Bros. as a concept looks like and materializes as on the Switch 2.

Favorite game(s) in the series: Mega Man 2 (NES), Mega Man 3 (NES), Mega Man X (SNES), Mega Man X4( PS1, SAT), Mega Man 8 (PS1, SAT)

We've arrived in the top three! Well, I'll try not to dilly-dally then, because there are robots to battle, Mavericks to eliminate, and viruses to exterminate with another long-running franchise: Mega Man. We celebrated MEGA MAY all last month with a steady surge of Mega Man-related retro reviews. Maybe it was apparent that I do really enjoy a Mega Man game from time to time!

It's certainly a series that demands patience and perseverance, especially certain entries and sub-series. Like Final Fantasy before it, Mega Man is a series that also reinvents itself, too. While not differing between each game of the same sub-series, it's the actual sub-series where Mega Man vastly changes things up. Mega Man X was an edgier, more difficult, much more action-packed version of the classic Mega Man games, which saw the Legends sub-series introduce full 3D and Zelda-like gameplay. From there, the Battle Network series brought RPG-like gameplay to the franchise.

It seems like an eternity ago when everywhere you looked you encountered a new Mega Man game. I've said this before, but we didn't know how good we had it. Now, it's like trying to squeeze oil out of a Mettool--it's just not happening that fast. That said, I'm excited for Mega Man: Dual Override next year, and the yelp I let out when that was revealed might have woke my neighbors. So, here's to a bright future for the Blue Bomber! 

Favorite game(s) in the series: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES), The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (GB, GBC, NSW), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, 3DS), The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA), The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (3DS), The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (NSW)

My penultimate pick for favorite video game franchise is none other than The Legend of Zelda. It's a tried and true series that even with my least favorite entries in the franchise, still manage to instill a sense of exciting and ultimately worthwhile discovery and exploration within. 

The best Legend of Zelda games are the ones that masterfully blend story, gameplay, puzzles, world and dungeon design, and presentation together for one superb, stellar package. The fact that so many Zelda games could be described by most of those traits is an astounding quality and realization all to itself.

From my very first Zelda game I beat, A Link to the Past, I was hooked on the franchise. I remember drawing on the back of my mom's spare blueprints she brought home from work in order to create my own "dungeons" and "world maps". I was utterly immersed in the land of Hyrule and The Legend of Zelda series as a whole. 

It doesn't matter what amalgamation of the series it is: console, handheld, realistic, cel-shaded, light and whimsical, dark and foreboding--whatever it looks like or is--no Zelda game has ever really disappointed me to a point of regret in playing it. Sure, there are some that I don't have a massive urge to return to, but even those I can appreciate. 

When all the elements come together, when a boss is lastly felled in epic fashion, when those "ah-ha!" moments arrive to me as I finally stumble on a difficult puzzle's solution, when a particularly poignant moments pulls at the heartstrings, when a clever secret is discovered after some careful exploration and a little bit of curiosity, and when a theme swells and makes for an ultimately magical moment, it makes for a lineup of games that is truly legendary. 

Favorite game(s) in the series: Super Mario World (SNES), Super Mario Galaxy (Wii), Super Mario 3D World (Wii U), Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GCN), Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (NSW), Mario Golf (N64), Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS), Mario Tennis (N64)

Really, what else could it have been?! I've essentially exhausted every other notable series out there that I cover on SuperPhillip Central, so it fits that the number one favorite video game franchise of mine is none other than Mario. The other franchises here were at a bit of a disadvantage, as I'm counting not only Mario's mainline 2D and 3D adventures, but also all the spin-offs as well. I'm specifically talking about my personal faves of that bunch: Mario Kart and Mario Golf! That's not even mentioning the RPG franchises: Mario RPG, Paper Mario, and Mario & Luigi or all of the other sports Mario and the Mushroom Kingdom crew participate in.

I've been a Nintendo fan since my first game that I can fully remember playing: Super Mario Bros. 2. I always played as Princess Toadstool for her floating ability was perfect for a fledgling young player like myself. Did it make getting past all those Flurries on level 4-2 easier? Absolutely not, as I'd routinely die there and get a game over as a child, but the memories are strong and more importantly, the memories are good.

