Tue, 26 Feb 2008 by Darren Calvert
Kirby’s first 3-D adventure is also his Nintendo 64 debut.
Since the first Kirby game, we’ve seen our puffy pink friend in a series of high quality platform adventures (not to mention spin-offs) up until the release of Kirby 64 back in 2000. Despite predictably rendering Kirby’s world in 3D for the first time, true to form for a N64 outing our pals at HAL Laboratories have retained its platform adventure roots and kept the action in 2D.
The main game is separated into six stars, each with four levels culminating in a boss battle. As Kirby, you waddle through each level finding secret crystals and inhaling bad guys to absorb their powers. In addition to Kirby’s trademark waddle you can also run and even inflate yourself in order to fly for a short period of time.
The abilities you can absorb include being able to turn into a walking rock, and freezing enemies with icy breath. Kirby can also now absorb two abilities at once to create a hybrid power. If you swallow a cutter creature followed by a fire creature you will get a flaming sword attack, for instance. Some of these combined abilities are frankly useless so when you get hold of a power that works for you it is worth trying to hang on to it.
The ambitious hybrid abilities system ends up being a bit of an Achilles heel, however. Most of the powers only have one action, activated with a simple button press and very few offer anything more than this. After the variety experienced in Kirby’s Super Star this feels like a huge backwards step. In addition, the Street Fighter-like special moves system that Super Star introduced has been dropped here, leaving Kirby 64 feeling a little flat in comparison.
Completing all six stars shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for most gamers, but you will only see a partial ending scene. The true challenge is found in collecting all three crystal shards which are hidden in each level. If you manage to do this, you will then fight a new end of game boss and be treated to the full game ending. For the completionists among us this will be a welcome task, but it is likely that many gamers will pass on this advanced quest as after a while it can begin to feel like a chore.
On the whole the 3D models and backgrounds stand up well in comparison to the earlier 2D sprite-based counterparts. Kirby himself looks great, and there are also nice lighting effects, such as the red glow from lava on certain levels, which really add to the atmosphere of the game. The translation to 3D fell a little short, however, with some of the enemies, which are plagued by poor textures and flat colouring. Disappointingly, when compared to their 2D counterparts they feel a bit lifeless and uninspired.
In true Kirby form there are lots of mini-games to keep you occupied way after the main game is finished. Some of these can be played with four players. They are all fairly simple and unlikely to hold your attention for long, but they are a welcome addition and round off the package nicely.
1. Nintendork
21 Feb 2009, 22:05 GMT
Please, PLEASE don't buy this waste of $$$$$$$$$. Buy Kirby's Adventure instead.
2. Bass X0
21 Feb 2009, 22:14 GMT
I got both...
3. Digiki
21 Feb 2009, 23:46 GMT
Oh, look another N64 platformer whose score is way too low...
4. Egg miester
22 Feb 2009, 05:41 GMT
sadly i bought this game last year when i first got my wii and after 3 stages i never played it again, i wish i knew it be that disappointing before i got it, kirby's adventure is better
5. MrPinguy
22 Feb 2009, 22:52 GMT
It's not the best Kirby out there, but it isn't that bad...
6. Objection_Blaster
23 Feb 2009, 04:49 GMT
I think this score should be higher. I do need to try Kirby's Adventure though...
7. Bass X0
23 Feb 2009, 09:43 GMT
Hm. Maybe a 6/10 at the most. But no higher than that.
8. Ferret75
24 Feb 2009, 00:26 GMT
Okay, no offense, but why the hell is this getting a 5/10?
It should be at least 9/10 in my opinion.
Best Kirby game ever.
9. Nintendork
24 Feb 2009, 00:47 GMT
^ Okay, I'm curious. Why, no, HOW can you even like this?
IMO the game's too slow, Kirby moves like a fat lard when walking regularly, and some of the bosses require ridiculously perfect jumps to hit a microscopic weak spot.
10. Digiki
24 Feb 2009, 03:28 GMT
Kirby moves like a fat lard when walking regularly, and some of the bosses require ridiculously perfect jumps to hit a microscopic weak spot.
