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This evaluation, penned by Philip J Reed — our much-missed good friend and Nintendo Life contributor — was initially revealed in January 2012. We’re updating and republishing it to mark the sport’s arrival within the Nintendo Swap On-line + Growth Pack GBA library.
We now have handy this a lot to Kirby & The Superb Mirror: it actually is not afraid of making an attempt new issues. We’d not be completely satisfied of the need of these issues, in fact, nevertheless it’s at all times good to see a collection try to develop its boundaries considerably.
The story forges no new floor in any way, although, because it’s based mostly on the usual mild world/darkish world dynamic that we have seen in so lots of Nintendo’s flagship franchises by this level that it is virtually a sub-genre. Kirby’s mission is to gather the shards of a magical mirror that can enable him to seal off the darkish world for good, and let Dream Land get again to… no matter it’s Dream Land does when it isn’t underneath assault by one thing.
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If you begin taking part in, you may really feel as if you are in acquainted territory: cute visuals, bouncy tunes, and a few fairly customary platforming abound. When you progress just a little additional, nonetheless, you may realise that this is not your customary, level-based Kirby journey. A number of exits adorn practically each room, and in case you discover a map you possibly can open it up and see simply how convoluted the trail forward actually is.
You see, inside a single stage you may combat a number of bosses and attain a number of objective rooms, however that does not imply your work in that stage is completed. It is as much as you to scour each nook and unlock each secret, each of which would require a lot backtracking and pathfinding, giving this Kirby recreation a peculiar Metroid-like vibe.
This concept is interesting: Dream Land is quirky and diverse sufficient {that a} looser allowance for exploration must be factor. In follow, although, it turns into irritating: rooms begin to look the identical earlier than very lengthy, and for many of the recreation you possibly can solely entry sure ranges via specific rooms in different ranges. If you wish to return someplace to uncover a secret you could not discover earlier than, you are more likely to end up making an attempt each doable path till you bump into the proper one.
The map, when you be taught to learn it as an summary, is actually useful, however you may want a distinct map for every stage. The hidden exits and alternate paths ought to brighten up the expertise considerably, however, surely, it simply manages to cover easy duties behind tedious backtracking.
Kirby’s skills should not shock anyone who’s performed a Kirby recreation earlier than: he can fly, swim, inhale enemies, and steal powers. Up to now, so acquainted. The controls really feel a mite sluggish of their responsiveness, which actually turns into an issue throughout boss fights and different fast-paced conditions. There is a slight delay between enter and execution, and as soon as that leads to a couple low-cost deaths you may come to treat it as a critical flaw.
Sadly, that is not the worst of the issues with Kirby & The Superb Mirror. One conceit is that Kirby has been break up into 4 entities of various colors, and let’s simply say that the normal pink Kirby will need to have all of the brains. The opposite three Kirbys chaotically certain about, much more irritating than they’re useful. You’ll be able to’t management them, so that you simply must allow them to dominate the display with their antics as they steal powers you wished, get in your approach, and even budge you into enemies and hazards.
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Ostensibly, these further three Kirbys are right here to assist, however good luck with that. Their AI is a humiliation, and it is a specific downside if you want one in every of them to set off a change, or a bomb block, or — heaven forbid — allow you to transfer one thing heavy by inhaling it with you. These three Kirbys don’t cease shifting lengthy sufficient to understand you want their assist, and their inclusion — and necessity — on this recreation drags the expertise down severely. When taking part in multiplayer, nonetheless, every participant will get to manage a Kirby, and all of you’re employed collectively or go off your individual approach and do no matter you need, even with the ability to go to fully reverse ends of the sport world. With different folks, it abruptly makes extra sense (and, fortunately, the Nintendo Swap On-line model lets you play with others domestically or over the web).
It was a weird sufficient determination to provide Kirby a cellphone on this recreation (sure, actually), and the truth that he makes use of it to summon these rampaging nincompoops simply provides insult to damage. The truth that the cellphone additionally has a perform that causes you to exit the stage instantly makes issues even worse: press the incorrect button within the warmth of the second and also you’re again to the beginning. The third or fourth time this occurs, you would possibly begin to surprise why you are bothering. We positive did.
The sport’s not with out its charms, although: the presentation is usually sturdy, with good visuals and music as at all times. The truth is, taking part in in brief bursts will be fairly enjoyable: the basic Kirby actions of inhaling enemies and whooping them with their very own weapons are as nice right here as they ever had been. Sadly, the sport is not actually structured for brief play periods, what with its maze-like design and long-term targets relatively than brief, stage-based missions. There are a number of minigames accessible to play which are not a lot enjoyable solo however had been largely supposed for multiplayer and positively work higher with buddies.
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The primary attraction of the sport is supposed to be the exploration, and for a lot of it will likely be. For us, although, the exploration does not really feel significantly rewarding, the fixed backtracking is unintuitive and uninteresting, and your required companions are a gaggle of hyperactive imbeciles. Happily, HAL would ultimately get multiple-Kirby gameplay proper in Kirby Mass Assault. This time round, although, think about it one huge, well-intentioned misstep.
Conclusion
Kirby & The Superb Mirror tries to introduce quite a lot of new issues to the collection, and due to that it was destined from the begin to be a divisive title. Finally, although, we really feel that the improvements right here simply aren’t significantly enjoyable — actually not for solo gamers. Sluggish controls and abysmal AI in your required companions bitter the expertise, and exploration rapidly turns into extra of a chore than a reward. Kirby’s had his share of ups and downs, actually, however this isn’t the sport we wish to keep in mind him by.