Since that game, Mario mania took over. Basically, any game with Mario in it--even Mario is Missing--I had to play growing up. That's sort of continued to this day. Mario's the strongest he's been in popularity, and most of us wait with bated breath for both some Mario Kart World DLC and more so, the introduction of Mario's latest 3D adventure on the Switch 2. 

Whether dying to the very first Goomba in Super Mario Bros., encountering a strange purple mushroom for the first time and dying from it in Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels as part of Super Mario All-Stars, finding out our princess is, in fact, in another castle, meeting and taking a first ride on Yoshi in Super Mario World, playing my very first fully 3D game with Super Mario 64, enjoying a summer vacation in Isle Delfino, enjoyably discovering what's old is new with the New Super Mario Bros. line of games, venturing into galaxies unknown, hopping into a kart, taking to the tennis court, playing a round (or several) of golf, running the bases, playing some b-ball, or one of the multitude of experiences that I shared with Mario for the first time, these situations and scenarios shaped me as a gamer the most. I'm deeply appreciative of Mario and Nintendo in general for helping to build my love of gaming, creativity, and imagination. It only makes sense that Mario would be my favorite gaming franchise due to these reasons, and for just being damn excellent gaming experiences most of the time, too!

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With that, this special article reaches its conclusion! I hope you enjoyed this extensive look at some of my favorite video game franchises of all time. There are many more I greatly appreciate, and much like those franchises, I greatly appreciate YOU and your support of my writing, my opinions, and my blog, SuperPhillip Central. It's been a wonderful 18 years, and I hope we can all come together next year for the 19th anniversary as well.

In the meantime, today is also the Summer Game Fest showcase, so I'm certain I'll be sharing some new trailers tonight on the site. 

Thank you again for your continued support, and have yourselves a SUPER day. 

Super Kirby Clash (NSW) Review

Allow SuperPhillip Central to take you into your weekend with a free-to-start game that launched last month on the Nintendo Switch. Without further ado, let's team up and take on Super Kirby Clash together with SPC's review!

A Gem Apple a day keeps the Kirbys at play.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe was a free-to-start game on the Nintendo 3DS that pit a team of four Kirbys against various large-scale enemies and bosses from the Kirby franchise. Super Kirby Clash is essentially a revamped version of the 3DS game with higher definition graphics, a lower frame-rate, and new battles thrown in. What it lacks in complexity, Super Kirby Clash more than makes up for in a solid boss battler with some addicting hooks.

The battles in Super Kirby Clash have you pairing up with three other Kirbys in Story Quests, which are offline, solo affairs where you're teamed up with three AI Kirbys--and Party Quests, which are played either online with three other random players, or offline with up to three other local players. The latter type of quests rewards more experience points, which in turn, levels up Kirby to be stronger in battle. Story and Party Quests not only have different orders of bosses you face, but they also have different Heroic Missions to complete, making both types of quests worth playing, as completing various Heroic Missions earns Gem Apples.

If you're looking for complex and deep battles, you won't find them in Super Kirby Clash,
but for me, that accessibility made for part of the game's charm and appeal.

Gem Apples are the premium currency of Super Kirby Clash. These are required to enter new battles for the first time in the game's Story Quests. Once they've been spent on a battle, that battle is available for play without ever needing to spend a Gem Apple again on it. In this sense, Gem Apples are the keys that open the locks to battles. However, even after unlocking a battle, you need to have enough Vigor, which is the game's implementation of a stamina system, to attempt it. If you don't have the necessary Vigor, you must either spend Gem Apples to recharge your gauge, or simply wait for a little while until the gauge restores itself.

This hub is where the quest board, Gem Apple tree, adventurer bell, and shoppe are located.

These Gem Apples are also used to purchase items and equipment in Super Kirby Clash's shoppe. As you progress through the game and beat various bosses, reach new levels, and complete Heroic Missions, you gain the ability to purchase higher level weapons and armor. These cost Gem Apples to buy, as well as Fire, Water, and Light Fragments, which are collected from completing quests. The more powerful the weapon and armor, the more Gem Apples and Fragments you'll need to fork over. Super Kirby Clash introduces even stronger weapons and armor than what were found in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, and these can be enhanced to a greater level.

Ooh. Bad look, Kirby. You're wearing white after Labor Day.

