3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure
2:33 including some idle time, ~85% completion.
- It's been about 5 years since I've played through KA.
- The 3D effect is very subtle. Sometimes it almost felt 2D and I had to check that the slider was even on. They seem to opt for tinting the backgrounds sort of subtly. I actually like this a lot, I was surprised at how much I liked the game visually.
- The visuals are significantly better than I remember here. Maybe it's because of the 3D stuff or maybe they updated the assets, but the colour palette is much much more vibrant than I remember. Some of the different level designs really really pop, and the game as a whole looks more at home as an early SNES title than a NES title.
- The controls were more awkward than I remember. Kirby moves too slowly both vertically and horizontally. Dashing helps. Jumping doesn't feel fun. I remember feeling this prior times I've played the game, but it seems exascerbated as a result of the 3DS; I'm not a fan of the d-pad or the circle pad for the game.
- The game itself is pretty good but not great, I wouldn't put it in the top echelon of NES platformers (SMB 1-3, DuckTales, Little Mermaid, the earlier Mega Men, Bionic Commando, some others). The real strengths of the game are its excellent world map and alternate switch level unlocks which are a precursor to Super Mario World, and the way that some of the powerups lead towards levels where very specific experimentation is rewarded (like the level where you get the wheelie powerup and race downwards to get an alternate exit, or the various levels where you can light a fuse and run towards a cannon. It's a pity the game doesn't really dedicate itself to this, so it's too easy to sort of float through the game without really getting the most out of it. Sometimes levels feel like they're designed for a specific powerup, but maybe you didn't bother taking it or maybe you lost it and then you awkwardly kind of hop/float through the level. Too bad.
- The powerups are a mixed bag. To this day I can't successfully use the ball or tornado powerups. Personally I tend to try to keep spark or freeze around because they just decimate the minibosses. Often if you spam the powerups you can kill a miniboss before it even moves. I killed Wispy Woods before he dropped a single apple or bramble just by sitting next to him and spamming freeze.
- I love all the side games. Quick draw, crane game, the little end of level timing bouncy game.
Overall I'd probably recommend the game. $7 is a bit of a stretch given that it's available for $5 elsewhere and that was already a bit of a stretch, but it was fun to replay and I'm really impressed by the game visually.
Previous 3DS VC Replay Impressions: Super Mario Land 2, Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, Donkey Kong 94, Super Mario Land, Kirby's Dream Land