Review TengoCalidad 4/5 · May 7, 2022
Too many Kirbys
After having 4 Kirbys in Kirby & The amazing Mirror (2004), Hal Laboratory decided that the natural progression was having ten Kirbys in the same game, resulting in Kirby Mass Attack (2011).
This spin-off has a very interesting gameplay which combines the use of the stylus of Kirby: Canvas Curse (2005) with the traditional platforming elements of mainline Kirby …
After having 4 Kirbys in Kirby & The amazing Mirror (2004), Hal Laboratory decided that the natural progression was having ten Kirbys in the same game, resulting in Kirby Mass Attack (2011).
This spin-off has a very interesting gameplay which combines the use of the stylus of Kirby: Canvas Curse (2005) with the traditional platforming elements of mainline Kirby games, so it can feel weird when you start playing, but after a few levels it becomes pretty smooth and responsive.
You attack by flicking the stylus to launch Kirbys into the air, they run when you double tap the touch screen in the direction you want them to go, and you can move them slowly mid-air by tapping the stylus and drawing a line, similar to Canvas Curse. Depending on the level some mechanics are more useful than the rest, but none of them feel redundant nor unpolished.
There are also levels with unique mechanics that are well-implemented, refreshing and fun, even if they are only used once. You have a panchinko level (a lot better than the one from Super Mario Sunshine), a surfing level, and even a UFO level, just to name a few. They help to keep the gameplay interesting, which is important when iconic elements of the franchise, like copying abilities, are absent here.
And if you feel tired of the normal levels you can play the minigames, which are the biggest and most complex minigames of the franchise. They have their own mechanics, stages and even bosses, so they feel more like the subgames from Kirby Super Star Ultra (2008) than the typical extra modes you play for 5 minutes and never try again. Even better, they aren't necessary for the 100%, so you can skip them if you want, but I definitely recommend checking them, it can be more fun than the main story.
Related to the 100%, this game has probably the hardest completion requirements of the franchise. Getting all the medals isn't hard, and doing all the checklist (basically the achievements of the game) is a good challenge for the most part, but completing all the levels without getting hit can be a nightmare. Some levels are really long and full of obstacles that are hard to avoid, so you will probably have to try a couple of times to achieve the perfect run.
However, the level 4-9 is easily the hardest one in all the franchise to do without getting hurt, as not only you have to defeat four minibosses, but get the perfect throw in the final miniboss, which depends more on luck than skill. It took me days to do it, and it was really frustrating having to do the other three minibosses again and again just because the Kirby I throw decided to touch a spiky bat. I managed to memorize all the minibosses patterns, but could never find a reliable way to hit the final phase of the bat. Just because of this level I don't recommend doing the 100% route unless you want a tedious and frustrating experience.
Despite of that, this is a really fun Kirby experience, with gameplay and minigames so entertaining that you will miss them after you finish the game, so I definitely recommend playing it even if you aren't a big fan of the franchise. Just don't try to do the 100% completion unless you want a hard challenge with a unfair level.