1. Run don't walk. Problem solved. That's like complaining that an RPG sucks because the initial equipment is weak.
2. What are you talking about? Bosses are easy, and in most cases their hitbox is like they're entire body.
11. Nintendork
24 Feb 2009, 03:43 GMT
^ "Run don't walk. Problem solved."
You shouldn't have to constantly dash. Kirby's Adventure didn't have that problem.
"2. What are you talking about? Bosses are easy, and in most cases their hitbox is like they're entire body"
What are YOU talking about? Nobody I know can beat the second boss (I know like 10 people who own this game).
In conclusion, Kirby 64 took everything great about this amazing series and overcomplicated it.
12. Shinnok
24 Feb 2009, 10:03 GMT
I loved Kirby 64, thought it was quite easy, but do agree that Kirby moves like a fat lard.
13. Supermarioman
25 Feb 2009, 16:19 GMT
Should be a 7.
14. Shadx
19 Mar 2009, 20:50 GMT
@Nintendork: I beat the entire game, and the second boss was easy as hell. Your friends just suck.
15. Nintendork
19 Mar 2009, 23:20 GMT
^ Actually, one of them can speed-run Mega Man 1 (Real irony, right?).
16. Ferret75
01 Apr 2009, 02:36 BST
@10: Actually, a few of the later bosses are pretty hard to beat actually, especially Dark Matter.
@9: You don't need "perfect jumps". In case you didn't notice, Kirby can fly. Erm, most oif the bosses can just be hit anywhere assumming they're in a vulnerable state. I like this game because of the cutscenes, nice graphics and music, and most importantly, the gameplay. The mixing abilities is not in any other Kirby game, the helpers are a nice bonus, the crystal shards add for a lot of replayability, and the mini-games are fun to play with friends.
17. KnucklesSonic8
01 Apr 2009, 06:42 BST
Indeed. Checkerboard Chase is awesome! A friend of mine lemme try Kirby 64 for the first time one day years back and that was what we played. I never forgot how much fun I had with it and when it finally came to the VC, I instantly downloaded it realizing that I could finally not only own the game but play through it for the first time.
The 5 is completely undeserved as I think it's one of the best Kirby games I've played. Deserves an 8 at the very least. In my books, though, it's a 9/10.
18. Digiki
11 Apr 2009, 20:32 BST
@Ferret
Alright Miracle Matter is isn't a pushover, but it still isn't hard, everything else though is pretty feeble.
Agreed KS8, this is my favourite Kirby as well.
19. pie4prez
14 Apr 2009, 02:18 BST
Change the score to an 8. I think this is one of the best games available on the VC.
20. WyvernKnight64
14 Apr 2009, 14:42 BST
Wow I am surprised how bad of a beating this game received in the review. Its got nothing on Kirby Super Star but it is still very fun to play. IMO this is better than Kirbys Adventure. BTW this is the first Kirby game I played.
21. SergeOfArniVillage
21 May 2009, 21:42 BST
@Digiki
, but I think Kirby 64 is really great too! I loved how you could combine things to make really unique weapons, I loved the sheer personality of the game, finding the crystal shards was REALLY challenging to me (although maybe I'm just retarded, XD): yeah, I don't get why it got only 5/10, it honestly deserves more 
This game isn't quite as good as Kirby Super Star: that game is almost perfect,
22. Mickeymac
04 Aug 2009, 01:17 BST
Actually, now that I've read it, this is a pretty fair review. I still love this game, but it doesn't have the same charm as the rest of the series(the problem is, I never found this series very charming).
And I see now that I'm not the only one who found this game somewhat challenging. That makes me slightly less self-concious.
23. LEGEND MARIOID
05 Sep 2009, 10:38 BST
One of the most underrated games on the VC. 8/10 for me. No where near a 9, but just about an 8.
24. ryanknight717
23 Oct 2009, 20:34 BST
this game made me too nauceaous
25. pitkun
03 Nov 2009, 07:11 GMT
Do you mean naseous? I think someone told me that the correct term to use is nauseated, anyway, I really liked kirby 64, I guess its subjective, since I LOVE KIRBY, and I think its quite different from Kirby's adventure in many ways, btw I thought that dark matter was quite easy, either way you get to start over from the boss fight unless you lose all your lives, plus there's lots of things to collect, I didn't even know you could fight dark matter till I played it again; I thought the last boss was that cube thing hehe.
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