Developer: HAL Labs Publisher: Nintendo Released 1993 Genre: Platformer
Kirby’s Dream Land was a seminal title for the Gameboy and made the character an instant star. His next outing would surprisingly come to the NES in its twilight years. This would become a staple for the character that continues to this day. The late release of Kirby’s Adventure does little to dull its impact as it define Kirby and his world. Nintendo and HAL did gamers who were still using their 8-bit buddy a solid by releasing one of its greatest titles as a final thank you to the fans that made the system a phenomenon. Kirby’s Adventure is simply amazing.
Despite its quality it cannot be overstated just how much of an oddball release Kirby’s Adventure is. By 1993 the 16-bit consoles had taken over the market. While there were still plenty of Nintendo owners mind share for new releases was at an all-time low. Kudos to everyone involved for sticking it out instead of putting the game out on the SNES. I will admit, I did wonder what the game would look like on the Super Nintendo at the time but I digress. The NES received a true gem, even if it did not get the recognition it deserved until the later Gameboy Advance remake.
Kirby returns with all of his abilities from his debut. By holding B Kirby will inhale anything within the vicinity, be it enemies, blocks, water or even air. These can be spit out as projectiles. In this game you can inhale multiple enemies simultaneously. Inhaling air will cause him to puff up and float, which you can do indefinitely. To make the game faster paced Kirby can also run and slide attack enemies. Kirby was already a well rounded (heh) character but Kirby’s Adventure takes it one step further.
The most prominent skill introduced here is Kirby’s signature copy ability. After swallowing an enemy if you press down you can copy their power. The game has an enormous range of skills to copy, twenty-five. These are highly varied from a simple sword to a laser and even the rare UFO. Not every ability is offensive; stone is an last minute save while sleep is a hindrance and not a help. The game gives ample opportunity to explore this mechanic as every level has at least five abilities you can copy. Copying is one of the most fun mechanics in a platformer and Kirby’s Adventure exploits this mechanic in depth.
All of the various abilities permeate every facet of the game which is what makes Kirby’s Adventure so great. Every level has multiple paths, hidden doors, items and such that are only accessible by certain abilities. Sometimes that power is in the immediate area, other times you will have to carry it over from another stage. The fun comes in figuring these out, almost like a puzzle. These optional are often shortcuts but sometimes lead to mini boss battles. While it sounds annoying these bosses usually carry the rarer copy abilities making it worthwhile to seek out. It also gives the game replay value in that some stages have three paths to their exit.
The sheer variety in content is nearly unrivaled on the NES; only Super Mario Bros. 3 comes close. Speaking of that game Kirby’s Adventure is similar in that each of its worlds is themed. It follows a similar structure in that the overworld has side activities such as various minigames. You can to travel back and replay previous levels as well. While this is not as long SMB 3 Kirby’s Adventure at least has battery back-up which makes it more tolerable to replay over and over.
Like most Kirby titles Kirby’s Adventure falls on the easy side. The game is more restrained in doling out extra lives; although it presents plenty of opportunities you have to earn them. The generous life bar makes it easy to brute force your way through any tough spots, to say nothing of some of the more overpowered abilities. Kirby’s default set of powers is also far too convenient, allowing you to simply fly over most hazards if you wish. While some boss battles are tricky most will have no trouble breezing through this one. While it may be lacking in difficulty it is one hell of an experience from beginning to end.
At 6 megabits Kirby’s Adventure is the second largest NES game ever. All of that space is not wasted as this is one of the most visually stunning titles on the platform. The smart use of the NES palette gives the game a vibrant look that defies the hardware. The level of detail in every environment is second to none making the game a visual treat. Special effects are at a premium, especially the rotating towers in Butter Building. The amount of unique animations is staggering for an NES game. There are a few titles such as Moon Crystal that come close but are limited in scope compared to this. The only blemish is the occasional slowdown but for the level of artistry on display it is a worthwhile sacrifice.
In Closing
Kirby’s Adventure is the perfect swan song for the NES and a classic. With more depth and variety than most titles it is an incredible adventure that no Nintendo fan should go without. Kirby’s Adventure is the perfect swan song for the NES and a classic. Buy this game people, it rarely gets better than this.
