Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Review Roundup

Today marks the release of Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, the Kirby series' debut on Wii U. We already knew it was going to be cute, but how does the game play?

A successor to Kirby: Canvas Curse, one of the early defining games for DS, Rainbow Curse directs players' eyes to the GamePad screen rather than the TV. Instead of controlling Kirby directly, lines are drawn on the screen to dictate where and how a rolling Kirby moves. This all happens inside of a world that appears to be made of clay, a visual style we recently spoke with the game's developers about.

Below you'll find a sampling of reviews of Rainbow Curse, which is available both in stores and on the eShop. For more, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
• Developer: HAL Laboratory
• Platforms: Wii U
• Release Date: February 20
• Price: $40

GameSpot -- 5/10

"Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a tiring game. It's taxing without being rewarding, like doing a mile on a stationary bike and discovering that you only burned away calories from one bite of your lunch burrito. The game gets frustrating quickly due to repetitive obstacles and there's not much incentive to dig into a game that won't give you that agency. It's a mediocre romp through a gorgeously detailed world that doesn't give you the control you need as a player, which ultimately dulls its shine." - Alexa Ray Corriea [Full review]

IGN -- 8.0/10

"Like its DS predecessor, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a delightfully charming and unique platformer. Its world is varied, its challenge is high, and the hand-molded look and feel make for a remarkable journey. The never-ending barrage of charm more-than makes up for some of its less-than stellar elements. There's a pot of platforming gold at the end of this rainbow." - Marty Sliva [Full review]

USGamer -- 5/5

"And, as with most Kirby games, while it may not take you too long to reach the finish line, mastering every level is a different story entirely. Simply put, if you have a Wii U, Rainbow Curse makes for an essential addition to your library; Nintendo's latest system might not have much longer to live, but it's still heartening to see a developer create a console experience that couldn't happen anywhere else." - Bob Mackey [Full review]

Destructoid -- 9/10

"It's a game that has a little something for everyone, all without compromising its unyielding, unique, and undivided attention on its mission to blast pure adorableness into the world in all directions. If Kirby and the Rainbow Curse doesn't make you smile, you may need to see a doctor for that." - Jonathan Holmes [Full review]

GamesRadar -- 4/5

"Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is one of the series' better experiments, with warm, lively visuals working in tandem with a dynamic, unusual approach to platforming. It's no epic, and the extras are a little on the shallow side, but it's great while it lasts. The Wii U is in desperate need for strong content and justification for its extravagant controller, and Rainbow Curse provides both." - Henry Gilbert [Full review]

Polygon -- 8.5/10

"Kirby and the Rainbow Curse shines because it's a simple game that delivers superbly on a simple concept. You're repeating many of the same actions again and again, but with each new stroke it feels more refined, more graceful. I've never felt smarter or more sophisticated while playing a Kirby game." - Megan Farokhmanesh [Full review]