There are four roles in battle that your Kirby can take on, and these can be switched between before and after battles at your leisure. The Swordsman is the most balanced of the four roles, able to slice, dice, and carve up enemies, as well as summon an aura-like shield that can protect nearby players. Meanwhile, the Hammer has the most powerful offense in the game, but this role is also incredibly slow and charges attacks even more slowly. Next, the Mage has the power to blast a time beam at foes which can temporarily stop time, allowing your team to deliver damage while the boss is frozen solid. Finally, the Healer has a considerably smaller range of attack, but is a big time help for healing teammates with its potion when the need calls.

What kind of sorcery is this? The Electric Dragon is frozen solid by the power of the Mage!

Now, while I found it necessary to have a team possessing one of each role, it became apparent that getting Platinum Medals on quests relied on having at least two Mages to help stop enemies in their tracks, thus stopping the clock in the process. That way, we could whittle a foe's health down while clearing a quest quickly enough for the medal requirements.

Battles themselves in Super Kirby Clash are rather basic affairs where each role has a simple move set, all revolving around pressing the attack button and an analog stick direction to perform a different offensive move. Some moves can be charged by holding the attack button down to deal more damage, pending you're able to make contact with the enemy. Other moves are dealt by running towards the enemy and pressing the attack button. It's easy to learn and has the level of accessibility one would expect from a Kirby game.

Of course, bosses and foes don't just sit there and take damage from you. They're always on the move, engaging in their own offensive moves, and making battles considerably challenging with their unique move sets, attack patterns, and abilities. If a member of your team's health bar depletes, they faint in battle, able to picked up by another teammate. However, the more you revive in a battle, then longer the process takes. If all players perish in battle or if time runs out on you, it's game over, and you'll need to either start the quest anew or pay a Gem Apple fee to continue.

When you've knocked down a boss to its last half of health, it will become furious, using even more powerful and hard-to-avoid attacks. During this stage of battle, the boss eventually drops four Power Tablets that when collected allows your team of Kirbys to unleash a devastating comet attack to the enemy, usually dealing a powerful amount of damage in the process based on player button press timing.

Battles conclude with your team's performance being rewarded with a medal of some type: from bronze up to platinum. This is also where the Heroic Missions come in. Each battle in both Story and Party Quests have a range of Heroic Missions to tackle, and these have different goals such as clearing the battle in a certain amount of time, beating the battle as a specific role, not taking damage and earning a certain medal, among other challenges. Gem Apples are usually the rewards for completing these, so to make any kind of progress in the game, it's somewhat of a good idea to try to complete them. That said, there are also Heroic Missions for non-battle-related accomplishments, such as buying gear from the shoppe, collecting a given amount of Fragments or Gem Apples, or calling in for some help from other players' characters via the hub world bell.

It wouldn't be a Kirby game without the opportunity to beat Whispy Woods down to a pulp.

Despite Super Kirby Clash being a free-to-start game, it doesn't fall into the trap of being obnoxious with its wish for its players to spend money. In fact, you can easily play through the majority of the game's content without dropping a single dime on it. By paying out of pocket, you're merely expediting the process of clearing quests, walloping bosses, earning more Gem Apples, completing more Heroic Missions, leveling up, getting better gear, and so forth. A patient player, especially one with an online connection or other local players to enjoy the game with, can get through Super Kirby Clash as cheaply and as cost-efficiently as they desire. Thus, it's pretty darn cool that even with its monetization practices, they're completely avoidable and you can still enjoy the game without them.

Team up with three other players offline or take the battles online with some spotty Wi-Fi connections!

Super Kirby Clash isn't the Kirby series' most innovative or entertaining experimental spin-off, but it does offer a wealth of gameplay without the need to spend money--depending on your level of patience, of course. It lacks complexity, which may turn off a good portion of potential players, but for a game that one can pick up and play and then put down after an enjoyable bite-sized session, Super Kirby Clash is a winner. Besides, what do you have to lose but a little time--it's a free game to try out anyway!

[SPC Says: B]

Review Round-Up - March 2018

The stars aligned to make Kirby: Star Allies SuperPhillip Central's featured game of March 2018!

