Top Ten Kirby Games

Kirby: Planet Robobot releases in the Americas exactly one week from today. SuperPhillip Central will no doubt be covering that, but until then, Kirby fans, why don't I satiate your appetite for Kirby with a list portraying the best to come out of HAL Laboratory and other developers? These ten Kirby titles are the best that feature Nintendo's determined and persevering pink puffball. After you've read my list and seen my arguments, feel free to let the community know your favorite Kirby games!

10) Kirby Mass Attack (DS)

Command up to ten Kirbys with the power of touch in Kirby Mass Attack! By tapping the Nintendo DS touch screen, you can create a star that your army of Kirbys will follow. Tap a foe or obstacle, and they'll charge at it like there's no tomorrow. Even with just using touch to control the Kirby squad instead of buttons and such, I never did feel out of control while maneuvering my pink puffball armada. This charmingly creative Kirby game may not be a typical platformer, but it's an amazing adventure that is full of incredibly clever ideas. This isn't the only touch-focused Kirby game on the list, so stay tuned!

9) Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES)

Borrowing the formula of Kirby's Dream Land 2, where Kirby joined up with three animal friends to help save the day, Kirby's Dream Land 3 introduces three more animal buddies into the fray, each with their own special abilities to assist Kirby on his adventure. Speaking of abilities, new copy abilities such as Kirby being able to launch himself into enemies as a fireball after eating a fire-based foe, open up the gameplay greatly and changes things up nicely. Then, there's the absolutely gorgeous and unique art style for the game to admire as well. Kirby's Dream Land 3 was the final published release from Nintendo for the Super Nintendo. PAL territories wouldn't see the game until over a decade later via Wii Virtual Console import.

8) Kirby Air Ride (GCN)

The sole non-platformer on this list of top Kirby games, Kirby Air Ride is a simplistic racer on the surface with surprising depth. The various racing machine Kirby and friends pilot accelerate on their own. The player just controls which direction they move, while using the A button to do tasks like braking, charging, boosting, and Kirby's signature inhaling ability to copy enemies' abilities. The multi-tiered tracks feature many shortcuts and ways to go, making each fun but difficult to master. Apart from the main racing mode, there are two others: a top down racer and City Trial. Each possess their own checklist of challenges, where completing a challenge unlocks a game bonus, whether it's a new racer, vehicle, or other goody. Not given much delight from critics at the time of release, the game has since seen a cult following.

7) Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

Taking the trademark abilities of Kirby-- inhaling foes, copying their powers, and flying-- and removing them might seem like a poor idea for a Kirby game. Nonetheless, Kirby's Epic Yarn is a delightful 2D platformer that may err on the very easy side, but remains an adorable, charming, and wonderful game regardless. The game is rendered with a knitted style, and the world is made of fabrics and clothing. Kirby can transform into numerous forms, such as a car and a submarine, for example. The low difficulty of the game comes from the inability for Kirby to die. Instead, when Kirby takes damage or falls into a pit, the player loses a fair amount of beads, the currency of the game. A side goal of each level is to get a specific total of beads, so dying a lot is counter-intuitive to this objective. Additionally, a second player can join in for some co-op fun. While it won't make you sweat with is challenge, Kirby's Epic Yarn is one truly epic Kirby game.

6) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64)

Many franchises entered the third-dimension on the Nintendo 64, and Kirby did as well... well, sort of. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a 2.5-D platformer where environments, levels, and characters are made up of 3D. The paths in levels themselves are 2D, sometimes circling around an object to impressive results. The biggest shift gameplay-wise in Kirby 64 is the ability to combine two Kirby powers together to create a multitude of powerful combinations. The titular crystal shards are optional collectibles to gather, though collecting them all reveals the true final boss and ending. Kirby 64 is just the right length. It doesn't overstay its welcome, nor does it feel like you got the raw end of the deal game size-wise. Like any good Kirby game worth its weight in Maxim Tomatoes, it encourages multiple play-throughs, each as enjoyable as the last.

5) Kirby: Canvas Curse (DS)

I told you guys and gals that there would be another touch-centric Kirby game, and here it is. Kirby: Canvas Curse was the game for me that gave the Nintendo DS touch screen value to me early on in the system's life. The game involves players drawing lines to guide Kirby and the other three unlockable playable characters through levels filled with enemies, obstacles, and challenges. Kirby's trademark copy ability is here and shines, allowing Kirby to smack into a foe, take its power, and use it to solve puzzles within levels and take it to enemies. The rainbow lines that players draw can also be used as a shield to block projectiles and other dangers that would otherwise harm Kirby. Packed with content, Kirby: Canvas Curse was the Nintendo DS game that made the summer after the system's launch much easier to cope with until the deluge of great software hit the system that fall.

