Written by Michael Barryte
Kirby's Epic Yarn is, plain and simple, too cute. It's a game that will drown you in its charm, but here's the thing: you won't mind.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is, plain and simple, too cute. It's a game that will drown you in its charm, but here's the thing: you won't mind.
When the game was announced at E3 2010, many made the comparison to Paper Mario. Don't be fooled, however, as this is no Paper Mario. Everything in the world is made of patches and string. You can swing from buttons, go behind the patchwork backdrop or even dig through cotton as the game's world slowly becomes more complex. This yarn world also provides some of the most unique levels in platforming to date. Levels quickly stray from the expected fare of water, fire, jungle and quickly stray into oddball levels such as a music stage or a stage made of candy. The yarn mechanic is so neatly stitched (sorry) to the gameplay and the visuals, it is impossible to remove one without hurting the other.
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This new yarn element also replaces Kirby's usual move (sucking up abilities) – a welcome change. Instead, Kirby and Fluff (the other playable character) head out into the world lassoing baddies along with a few basic transformations that they can perform any time: a car to dash, a parachute to float, and a weight to perform a ground pound. The real fun comes from the major transformations, each unique and exciting in their own way. Transformations include: a train, a mole, a UFO, a fire truck, even a giant robot. These are only a few of the awesome things Kirby and Fluff can turn into.
While Kirby games have always been easy, this game offers both a new level of ease, while making other elements harder. How? No “game overs.” When your character loses a life, an angel will float you back to the start of your pitfall. But this doesn't mean the game won't punish you. With each hit or fall, you'll lose gems and stars you've collected throughout the level, and if you want to clear the game completely, you had best be wary. The angel aspect is also present in cooperative mode. When a second player joins, either player can use the angel to catch up with a player in the lead.
Much like New Super Mario Bros Wii, Kirby's Epic Yarn becomes a whole new game with a second player, and a better one at that. Having a second player means you can approach levels from a different perspective. It doesn't make the game easier, it makes the game more fun as you and your friend solve puzzles together. The transformations mentioned before are also a lot more entertaining as both players must work together, each assigned different controls. For example, one player may control the arms of the giant robot while the other controls its movement and jumps. Co-op is the fine balance between the hardcore and casual gamer, with each stage offering many secrets to discover.
Kirby's Epic Yarn isn't without faults, though. Occasionally levels feel a little too cluttered with patchwork, making you unsure if platforms are in the foreground or background. There is also a side quest element that feels lifted from Animal Crossing that encourages you to decorate new rooms in the hub world to attract new tenants which result in unlocking new mini-games. If the mini-games were more varied or the decorating aspect didn't feel like paint-by-numbers, the whole ordeal might be more rewarding, but for the most part the landlords and new tenants announcements throughout the game cause more annoyance than excitement.
Overall, Kirby's Epic Yarn is a game unlike any this year and is one of the few games that has been so widely affected by an artistic visual choice. Here's hoping this isn't the only time gamers will get to experience the world of Kirby's Epic Yarn. In any case, this latest installment in the Kirby franchise should be in your library of Wii games as it is incredibly fun and offers tons of replay value.
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