Kirby's new adventure may have a few flaws, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the must-buys this year
Let's go over the different aspects of the game!
Graphics: 9.75 out of 10
This game's scenery is, in a word, beautiful. As you'll notice, everything is made out of yarn, buttons, fabric, etc. So that you can get a good idea, I'll describe two scenarios for you. In a few levels, Kirby will come to a zipped-up zipper. Kirby must grab the zipper with his new Yarn-whip thing, and pull it across a small path in order for the zipper to un-zip. Once you do, the zipper and the section of the background it was attached to, will collapse. This allows Kirby to explore secret routes or passage ways not normally-accessible. Kirby must also pull tabs or buttons, quite often. These often give Kirby more beads (more on those later) or one of three treasures in a level (if Kirby pulls a tab shaped like a Treasure Chest). Some switches like this even transport you to another section of the level. All in all, Kirby's Epic Yarn has a lot going on in the graphics department, and it will keep a smile on your face the entire time.
Controls: 10 out of 10
I really don't have any problems with the controls, hence the score. To play, you hold the Wii Remote sideways, NES-style. The control pad is used to move Kirby (duh). The 2 button executes a jump, and the 1 button is used for Kirby's new Yarn-whip attack, which has a number of uses (but more on that later).You can also dash by double-tapping left or right (which transforms our hero into a car). You can also turn in to a descent-slowing parachute by holding 2 in mid-air. Overall, the controls are comfortable, and Kirby's moves are easy to execute.
Sound: 9 out of 10
I won't go into too much detail here. I'll just say that the sound is pretty good, with nice orchestrated music and standard video game sound effects. There are also Orchestrated remixes of songs from past Kirby games, which is a nice fan-service in my book. All in all the sound is great, and will have you humming the background music without you even realizing it.
Story: 8.5 out of 10
(WARNING, POSSIBLE STORY SPOILERS)(READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)
The story is told in a very storybook-like manner. Basically, an evil sorcerer named Yin-Yarn is going around turning people into yarn. During this time, Kirby is walking around, happy as a clam, when he spots an interesting tomato, (It looks like a Maxim Tomato made out of yarn). After the pink puff inhales it, Yin-Yarn sees what happened to his "Metamato" as he calls it, and comes to confront our hero. Out of Anger, the evil sorcerer traps Kirby in a world made of Yarn, buttons, etc., called "Patch Land". It's up to Kirby and his new friend Prince Fluff to stop Yin-Yarn, before he turns the entirety of Dream Land into a giant yarn mess. I thought each cut scene was entertaining and I was looking forward to beating bosses so I could view a new one.
Gameplay: 9.5 out of 10
We finally come to the most important part of the review, the gameplay. While it doesn't feel distinctly Kirby-like, it harkens back to 2D Platformers from the 8-Bit and 16-Bit eras, which is great. It contains platforming similar to other 2D platformers with some small innovations.
The goal of each level is not only to make it to the end, but to also collect as many beads as possible. The beads in this game work similarly to the Rings system in Sonic games. If the pink wonder is hit, he'll drop a few beads, only he doesn't die if you get hit without any. In fact, Kirby can't die at all. If he gets crushed under a ceiling, or falls into a bottomless pit, he'll be pulled out by a strange, angelic character named Angie. However if this happens, you'll lose a large sum of the beads you've collected.
Why does this matter? See, beads have a large purpose in the game other than adding to your score at the end of the level. They are used to unlock medals for each level, (which come in Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Gold is needed in every level for 100% completion.) Buy furniture and fabric at their respective stores, and unlock Minigame challenges. As you can see, losing beads is a pretty bad thing to do, and can prompt a level restart if you so desire. This however, can be frustrating, especially if you're going for a Gold Medal.
More on the Minigame challenges: Kirby is given a small room at the beginning of the game, which you can decorate with furniture you've found in the levels and bought at the furniture store, and decorate it with fabric, which you can buy from the fabric store and obtain from another method. There are also other, empty rooms with silhouettes of certain furniture pieces. By finding the specific pieces of furniture needed and placing them in each silhouette, new tenants arrive and live in these rooms.
Why should this matter? Each tenant gives you a series of Minigame challenges, each with a different goal depending on the tenant. One has you defeat a certain number of enemies in a level. Another has you carry her to predetermined goal in an area of a level, etc. These can be frustrating at times, they definitely boost replay value, and they offer a nice diversion from the main game.
And finally, in my opinion, the game's biggest innovator other than graphics: The Transformations. By pulling certain tabs, special items are exposed. Upon contact of these said items, Kirby will transform into a special form he couldn't normally do at will. The first of these is a giant, Bronto Burt- destroying tank, where you blast yarn rockets at almost everything you see. Another favorite is the Monster Truck, where Kirby races enemies to the goal for the Grand Prize: A huge stash of beads! There are many others, but I don't want to spoil them all. All in all the gameplay has lots of variety, and will keep you coming back.
Replay Value: 8.5 out of 10
With Bonus Levels and Minigames to complete, Treasures to collect, and a Gold Medal Collection to complete, there's tons of reasons to keep coming back.
Rent or Buy: Buy
Definitely Buy. This makes a great gift this holiday season, and cannot be completed in a normal rental period.
All in all Kirby's latest adventure is bursting with entertainment, and shouldn't be missed despite some frustrations.