4) Kirby's Adventure (NES)

Players around the globe got to finally see Kirby in full, glorious color in a video game with Kirby's Adventure, the sole NES title in the Kirby franchise. It also marks the first appearance of fan favorite character Meta Knight, and gave players the ability to finally save their progress mid-game. Let me tell you-- that save feature is a godsend, as Kirby's Adventure isn't your typical short Kirby game that fans at the time had come to expect from the pink puffball. Featuring seven wonderful worlds, hidden secrets, entertaining boss battles, and the charm that Kirby games exude, Kirby's Adventure delivers on almost every aspect. A Game Boy Advance remake, Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land, released in 2002, while a 3D Classics Nintendo 3DS eShop version launched in 2011. While the remake is a very good game, I would have felt remiss if I didn't include the original, genuine article, the OG NES game, on this list instead.

3) Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Wii) 

Using the tried and true formula of past Kirby games, Kirby's Return to Dream Land (known as Kirby's Adventure Wii in other parts of the world) marked the first Kirby platformer to hit a home console since Kirby 64. The wait was definitely worth it. All the enjoyable and endearing gameplay goodness the Kirby series is known for is present and accounted for in Return to Dream Land. However, this time Kirby doesn't have to go it alone. Return to Dream Land offers cooperative multiplayer for up to four players to engage on an epic adventure, even allowing them to stand on top of one another's heads like a totem to move through levels as a synchronized team. The gameplay element of copying abilities from enemies is here, as are numerous Energy Spheres that give extra incentive to explore the creative and cleverly designed levels of the game. It might not have revolutionized the Kirby series as we know it, but Kirby's Return to Dream Land is almost as good a Kirby game as you'll ever play. Almost.

2) Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS)

While we wait patiently for Kirby: Triple Deluxe's successor, Kirby: Planet Robobot, to release in North America next week, allow me to talk about what I consider to be the second best Kirby game ever created. Kirby: Triple Deluxe might not push the envelope for Kirby platformers, but it executes the formula so incredibly well. The levels are masterful in their designs, using the Nintendo 3DS's stereoscopic 3D to have them sprawled in both the foreground and the background. Some really nifty visual trickery is on display here. The new powers such as Archer, Bell, and Circus, bring some new tricks to Kirby's ever-growing arsenal, and the visuals are as stellar as ever. Bonus modes such as one where you play the entire adventure as King Dedede, and the mighty challenging True Arena, bring even more gameplay greatness to players. For a handheld Kirby game, Kirby: Triple Deluxe can't be beat.

1) Kirby Super Star (SNES, DS)

What's better than one Kirby game? Well, let me answer that for you-- how about seven Kirby games and some bonus goodies! That's exactly what you get with Kirby Super Star (known as Kirby's Fun Pak in PAL territories). This compilation has several exciting mini-adventures in it, such as a re-imagining of the original Kirby's Dream Land with Spring Breeze, a four level journey to stop a crop-bothering bird in Dyna Blade, a gourmand's dream in the form of a food-chomping race against King Dedede in Gourmet Race, a massive system of rooms filled with 60 treasures in The Great Cave Offensive, a mission to take down Meta Knight's ship in Revenge of Meta Knight, the biggest adventure in the game known as Milky Way Wishes, and a coliseum series of battles in The Arena. A myriad of sub games are included as well. If that isn't enough, then you must be as insatiable as Kirby's appetite! It's this huge stream of good games and sub games that makes Kirby Super Star my pick for best Kirby title.