March 2018 was a month of cuteness at SuperPhillip Central! From adorable Pokemon and tiny cars to puzzle-solving mascots of the avian variety and insatiable pink puffballs with serious appetites, SuperPhillip Central had cuteness overload!

We started the month off with several Pokemon duke-ing it out in Pokken Tournament DX, an enhanced Nintendo Switch port of the Wii U and arcade game. It fought its way to a great B+ grade. Following that was a game with a less-than-satisfactory grade, Super Toy Cars, spinning out with a D-. We then got back to a positive state of mind with the engrossing and captivating Toki Tori 2+, tweeting and chirping its way to an A-. Next, the roller coaster of review grades continued. This time, Mario Party: The Top 100 brought us down to a D+ with its lackluster party. The last game of the month, and our featured game of the month, Kirby: Star Allies, ended the month on a strong note with a satisfying B grade!

Pokken Tournament DX (NSW) - B+
Super Toy Cars (NSW) - D-
Toki Tori 2+ (NSW) - A-
Mario Party: The Top 100 (3DS) - D+
Kirby: Star Allies (NSW) - B

Don't sleep on Toki Tori 2 or its 2+ version! I know I had for years,
and since finally being able to play the game, I regret not getting to it sooner!

Kirby: Star Allies (NSW) Review

The last review of March is for a newly released Kirby game. It's Kirby: Star Allies, and it gets the SuperPhillip Central review treatment... right now!

Kirby gets by with a little help from his friends.

Kirby is usually a series that appears later in the lifespan of a Nintendo platform, so you can imagine the surprise many gamers see themselves with as Kirby floats onto the Nintendo Switch just shy of the system's first year. Kirby: Star Allies doesn't stray too much from the formula that the series has established and has run on for a while, but like a sweet, delectable cake for Kirby, for me, Star Allies is nice comfort food -- though not without some small gripes here and there.

This time around, this Kirby game's main selling point is its friend heart ability, where Kirby can chuck hearts at certain enemies to have them join his cause. Up to four players can be on screen at once, including Kirby himself, and when the computer isn't controlling the other three helper characters, multiple human players can drop in and drop out at any time. With AI helpers, the game is relatively an easy experience, more so than it normally would be (as this Kirby installment is one of the less challenging ones), as the AI can solve puzzles by themselves for the most part as well as take down bosses without much of a sweat. It just takes some patience for them to whittle down a given boss's health bar.

Just like WAR sang, "why can't we be friends?"
Well, why can't we in Kirby: Star Allies!

There is an abundance of helpers that Kirby can persuade to join his side of the fight, more than 25 in total. These are your standard Kirby enemies that would otherwise bestow Kirby with their abilities when gobbled up by the pink puffball through traditional methods. There is Sword, Cutter, Hammer, Ice, Fire, Bomb, Beam, Stone and even some new additions in the form of Artist (which attacks with a colorful paintbrush), Spider (which ensnares foes in webs and allows the ability to kick webbed opponents into other enemies), and Staff (which turns Kirby all Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on enemies). Most of the time you'll be switching between helpers like used Kleenex, as keeping the same batch of friends with the same abilities is frowned upon if you want to get all of the secrets within the game's many stages.

The new Spider ability scores Kirby a GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!

Furthermore, taking a familiar page out of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, the ability to combine powers has returned, though slightly altered for Star Allies. When a player holds up on the control stick or D-Pad, they hold up an outline of a heart. If another player uses their copy ability power on that heart, their power will combine with that character's, if possible. For instance, a Sword ability user can have a Fire ability user lend their power to them, turning their ordinary Sword into a Sizzle Sword ability, able to not only slice and dice, but also set enemies and objects ablaze in the process. This combination of powers is necessary to solve some of the optional challenges within Kirby: Star Allies, such as being able to enter into the secret areas of the game off the beaten path.

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The newly produced Sizzle Sword can not only cut this rope,
but also start the fuse on this massive bomb.

However, many times, Star Allies will provide players with the necessary combination of ally powers needed to progress or solve a particular puzzle or challenge via a signpost. It takes away most of the experimentation from players and instead makes puzzle rooms less of a puzzle and more of a "go through the motions" type experience, which while understandable for younger gamers, which Kirby as a franchise is skewed towards, it doesn't make it less disappointing all the same. There are only so many ways you can utilize the combination of Water and Stone abilities to solve a simple puzzle, and Kirby: Star Allies takes away the fun of solving such trials for yourself.

