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Kirby Star Allies: The Little Kirby That Couldn't...
8 years ago
General
So I am not going to be very kind to this game. =U
The game does have very nice graphics. The AI for the partners is okay, not perfect but acceptable. The controls are great as per what you would expect from a Kirby game. But that's about all the good I have to say about this game. >_>
The main gimmick of the game is the Allies. The gimmick isn't terrible, but Kirby's Return to Dreamland had a multiplayer aspect to it as well, but the main focus of the game was single player. There are times in Star Allies where you NEED three allies to perform certain things necessary for progression.
A big issue with having 3 allies with you is the camera does not stay focused on Kirby and has to be zoomed out to focus on all of your allies. This can lead to you trying to move forward, but you are almost against the edge of the screen and then get hit by something you could not see in time.
Furthermore when fighting bosses while having 3 allies the battle can be very hectic and sometimes I lost Kirby in the chaos so I end up getting hit.
In various Kirby games, Kirby's Dreamland 2 and 3, Kirby 64, Return to Dreamland, Triple Deluxe, Planet Robobot and others have it to where getting to see the true ending or unlocking optional levels was tied to collecting the hidden object(s) in the stages. Star Allies has puzzle pieces which only fill out images to look at. These puzzle pieces unlock NOTHING else and aren't even required to achieve 100% on your game file.
The game is easy. Kirby does get a lot of flack for being an easy game, but this game seems to take it to another level. It's not like Kirby's Epic Yarn, but it's still pretty easy compared to previous main games in the series. The few deaths I did have were from bottomless pits during autoscrolling sections.
Whenever you defeat midbosses they leave behind floating hats that last for 5-10 seconds. The issue I have with these is that if Kirby or any of your allies touch the hat they will transform into that ability! So if you have an ability you like or an ally setup you like well screw you, you have this ability now!
Load times. Seems like load times took a hit for the graphics. Every time you go through a door there is a 2-5 second loading screen. Considering Triple Deluxe and Robobot had very short load screens seeing them here feels like a major step back...
How much content? NOT MUCH! I usually do one world a day in games like this to make it last. Well lo and behold, it's been 5 days since I bought the game if you include today and the 16th when it came out... When I beat the final boss and got the credits I could not believe it was already over... But considering my lack of enjoyment for the game maybe that is a blessing in disguise...
So yeah, I did not like this game. I wanted it to be good, but it's not. It's not terrible but it certainly isn't up to par with games like Superstar, Return to Dreamland, Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot. Most reviews give Star Allies a 7.5/10 and I can honestly say that's about what it deserves...
The game does have very nice graphics. The AI for the partners is okay, not perfect but acceptable. The controls are great as per what you would expect from a Kirby game. But that's about all the good I have to say about this game. >_>
The main gimmick of the game is the Allies. The gimmick isn't terrible, but Kirby's Return to Dreamland had a multiplayer aspect to it as well, but the main focus of the game was single player. There are times in Star Allies where you NEED three allies to perform certain things necessary for progression.
A big issue with having 3 allies with you is the camera does not stay focused on Kirby and has to be zoomed out to focus on all of your allies. This can lead to you trying to move forward, but you are almost against the edge of the screen and then get hit by something you could not see in time.
Furthermore when fighting bosses while having 3 allies the battle can be very hectic and sometimes I lost Kirby in the chaos so I end up getting hit.
In various Kirby games, Kirby's Dreamland 2 and 3, Kirby 64, Return to Dreamland, Triple Deluxe, Planet Robobot and others have it to where getting to see the true ending or unlocking optional levels was tied to collecting the hidden object(s) in the stages. Star Allies has puzzle pieces which only fill out images to look at. These puzzle pieces unlock NOTHING else and aren't even required to achieve 100% on your game file.
The game is easy. Kirby does get a lot of flack for being an easy game, but this game seems to take it to another level. It's not like Kirby's Epic Yarn, but it's still pretty easy compared to previous main games in the series. The few deaths I did have were from bottomless pits during autoscrolling sections.
Whenever you defeat midbosses they leave behind floating hats that last for 5-10 seconds. The issue I have with these is that if Kirby or any of your allies touch the hat they will transform into that ability! So if you have an ability you like or an ally setup you like well screw you, you have this ability now!
Load times. Seems like load times took a hit for the graphics. Every time you go through a door there is a 2-5 second loading screen. Considering Triple Deluxe and Robobot had very short load screens seeing them here feels like a major step back...