Honorable Mentions: 

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U)
Kirby's Block Ball (GB)
Kirby's Dream Land 2 (GB)
Kirby's Dream Course (SNES)
Kirby and the Amazing Mirror (GBA)

SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs - 400th VGM Edition

It seems like only yesterday we were starting off with our first VGM, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's Romance Theme. Now, a year and some change later we are celebrating the 400th VGM. On this special edition of SuperPhillip Central's Favorite VGMs, we have music from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Kirby Super Star, and NiGHTS Into Dreams. As always, if you missed a previous installment of the VGMs, feel free to check out our VGM Database to get caught up. Just be warned that it will be quite an endeavor!

v396. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS1, SAT) - Prologue

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night's soundtrack featured an eclectic mix of musical styles. Prologue is pure rock, playing as a member of the Belmont family ascends the stairs leading to Dracula's throne room. Hearing this theme really saddens me that we won't get another Castlevania game akin to Symphony of the Night any time soon.

v397. Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii) - How It Started

A boss theme of Sonic and the Secret Rings, How It Started is performed by Runblebee. In fact, the majority of Secret Rings' music was performed by Runblebee, with Steve Conte providing vocals for the two tracks that bookend the game (the opening theme and the credits theme). If you aren't familiar with Steve Conte, he is a New York musician who has collaborated many times with anime composer Yoko Kanno.

v398. Kirby Super Star (SNES) - Taking Over the Halberd

The tense song that plays during the Revenge of Metaknight game in Kirby Super Star, Taking Over the Halberd has players timed as they try to regain control of Metaknight's ship, the Halberd. Kirby Super Star is one of fans' favorite Kirby games. It certainly packed a lot of content for the game's price!

v399. Kid Icarus (NES) - Underworld

Much like some people calling Samus Aran "Metroid", there were many people calling Pit "Kid Icarus", which to be fair isn't really a silly thing to say in comparison to Samus being "Metroid." After a 20 year hiatus, the Kid Icarus series returned with the spectacular Kid Icarus: Uprising. Also on Nintendo 3DS, a 3D classics version of the original NES game was released.

v400. NiGHTS Into Dreams (SAT) - Dreams Dreams

A vocal theme for the SEGA Saturn classic NiGHTS Into Dreams, NiGHTS fans love to sing along to this cheery pop tune full of hope and positive vibes. The song would get several versions on the Wii sequel, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams, probably one of the few positives a person could name from that game.

Kirby Super Star (SNES) Retro Review

Retro Review Month rolls on with Kirby Super Star, one of the most popular games in the Kirby franchise. If you don't care to track down a used Super Nintendo copy, why not just download the Wii Virtual Console version? It's just as good. Nonetheless, before you do, read my retro review of the game in question.

This SNES Game Is "Pak-ed" 

Nintendo's stable of memorable, lovable characters and mascots is insanely large. It has Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Yoshi, Samus Aran, Pit, and yes, the absolutely adorable Kirby. Kirby is generally the character who receives the most experimental games. For example, drawing rainbow-colored lines to guide the pink puffball in Kirby: Canvas Curse, jostling your Game Boy Color around to move Kirby through mazes and elevated levels in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, and reflecting the charming blob into breakable blocks a la Breakout in Kirby's Block Ball are all instances of this. Perhaps what could be considered another experiment is putting Kirby into eight different games on one Super Nintendo cartridge. The end result is Kirby Super Star (aka Kirby's Fun Pak in European areas). Does this collection of games make Kirby deserve his super star moniker?

Unlike every other Kirby game in existence, Kirby Super Star is not one epic adventure. It is actually a compendium of all-new standalone games that are to be played. Starting off with Spring Breeze, a 16-bit version of the original Kirby game, Kirby's Dream Land on the Game Boy, minus one level, players embark on their quest to opening up every game in the collection by completing a game or combination of games. (Games can last anywhere between ten minutes to over an hour.) This all takes a part in leading up to and culminating with playing Milky Way Wishes and besting The Arena, a 20+ round coliseum-style romp with all of the major enemies of the entire game to vanquish. Think the odds are against you? Well, between battles there's a tree that has six health-restoring Maxim Tomatoes to eat when you're feeling low.

If you have played a standard Kirby game, you probably know what to expect in nearly all of the available games. The gameplay in most of the game involve Kirby gobbling up enemies and assuming their abilities. For instance, if you suck up a bird baddie, Kirby will gain the power to fling feathers at foes as well as fly in the air with more control. Without any abilities, Kirby is still a competent character. He can suck up enemies, and shoot them in star form out of his mouth. If a power isn't quite working out, it can be removed. (Powers are forcibly removed if Kirby takes too much damage.)

Kirby's face is beaming as he uses the Beam power.

One of the greatest features of Kirby Super Star is most games allow for two player support. All that is required of player one is for them to have a power, press a button to turn it into a sidekick character, or helper, controlled by the CPU, and then have the second player take control of it through also pressing a button. The second player takes damage just like Kirby does, but unlike Kirby when he loses a life, player two can come back as many times as he or she desires. Players can share food which restores health by hugging one another, performed by being close to one another after food has been consumed.