Have two friends hold up their Chumbrellas to protect the third's lit fuse from dying out.

Outside of specific ally abilities like traditional Cutter, Sword, Bomb and the like, Kirby: Star Allies allow Kirby and his friends to team up in other ways through special transformation forms. Kirby and company can turn into a giant Friend Circle, rolling through enemies and obstructions with ease, or they can enter a Friend Train, choo-chooing their way along floors, walls, and ceilings as they defy gravity. Then, there is a less-exciting transformation, the Friend Bridge, which is used in small amounts for puzzles where you are tasked with safely sending an enemy with a key from one side of the bridge to the other. Unlike past recent mainline Kirby games, these transformations aren't the main focus of the game, and they don't interrupt the flow and pacing of Star Allies as much as things like Hypernova in Kirby: Triple Deluxe did, to name one example. They're most welcome and break up the traditional 2.5D platforming quite nicely in Star Allies.

Kirby: Star Allies is devised up of four main worlds containing a wide variety of stages. Each stage contains a rainbow puzzle piece, which is usually placed in the "most challenging" (challenging is a relative term when we're talking about Star Allies) location within the level. These pieces fill up an assortment of jigsaw puzzles that reveal images from Kirby's illustrious history as a gaming icon. There are also regular puzzle pieces to collect in levels as well, but these don't fill in specific pieces of these jigsaw puzzles. Additionally, some levels go the Kirby's Adventure route and house special switches that when pressed, unlock extra stages to play through, prolonging the entertaining story mode of Star Allies. In total, there are close to the same amount of stages in Kirby: Star Allies as other games in the series like the Wii's Return to Dream Land and the Nintendo 3DS's Triple Deluxe.

The boss battles are highlights of Star Allies, and they have the pleasure of not just being isolated to the end of each world either. Instead, they can occur midway through a world, or even the first stage of a world. It keeps players on their toes, and it simultaneously allows a much wider amount of battles to take place against foes both fresh and familiar (as well as new takes on old foes). While most bosses have simple patterns to pick up on and antics that won't overly challenge veteran players, the boss fights in Kirby: Star Allies are engrossing and enjoyable all the same.

Apparently, King Dedede skipped leg day.

Outside of the story mode, which won't last terribly too long -- clocking in for me around five hours or so -- a host of other modes is available, including two quick throwaway mini-games, and some much more substantial and meaty modes which unlock after the initial story mode is finished. One mode allows you to play as any four helper characters, doing away with Kirby as the star, and having you go through a remixed collection of the story mode's stages. If you like, you can play this mode as each of the different helper characters (though this isn't necessary in earning 100% completion on a save file), including special Dream Friends like Bandanna Waddle Dee, King Dedede, Metaknight, and even some free downloadable characters from past Kirby games like Kirby Dream Land 2's Rick, Kine and Coo, or Kirby Super Star's Marx.

Another mode that unlocks is a special boss rush mode. Depending on which difficulty you choose, there are more rounds to take on, less food items to restore your health between rounds, and much more dangerous and deadly foes. While Kirby: Star Allies is overall an extremely breezy game to beat, this substitute mode for the Arena mode of past Kirby games is quite the challenge. To beat the ultimate difficulty level of Kirby: Star Allies's boss rush mode is something to definitely be proud of.

Kirby: Star Allies is one of the only console Kirby games that runs at 30 FPS instead of the typical 60. However, this doesn't really detract heavily from the gameplay experience, and I got used to it rather quickly. What is more jarring is the plethora of loading screens that occur between room transitions in Star Allies, something never-before-seen in a Kirby game before, to my recollection. While these loading screens are fast and present players with helpful tips and advice, they do add up over time.

Goodness gracious, great ball of Waddle Dee!

Star Allies is a positively pretty game to look at. The backgrounds and environments are an absolute pleasure to gaze upon, and I sometimes found myself just stopping to admire the scenery on many occasions during my playthroughs of the game. Character models look exquisite and are wonderfully animated to create a world in Kirby: Star Allies that is detailed and lovely on the visual front. On the sound side, Star Allies features both new arrangements of classic themes from past Kirby games as well as wholly new compositions. Whether it's the trademark melody of the Green Greens theme or the more electronic sounds of the Jambaston fortress, the music is marvelous in Star Allies.

