Using only the touch screen and stylus is very interesting; however, die-hard Kirby fans will probably be disappointed.
THE BAD: Fairly short adventure. Repetitive. Sometimes frustrating.
The lovable, pink hero of Dream Land returns in Kirby: Canvas Curse.
GAMEPLAY is good. The premise behind Canvas Curse is an evil witch has turned the peaceful Dream Land into a painting. Kirby tries to stop the witch but is transformed into a defenseless ball. However, with the stylus you can help Kirby defeat the evil witch and save the day. The mechanics in Canvas Curse are quite simple. You use magical ink to draw lines to guide Kirby through the 7 worlds. Each world has 3 stages followed by a boss battle. Unfortunately, the 3 different bosses don't put much up of a challenge and are recycled just like everything else. Although the worlds are completely different from one another and become more difficult as you progress, you can't help but feel the game is repetitive.
What's more, Kirby doesn't get any stronger throughout the adventure. This is definitely one of the big draw backs found in Canvas Curse. Kirby will be stuck at only 4 HP the entire time and although he can use powers from defeated enemies, he will lose the power if damaged. Sadly, this occurs frequently so for the most part you will be drawing paths to get Kirby to the finish line as fast as possible.
GRAPHICS are great. Canvas Curse has a lot of attention to detail. Every world is so unique. The level designs range from beautiful hillsides and snowy mountains to dark mysterious mansions and industrial factories. Fans of the series will also recognize many returning Kirby enemies which all look distinct and colorful.
SOUND is enjoyable. The music for each world fit very well and heighten the whole experience. There isn't any voice dialogue, but the classic Kirby noises and sound effects are all intact.
VALUE is decent. The adventure is about 6-10 hours long. Canvas Curse is great for playing in short bursts and is actually really easy to pick up and play. However, there isn't any multiplayer to speak of and the only worthwhile extras are time trials if you like that sort of thing.
OVERALL Kirby: Canvas Curse is a one of a kind adventure. The concept of using only the touch screen and stylus is very interesting; however, die-hard fans of Kirby will probably be disappointed. Even though Canvas Curse isn't the traditional 2D side-scroller, it is still worth giving a shot as a rental.