Dyna Blade's no match for Kirby
because Kirby is the bomb.

After Spring Breeze, the easiest game in the collection, is completed, two more open up: Dyna Blade and Gourmet Race. Dyna Blade is a beefier Spring Breeze with original levels, two secret levels accessed through stepping on hidden switches, and an overworld map. Meanwhile, Gourmet Race is a racing affair which has Kirby trying to speed through three different obstacle courses before King Dedede can reach the finish line. Along the way, Kirby can digest food scattered around the courses to earn points. The racer with the most points at the conclusion of the three races is determined the victor.

It doesn't count as exercise if while you
are running you eat everything in sight.

Another available game is Revenge of Meta Knight which takes you through multiple parts of Meta Knight's airship as well as through land areas in your pursuit of Meta Knight. You are constantly timed in this mode, though the timer resets after each completed portion of this mode. I found Revenge of Meta Knight to be the most difficult game in Kirby Super Star, despite it being listed in the game as less difficult than others in the collection.

Nonetheless, two of my favorite games of Kirby Super Star are both ones where you have to find a bunch of items hidden across the levels. The first is The Great Cave Offensive, and while you are only in an actual cave setting for 1/4 of this game, it is mighty fun. The goal here is to come across sixty treasure chests strewn all across the four major sections of the game. Inside each treasure chest is a... well... treasure that adds to your money total. These are items as cheap as a bedpan to items as valuable as a katana blade. Nintendo fans will dig that there are Nintendo-related items to be found as well, including a DK Barrel, Samus Aran's Screw Attack ball, and Earthbound's Mr. Saturn.

At first The Great Cave Offensive seems pretty linear, but after you enter the second main area, everything opens up considerably. There's multiple paths, multiple rooms, and multiple obstacles and enemies to overcome to find glorious booty. Some treasures are easier to reach than others. One tricks you into entering a room that automatically begins scrolling to the right. If you don't collect the treasure inside the trap room and vamoose in time, you will be crushed by the screen.

Go on a treasure hunt in The Great Cave Offensive.

The Great Cave Offensive can actually be beaten in 15-20 minutes if you are just skipping most exploration. Areas are interconnected with mine cart segments that require no finesse whatsoever, and each area concludes with a boss battle. Regardless, collecting all sixty treasures within their chest prisons is the only way to fully complete the mode. And it is a wild ride and quite the accomplishment, too.

The latter game that is similar to The Great Cave Offensive opens up after the primary six modes have been finished off. It is Milky Way Wishes where the sun and moon clash for supremacy. It is unlike any other mode as Kirby cannot suck up foes and then copy their powers. Instead, Kirby must find 16 or so powers within the multiple planet levels (able to be chosen in any order) to be able to switch forms. There's usually 2-3 abilities per planet, and each planet has its own environmental theme, from a journey on top of the clouds to an expedition within a volcano. After the initial planets are completed, the final battle against the true foe begins.

Rounding out Kirby Super Star are the Sound Test (opens after all eight main games are completed) and two mini-games: one where you try to draw your sword before your opponent when the on-screen prompt shows up, and one where you face off against an adversary in hopes of creating a bigger crack in the ground than they do. These mini-games can be played against the computer or against a second player.

Become a gladiator of good in The Arena mode.

Kirby Super Star is a darling of a game in the looks department. The crisp colors of characters and beautiful backgrounds which are full of life are truly something special to behold. The color palette is highly varied and the character design is spectacular, especially the larger sprites. If you're a sucker for 2D sprites like me, you'll no doubt adore what you see with Kirby Super Star. Moving from sights to sounds, the soundtrack of the game is full of all the catchy melodies and accompaniments you've grown to expect from the Kirby series. And if you're new to the franchise, you'll see why so many revere the scores to Kirby games.

By far one of the best values in a Kirby game, Kirby Super Star is an terrific proposition for someone who is new to the franchise or, like a sizable chunk of the world, is enamored with the pink puffball. These are games that you will want to play through again and again, trying to do better each time. If I had a complaint, it is that an initial go-through of all of the games doesn't last too long which might put off some gamers who beat a game once and move on to the next thing. Regardless, others will love Kirby Super Star. It's a highly competent collection of individual games starring Kirby. Forget WWE wrestlers; Kirby is the true superstar.

[SuperPhillip Says: 9.25/10]