Kirby and company take a nice leisurely dive underwater.

Kirby: Star Allies doesn't do much to push the formula of the franchise forward, but it does successfully craft a game that is well worth playing for both solo gamers and those with the ability to play with multiple people. The low difficulty of the game, even compared to past Kirby entries, will be a turnoff for some players (even the locations of secrets aren't anywhere near as diabolical as past Kirby games). However, there is enough in this pink puffball package to engorge oneself on and enjoy. It's not a truly fantastic Kirby game, but Kirby: Star Allies does its job of providing a highly competent and capable Kirby game for Nintendo Switch owners.

[SPC Says: B]

Kirby Battle Royale (3DS) Review

It's a special day for me, and no, it's not just because I'm reviewing a new Kirby game on SuperPhillip Central. Today is my birthday, and I've been celebrating with both friends and family all week long. Thankfully, I'm back to posting some on SuperPhillip Central, so let's dive in with Kirby's latest, Kirby Battle Royale!

Big-time fun, but expect a small grab bag of content

Kirby has always had a strong presence on Nintendo's handheld systems. It's been as true a statement ever since the little puffball premiered on the original Game Boy with Kirby's Dream Land. From there, both mainline adventures, experimental spin-offs, and more have made their way to Nintendo's lineup of handheld devices, from the Game Boy and Game Boy Color to the Nintendo DS and now Nintendo 3DS.

Kirby's been especially busy with games on the 3DS. He has built quite a lineup for Nintendo's stereoscopic wonder, offering two big, traditional adventures in the form of Kirby Triple Deluxe and Kirby Planet Robobot, as well as several spin-offs in downloadable form like Team Kirby Clash Deluxe and Kirby's Blowout Blast. Now, Kirby is making his curtain call with one (as far as we know) final Nintendo 3DS entry, and it's in a type of game that the pink puffball doesn't spend a lot of time in: a multiplayer one. Kirby Battle Royale focuses most importantly on the local and online multiplayer front as opposed to the single player content the series is known for. Is this a solid step for Kirby, or is this battle royale a bust?

King Dedede with a cloning device? That can't be good.

While Kirby Battle Royale's primary focus is on multiplayer, that isn't to say that there isn't anything for those who want to play by themselves with some single-player content to invest in. The main story mode, Dedede's Cake Royale, puts you as Kirby and occasional AI teammate Bandanna Waddle Dee through a series of events, showcasing all ten battle events within Kirby Battle Royale. Starting off in the Beginner Cup, you face easy opponents, and the objective here is to earn enough points through scoring first place on each event to fill a progression meter. Once that is full, you get the right of taking on the qualifier round. Win that round, and you move on to the next cup. Beat all the cups and you win Dedede's Cake Royale.

As each cup goes on, new events are introduced, opponent AI grows stronger, and conditions per match change to make it harder on you (such as limiting what ability you can use, for instance) -- though Dedede's Cake Royale never becomes too taxing to beat in its 3-5 hour campaign. The biggest worry here is some repetition and a bit of a grind in playing the same events over and over again with some small changes.

Kirby practices to one day star in his own Legend of Zelda entry.

Completing Dedede's Cake Royale unlocks three new playable characters in addition to the all of the Kirby abilities that players can choose from. As matches are played, you gain currency to spend on a myriad of rewards in the collection shop, such as new abilities to play as, headgear to wear both online and off (each character or ability has four to choose from), special boost orbs that help out mid-round, and music to listen to in the options menu.

Currency is earned not just from the previously mentioned means of finishing and winning matches, but also through satisfying given medal conditions, of which there are 60 total, serving way more than just mere achievements. These range from event-specific tasks like KO-ing all enemies simultaneously in a Battle Royale fight, to never getting caught by a ghost in Coin Clash. A notable currency award is rewarded for each medal collected, making for some easy means to purchase new goodies in the collection menu.

