Kirby's Epic Yarn (2010)

Released in 2019, Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn is the final Nintendo game for the 3Ds and a port of the Wii title.

Being a port, you have the same gameplay and levels as the original game, so everything you could say about that version is applied here. But there are some additions, like abilities you can get to attack enemies, a "Hard mode", where you have HP and a flying enemy chases you through the level, and two sub-games where you play as Meta Knight and King Dedede, with just 4 stages each one.

And, to be honest... These new elements aren't that good. The hard mode is more annoying than challenging, as you have to avoid and defeat the devil all the time, which removes the relaxing gameplay that characterizes the game, the Meta Knight and King Dedede modes are short, and if you want to get the 100% completion you have to redo the same level over and over to complete the Mats, and having to grind in a Kirby game is as fun as it sounds, and the new abilities makes an already easy game even easier.

So I'd recommend just playing the Wii version or playing this one while avoiding all the new content, which, in my opinion, downgrades the original experience and makes the 100% completion more of a chore than a fun challenge. It's a shame, because other than that, this is a solid port of an underrated game.

Spent a few work breaks with this. I appreciate the attempt at a unique and cohesive style, but I found the see-through characters a little hard to follow on the screen. The whole thing also felt a little flat and not very engaging, which is always a danger with Kirby games as they are designed to be simplistic.

Hard not to compare it to the much superior Planet Robobot.

Released in 2010, Kirby's Epic Yarn is an interesting entry for the franchise, as it is a spin-off with a very traditional gameplay that you would expect from a mainline game. However, there are many differences that make this a whole new experience.

For starters, Kirby can't inhale enemies or copy abilities, and instead he transforms into various objects thanks to the fact that he's made of yarn, just like the rest of the world. The aesthetic is pretty cute and well-done, similar to Yoshi's Story (1997), and easily the best part of the game.

But that doesn't mean the other aspects are lacking, as the soundtrack is just as cute as the graphics. Also, the gameplay is entertaining and doesn't get repetitive, thanks to the vastly different scenarios you visit along the parts where you transform into a random vehicle (or a dolphin) with new mechanics that feel as polished and refreshing than the normal controls, which is exactly what you want from a spin-off.

A common criticism that people have about the game is that is too easy and can feel boring because the lack of challenge, which I think is true if you just care about getting to the goal of the level. You can't die no matter what, but if you are attacked or fall into the abyss you will lose many beads (the currency of Patch Land), and in order to get a golden medal, necessary if you want to get the 100% completion, you need to arrive at the end with a certain ammount.

This is a good way to make the difficulty less trivial, and in later stages there will cases where being attacked means that you will have to restart the level and try again, which would be the equivalent of losing a life. Of course, even the 100% isn't too hard to get, but it feels as challenging as your average Kirby game.

There is also a lot of optional content that works as a nice change of pace from the main story. You can use your beads to buy items and wallpapers to decorate your house, as well build more rooms in the apartment where you live to attract neighbors.

Decorating your house is totally useless, and yet it was one of my favorite things to do. I loved unlocking and trying different items and wallpapers until I created my "perfect room", it was like playing a very basic version of Animal Crossing with a nice yarn aesthetic.

On the other hand, the neighbors unlock minigames that you need to complete if you want to get 100% completion. Each one of the minigames is focused on a specific mechanic, like racing, carrying someone to the goal, getting a certain number of beads under a time limit and so on. I recommend playing them in batches, as there are a lot of them and it can be overwhelming doing everything in a row. They can get challenging as well, which is appreciated if you feel the normal levels are too easy.

In conclusion, Kirby's Epic Yarn not only has a cute aesthetic, but a refreshing gameplay and much more content than your average Kirby videogame. However, the difficulty can feel so easy that it becomes boring unless you do a 100% completion rate, so I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for something challenging.

Kirby was originally designed to be a more approachable platformer for newcomers to the genre, and Kirby's Epic Yarn might exemplify that original goal better than any entry before or since. There are no deaths to avoid, no copy abilities to wrap your head around, and the co-op mode offers none of the chaos you'll find in a New Super Mario Bros. or Rayman Origins/Legends. The game feels as warm and safe as its visual theme.

All that said, I was kind of underwhelmed by it. I think Yoshi's Crafted World (developed by the same studio) injected more surprise into a comparably breezy game, and Rainbow Curse's visuals are far more dazzling. It has its charms, especially in co-op, but I found it difficult to stay engaged for more than two or three levels at a time.

Kirby's Epic Yarn is one of the most charming games I have ever played, though it certainly is one of those games where enjoyment comes from the sights and sounds and not from the challenge.

Presentation:

While most characters and enemies have simple yarn-based designs, they are functional and mostly fun to look at. I also think they are very well animated, moving about in a playful, childish manner, meaning there isn't really anything in this game that comes across as scary or imposing - everything is designed to be cute. Additionally, the levels themselves are absolutely gorgeous - to simply enjoy the sights of this game is one of the main reasons to play it. It should also be noted that this game has a stellar soundtrack, complementing each stage with cute and playful (mostly piano-based) tunes that really add to the charm of each stage.

Mechanics:

Kirby's Epic Yarn is doubtlessly fun to play: It controls very well and creates variety by having Kirby transform into different shapes: instead of running he changes his shape to a small car, and instead of gliding through the air he transforms into a parachute. Some levels force you into a very specific shape - a dolphin, a firetruck, a tank, a surfer, and even space ship. Indeed, near the end of the game there were a couple of stages playing like classical horizontal and vertical spaceship shoot-em-ups, which I enjoyed a lot. This game also allows for 2 player shared-screen co-op which is very fun. This, quite interestingly, means that some transformations are made so that one player controls certain functions (such as movement, thrust, or jumping) while the other character controls extra functions like shooting, extra jumping, or turbo. It makes for a nice team-building exercise.

One thing that might be seen as a strength and a weakness is that there are no '1ups' in this game - it simply is not possible to die. When you get hit or fall down a hole you lose gems collected throughout the stage, and these gems affect what kind of completion-medals you are awarded at the end of the stage, but you are never thrown off the stage. It is, thus, perfectly possible to reach the end of each stage even if you are hit with everything thrown at you. Completing boss fights certainly requires you to grasp a few simple mechanics to complete, but no level will actually kill you. This makes the game perfect for casual players or beginners - I had much fun playing this with my GF and can imagine using this to teach young children the ropes of 2D platforming - but may leave more advanced players disappointed. Even the extra challenge of collecting the three collectables and carrying enough gems at the end to get a gold medal on every level isn't particularly difficult.

Narrative:

Like most 2D platformers, Kirby's Epic Yarn has a cute and 'functional' story involving an evil Yarn-based magician trying to transform the world and everyone in it into yarn. It plays much like a story book - complete with narrator and all - pushing the story forward a bit after each completed 'world'. It's cute and very child-friendly, and that's really all it tries to be.

Fun factor:

Personally I had a lot of fun with Kirby's Epic Yarn - it controls great and there are so many great sights and sounds to enjoy along the way. As a fan of the horizontal and vertical shooter genres I particularly enjoyed those transformation stages. The lack of really challenge did not really bother me - it made Kirby's Epic Yarn a great co-op experience and--importantly--the lack of mechanical hurdles meant that I wasn't too distracted to enjoy the sights and sounds. It was a relaxing game to play, no doubt about it.

Overall:

I give Kirby's Epic Yarn an 8,5 out of 10 - it deserves high praise for its presentation, control scheme, and co-op friendly setup, but I do think it could have added an extra, optional layer of real challenge for more advanced players.