[Review] Kirby: Planet Robobot
System: 3DS
Release date: June 10 2016
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher Nintendo
For as long as I can remember, I’ve blindly followed Nintendo through all of their expenditures to varying degrees of success. I remember the times with my GameCube and Game Boy as vividly as the experiences I spent on my Wii U just yesterday. There’s always been a certain charm that has resonated with me in games by the big N, and most of that comes from not only the spectacularly well-designed games that come often enough to keep me hooked, but also from the lovable characters that inhabit them.
But Kirby has never been one of the characters that came to mind when I thought of what I love about Nintendo. During all my gaming experiences as a child it appears Kirby was all but completely absent from those memories, and that’s mostly thanks to me never actually picking up this side-scrolling mascot’s games. My logic has always been “what can Kirby do that Mario doesn’t already do better?”. After picking up Kirby: Planet Robobot, however, I soon fell in love with this puff of pink and understood what diversifies him from Nintendo’s other platforming greats.
The first thing I noticed was that in a series where your main character is a pink ball and his world and its inhabitants are just as simple in design as he, it’s amazing how time after time Planet Robobot steps it up. With a concept as basic as travel to the left from the right, the developers have done a fantastic job of constantly keeping the gameplay fresh each time you enter the next level. From moments when Kirby is flying his way through a cityscape made out of steel milk cartons all the way to having dodge to pool balls while traveling upon a gigantic pool table, the creativity showcased in this title is unparalleled to other platformers in Nintendo’s catalog. New dynamic camera angles help showcase the changes to the scenery the mechanical overhaul creates, and also highlights the polish found in each area that make what would’ve been an above average platforming level into something even more.
The plot takes a backseat until the third world, but once it picks up with the introduction of new character Susie, it has a more prominent, though never too big, presence for the rest of the main story mode. The gist of it all is that while napping the day away, the Access Ark lands on planet Pop Star in an attempt to conquer and mechanize the pink balls home world. This leaves it up to Kirby to save the homeland belonging to him, King Dedede, and Meta Knight. Clearly this isn’t a grandiose tale, but such is to be expected from a Kirby platformer, so it doesn’t really bother me either way. It’s very clear that they weren’t trying to provide an emotional tale more as they were creating one of the best platformers they could.
What most platformers strive to achieve with speed and difficulty, Kirby: Planet Robobot provides undeniable charm and gentle pace, and it does so with ease, and some of that is thanks to the different styles of gameplay provided by Kirby’s fancy copy abilities. The character’s dazzling array of copy abilities return in Robobot, with most returning from his prior installments alongside three new ones: Doctor, Posion, and ESP. These new costumes provide enough firepower to send enemies flying, though Poison is much more effective, and Doctor Kirby is just the cutest. Some of my personal returning favorites are Smash, where Kirby reverts into his Smash Bros. series style of fighting, and Sword, because I’m just a dork for sword fighting styles.
In addition to Kirby’s already vast number of transformations, the added robot mech suits go a long way in providing even more fun for the player. Ideas that sound foolish in concept work are executed beautifully, making Kirby’s extra firepower and mode of transportation feel right at home in this title. The robot gameplay is always used to the extent of its abilities and the never once did I use it and think “Really, now of all times?”. These new changes capitalize on the best of Kirby’s returning abilities and platforming style and make this 20 year old franchise feel fresh and new.
A variety of Kirby’s copy abilities also transfer over to his mech armor, so they too can be equipped for nearly every situation. That means classics like Fire, Sword, and Lightning all change the way both Kirby and Kirby’s mecha counterpart approach most situations, and going into old levels using a different ability can drastically change how you perceive each challenge. In other words, going back and replaying levels just as fun the second time around.
The sound design also goes a long way in wrapping everything up into the full Kirby experience. The poppy sounds of each entry in the soundtrack breathe extra life into each environment and scenario and fit perfectly in nearly every situation. In addition, the plopping sounds Kirby makes with every hop and skip and the iconic puffing noises he makes are as cute as can be and translate really well into creating this as immersive as possible.
For those who’ve cleared the story mode and gathered all of the little collectibles needed to unlock and eventually conquer each secret level, there’s plenty to do once the credits have rolled. Team Kirby Clash and Kirby 3D Rumble are fleshed out mini-games that are accessible right from the get go. The first one has you teaming up in groups of four with specific roles to take on big baddies, while the other has Kirby entering 3D plains in order to take out waves of smaller enemies to accumulate the highest score. On top of that, there’s a “Meta Knight Returns” mode where you control Meta Knight (no copy abilities, but faster and stronger) in mixed around versions of old levels, and two boss arena modes. Each mode kept me entertained for the duration of my playtime, and when going back into the game to fact check something, I often found myself returning time after time to the addictive nature of Team Kirby Clash.
Kirby: Planet Robobot deserves all of your attention. It’s basic yet constantly fun and engaging platforming mixed with a visual style so uniquely distinctive it’ll leave you awww-inspired (get it? cause Kirby’s cute and stuff) make this an entry into a series I can’t wait to back and experience all the fun I missed. Oh Kirby, how you’ve won me over so.
I can’t recommend Kirby: Planet Robobot enough. It’s another fantastic entry into the 3DS library and Kirby franchise, and provides some of the most fresh and fun platforming experiences I’ve been through in a very long time. Coming from someone who’s never spent much time with Kirby, it was nice to finally sit down and realize what makes this series so great. Kirby fan or not, however, there’s no denying this series is an example of 2D platforming at its best.