The abilities in Kirby Battle Royale are plentiful with 16 in all. The amount of attacks with each isn't as wide as a more modern Kirby game like Return to Dream Land, Triple Deluxe, or Planet Robobot, but there is a good array of attacks to be found with each ability, whether the Doctor ability's pill-tossing, the Spear ability's flurry of spear strikes, or the Ice ability's freezing properties. It's common to stick with a favorite or two, but Battle Royale does encourage using different abilities depending on the battle event and circumstances. For instance, Whip Kirby is terrific for grabbing up rockets to toss into cannons in the Robo Bonkers event.

Robo Bonkers decides to bring down his signature weapon for some Hammer Time.

The ten battle types in Kirby Battle Royale run the gamut from free-for-all contests to 2-on-2 skirmishes. They range from collecting apples from Whispy Woods and throwing them in your team's goal to chucking as well as hitting as puck into as many foes as possible to score points in one deadly game of ice hockey. Different arenas per event bring some variety to each battle type, offering more than a "seen it once, therefore I'm done" type of experience to events. Whether it was collecting ore and tossing it into a train for points, beating on a gigantic mechanical monkey to see who can deal the most damage to it, or stealing chips by attacking other enemies via fists, punches, or charges with a freaking hover bike, the battle events were enjoyable with none of them being ones I dreaded playing.

Forget what they say about an apple a day. Stockpile as many apples today as possible, Kirby!

While Dedede's Cake Royale and acquiring medals requires you to play against the AI for the most part, it's local and online battles where the real fun of Kirby Battle Royale is concentrated around, particularly local battles. You can play with up to four players, being everyone has their own 3DS system, but you need not all have a copy of the game thanks to the magic of Download Play. This means just one of you four (or two, or three, if you have a smaller party) needs to have a copy of Kirby Battle Royale to share the fun with everyone else. Being able to yell, shout, scold, and scream at your best buds and family members is insanely fun in a local context, something definitely missing from playing online.

Speaking of online, Kirby Battle Royale leaves much to be desired here. While the online has indeed improved in showcasing much less lag from the game's original launch a month-and-a-half ago, you're still stuck playing Ranked matches only. Trying to set up anything with faraway friends is best left for setting up in the middle night and not only hoping that you find each other, but that two other people find you so you can start a match. With Ranked, you earn points for wins, and when you level up, it's another way to earn currency to purchase collection menu goods.

Modern Kirby games are always bright, bouncy, and colorful, and this trend continues with Kirby Battle Royale. The visuals are nice and vivid, and effects like explosions and sword swipes really pack a visual punch. Unfortunately, those hoping for such sights to pop out at players will be out of luck, as with recent Nintendo releases, Kirby Battle Royale can only be seen in 2D. Still, what comes out of the artistry and appearance of the game is quite lovely to look at all the same. Another trend with Kirby games is a cute, stellar, and wonderful soundtrack, and again, this trend continues with Kirby Battle Royale as well.

Looks charming and pleasing visually. Battle Royale is certainly a Kirby game alright! 

If you will enjoy Kirby Battle Royale, my answer is that of two words: "It depends". What I mean by that is that if you have access to friends and/or family members who own their own Nintendo 3DS systems and would love to play the game with you, then Kirby Battle Royale is more than worth it. However, if you are playing the game for the single-player content and occasional online battles, then you probably won't get as much out of the game as someone with more options to them with a local gathering of players. For me, Kirby Battle Royale saw plenty of playtime on my Nintendo 3DS -- thanks to great local play and the desire to unlock content -- so I can't help but recommend it with the conditional "it depends" warning.

[SPC Says: C+]

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe (3DS) Review

Yesterday we looked at Kirby's Blowout Blast, one of two Kirby games Nintendo released for this 25th anniversary year of the pink puffball. Now, we turn our attention to this year's first Kirby offering, Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, a freemium model boss rush for all intents and purposes. Here's the SuperPhillip Central review.

There's no "I" in "team", but there is in "freemium".

Like the previously reviewed Kirby's Blowout Blast, Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is an expanded version of a side game originally seen in 2016's Kirby: Planet Robobot. However, unlike Blowout Blast, Team Kirby Clash Deluxe requires no cost for the price of entry. While this may sound like a great thing, Nintendo's desire to bring a freemium mobile model to the world of Kirby of all franchises makes for a dissatisfying end result.