How much content? NOT MUCH! I usually do one world a day in games like this to make it last. Well lo and behold, it's been 5 days since I bought the game if you include today and the 16th when it came out... When I beat the final boss and got the credits I could not believe it was already over... But considering my lack of enjoyment for the game maybe that is a blessing in disguise...
So yeah, I did not like this game. I wanted it to be good, but it's not. It's not terrible but it certainly isn't up to par with games like Superstar, Return to Dreamland, Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot. Most reviews give Star Allies a 7.5/10 and I can honestly say that's about what it deserves...
I never personally played many of games but I usually watch them on Vinsause's stream.
But with what your saying on extra levels... Does seem pretty disheartening.
On the other hand, it could be a side effect of having to implement so many controllable characters.
The AI allies is the games downfall mostly, they get in the way too much to be properly enjoyable, any time you get to play solo is best and those times are infrequent. I was able to enjoy True Arena more for that.
The lack of progression collectibles really hurt it too like you say, and the puzzles weren't as strong as previous games.
I still enjoyed it, the platforming and movement and abilities were as on-point as ever, but a future Switch Kirby title needs to do better, and hopefully not have a multiplayer focus.
That could be the case, could also be why the game is locked at 30 FPS as well.
It's just a shame that during the main game 3 allies are required so often you are better off keeping them. I still didn't really enjoy the True Arena even solo, could be since I am not overly fond of any of the new bosses, which there aren't many.
Indeed, that was something good about Return to Dreamland, collecting the gears felt good because you unlocked the really fun ability challenges.
It is still a solidly made Kirby game, just not as good as previous entries in the series. Ranking all the main Kirby games, this one is 7th.
So where do you rank all of the main Kirby games then?
I exclude spin offs like Air Ride, Dream Course, and other Kirby games like that and focus on the main series games.
16: Kirby Mass Attack
15: Kirby's Epic Yarn
14: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
13: Kirby: Squeak Squad
12: Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
11: Kirby: Canvas Curse
10: Kirby's Dream Land
9: Kirby's Dream Land 2
8: Kirby's Dream Land 3
7: Kirby Star Allies
6: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
5: Kirby's Adventure
4: Kirby's Return to Dream Land
3: Kirby Super Star
2: Kirby: Planet Robobot
1: Kirby: Triple Deluxe
After playing through Return to Dream Land it MIGHT just beat Super Star and get to #3, I enjoyed Return to Dream Land FAR more than I thought I would.
Wouldn't Mass Attack, Epic Yarn, Rainbow Curse and Canvas Curse fall under spin-off?
I never did finish Rainbow Curse, and I'm not really interested in doing so. Crystal Shards however I should go back to my playthrough and finish that.
Also, what about Super Star Ultra, versus the original?
For that matter, what about Nightmare in Dreamland?
Maybe maybe not. I included them since they are close enough to regular Kirby games.
Rainbow Curse was disappointing... Crystal Shards however is not. =P
My list would not change if I include the remakes. Super Star and its remake are on an equal level to me. The addition of a few more modes and a True Arena do not change much.
Nightmare in Dreamland on the other hand I do not like. =P But even still I recently played through Kirby's Adventure on the Dream Collection and the more times I play it the more my nostalgia goggles come off. I still like the game, but it hasn't aged very well. =P
It's not like they're insubstantial modes at all, Revenge of the King was really nice, giving us Masked Dedede and made Bandana Waddle Dee into a prominent character.
Nightmare in Dreamland really isn't all that good, the Flagship developed Kirby games left a lot to be desired.
Kirby's Adventure oddly enough is better enjoyed playing without abilities, they feel too limited and less safe.
If you do replay it though, the 3D Classics version on the 3DS is the best way to enjoy it. Even without the 3D effect it holds up as the best version.
Indeed, they are good modes, just not enough for me to consider it better than the 3DS games.
Yeah, there were missteps here and there all through the remakes.
Trust me I know. =P
Do you mean Kirby's Adventure or what?
The 3DS titles are definitely among the best in the series.
The GBA in retrospect isn't home to as many favourite first-party titles as I'd like. My favourite titles are usually third party like Castlevania or Mega Man. In fact, there was no original Mario platformer for the GBA, it was all ports and spin-offs.
Yeah, the 3D Classics Kirby's Adventure, best way to play the game.
Indeed they are. =3
The GBA was fairly weak in that regard.
Since the 3DS has such good buttons and a great D-Pad that would make sense.
The GBA did have some great titles, but they're not your typical Mario and Zelda affair.
I'd argue the d-pad on the original 3DS could've been better, but later systems have really nice ones.
From a technical standpoint though, the 3D Classics version is the best, no slowdown, no garbage tiles at the edge of the screen, etc.