Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
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Developer: HAL Laboratory | Publisher: Nintendo |
| Release Date: June 26, 2000 | Also On: None |
Kirby is quite possibly the least cared about of the major Nintendo franchise characters anymore, with the rejuvenation of the Metroid series. Such is likely a result of the fact that Kirby's games are likely one of the things that caused Nintendo to get its kiddy image. I guess I have to admit that Kirby games do usually have more cutesy graphics than most mature adults would enjoy, but the graphical style is very fitting for the type of games that they are, relaxing and fun without too much challenge.
Challenge is not something that Kirby games are known for. Indeed, the only difficult Kirby game I've ever seen is the second quest of the original Kirby's Dream Land for the Game Boy. But I know of no law that says that a game has to be difficult in order to be fun, and Kirby games certainly would be an exception if such a rule did exist.
I am quite a big fan of Kirby, I'll admit. In fact, I must confess that the only reason that I bought an N64 a couple months ago was so that I could play this game after years of wondering how Kirby in 3D would work. Obviously, I had missed the memo that said that Kirby 64 was a 2D game in a 3D world, much like SSBM or its prequel. The question then is whether this game ever was worth playing, and if so, is it still worth playing?
The graphics on Kirby 64 are pretty good, but they are not perfect. Don't expect the absolute beauty that was a part of Kirby's Adventure for the NES. Indeed, I'd say that the graphics in this game are duller than the graphics in that game, which is sad for a game released two systems later. Maybe it had something to do with the transition to 3D backgrounds. But the point is that, unlike Kirby's Adventure, the graphics in this game aren't going to amaze you with their beauty, but they will get the job done.
The sound, however, is done very well. Much of the music is upbeat, like in previous Kirby games, but there are also some more serious themes in some of the more foreboding areas. Some of the themes in this game are fairly addictive to me, but there's nothing on the level of the Super Mario Brothers overworld theme or the Legend of Zelda overworld theme. So far as sound effects go, this game basically has the same set of sound effects from Kirby's Adventure for the NES, with slightly updated sound. The average sound effects are forgivable though because of the excellent music.
So far as gameplay, not much is changed from Kirby's Adventure. Your primary attack is still to inhale and exhale enemies, or to steal and use enemy powers. An added twist in this game (unless it was in one of the SNES Kirby games, which I've never played) is the ability to mix two special abilities to get a better, more useful super ability. So far as the battle system, if you've played one Kirby game, you've played them all, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I should mention, however, that the mechanic of exhaling enemies has changed from exhaling them in the form of a star to exhaling them in their original form. Why they changed that I have no idea.
On the subject of movement, one thing has changed. The Kirby games before this one had unlimited flight. HAL finally figured out when they were making this game that that made the games easier than they already were, since many sections could be flown over, so they restricted the length of time that Kirby could fly, a change which I think carried over to Amazing Mirror. This change does serve to make the game slightly more difficult, but it isn't going to make the game hard by any means.
Kirby platformers, from Kirby's Adventure (or Kirby's Dream Land 2, whichever came first) on, have always had things to collect, whether they are switches to unlock bonus games or just items to get for the sake of getting them. Kirby 64 is no different, with 100 different crystal shards strewn throughout the game. One is held by each of the bosses, and there are three in each level, but you don't have to find all of them to beat the game, but searching for them can add some to the replay value, which otherwise is nonexistent.
Speaking of bosses, we're not talking about traditional Kirby-style bosses. This is the first Kirby game that I've played that had multi-phase bosses. Indeed, every boss except the very last one (go figure) is multi-phase. Many of them can be fairly simply beaten with the inhale/exhale method, but most are just as easily beaten by taking in the right special ability.
Since this is a 2D game in a 3D world, you will not necessarily always be going straight from left to right. Sometimes you will be walking toward or away from the screen at the same time, giving, among other possibilities, the possibility of appearing to be walking around in a circle, for example. This game is rare among N64 games in that it uses the D-pad instead of the analog stick, but it is almost easier to play because of that instead of having to hold the controller by the middle and the right.
For all practical purposes, Kirby 64 is just another Kirby game. If you are a Kirby fan and you've ever had an N64, odds are you have already played it. If you haven't played it, I guess that, for the price it usually sells for, it might be a bit nonlengthy for the platformer fan that isn't a fan of Kirby. If you are a fan of Kirby, it is a fine addition to your collection of Kirby games if you don't already have it.
| Graphics: | 6 |
| Sound: | 8 |
| Gameplay: | 8 |
| Creativity: | 7 |
| Replay Value/Game Length: | 6 |
| Final: | 7.2 |
| Written by Martin | Review Guide |
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