Team Kirby Clash Deluxe's gameplay is comprised of various boss fights. It's a boss rush game essentially that, as you beat bosses with up to three other Kirbys, unlocks new, more progressively challenging bosses to take on. The assortment of boss characters seen in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe should entice all Kirby fans no matter their history with the series, as bosses ranging from classics like Whispy Woods and Kracko to more modern bosses from recent releases like Kirby's Return to Dream Land and Kirby: Triple Deluxe are represented.

The apples fall far from this tree, as they're one of the means bad ol' Whispy Woods attacks.

Battles have you choose between one of four Kirby types: the standard and equal in power Sword Hero, the strong but slow Hammer Lord, the magic caster Beam Mage, and the healer of the group Doctor Healmore, outfitting them with the necessary equipment. You bring four characters into fights, including yourself, and you choose which roles your AI allies are tasked with.

Fighting in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is quite simple with no fancy-schmancy inputs to remember, just the attack button in different directions launch different attacks. The more powerful the attack, the longer it takes to charge up for it and the more vulnerable it makes your Kirby to use. Fallen Kirbys in battle can be revived, though the process takes a little bit of time, and Kirbys can be healed in battle by passing along food that appears on the battlefield. A super attack can be unleashed through all four Kirbys collecting a stone shard and timing their button press correctly to deal heavy damage to a boss.

As for the bosses, they can range from relatively easy to ridiculously frustrating, but it all depends on your Kirby's level. As you fight and complete battles, you earn experience points which your Kirby uses to gain stat increases. This allows you to be better prepared to take on higher ranked foes without as much of a problem. One might think that all one has to do is battle the same bosses over and over again to possess enough power and defense to engage higher difficulty bosses, but this is where the freemium model Team Kirby Clash Deluxe has rears its nasty head in.

Unfortunately for Kracko, those aren't tears of joy.

With the model the game uses--and is traditional for this type of model--there is a lot of waiting involved. You can't continuously play and engage in boss battles because you consume Vigor for each battle you wage. This takes a sizable amount of time for your Vigor meter to replenish, but being a freemium model, of course, there are ways to get around that, such as using Gem Apples. Now, these can be received for free from a 12-hour drop, earned in a limited and finite fashion from completing in-battle goals, or they can be purchased with real world money. The problem here is that Team Kirby Clash Deluxe would be an immensely better experience for players and a greater experience for consumers if the game was just a one-time buy where the requirement of waiting to continue wasn't there. As it is now, I can't really get into the game for an extended period of time or for a fulfilling session because as soon as things heat up-- OOPS! I've run out of Vigor and can't play anymore.

The waiting continues with Gem Apples, which open up new bosses to face. When you run out of Gem Apples, you can't progress in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. The need to either wait a half-day, hope you can go back to a previous battle to earn some Gem Apples in them (but pray you have enough Vigor to do so), or just pony up and pay the real world money required to get some more. (If you haven't guessed it by now, I'm not all that appreciative of the freemium model.)

Now that the negatives have been fanned out towards Team Kirby Clash Deluxe's freemium model usage, let's go to one positive for me. The game supports local play for up to four players, so since the game is free to download, you can easily have four friends and/or family members team up together to take on bosses. This is a solid plus of the game's model used.

Shellacking a mallet-using monkey with friends is always a good time. 

Between battles, you lounge around a hub area where you're able to buy new equipment and items, acquire the game's currency through a daily drop, scan amiibo to receive extra materials that would otherwise take longer for you to make new equipment, and input what limited passwords there are in the North American region for bonus goodies. If you're a sucker for outfitting your custom Kirby with the coolest, strongest gear, then you might get hooked to the equipment aspect found in Team Kirby Clash Deluxe.

If you have the patience or want to invest the money into Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, there is plenty of content to be found once it finally opens up. You can aim to get every goal completed in every boss battle, in addition to earning up to a platinum on every battle. I just wish I could have all of the content up front, but perhaps that would make the game a breeze to speed through. As it is, though, the route Nintendo took with Team Kirby Clash Deluxe is one that I begrudgingly went along with. For the appealing boss rush gameplay, the game is at least worth a try. That try IS free, after all. It's just the waiting game or unlimited money you can invest in the game aren't.

[SPC Says: C+]