Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii)

Ever since Kirby 64 back in 2000, we haven't since a Kirby platform game on a home console in a long time. Nintendo. Good Feel and HAL Laboratory have finally ended the wait for another Kirby platformer with their new title, Kirby's Epic Yarn. This is a very different Kirby game to what we have seen over the past 2 decades, and it's something special. This might be one of the best Kirby games ever made.

The story is that Kirby is walking around Dream Land and finds his favourite food, a tomato just sitting on a bush. Being Kirby and his love for food, he goes for it. But then a evil sorcerer appears named Yin-Yan who is not happy with Kirby eating his Metamato and sucks Kirby inside a glowing sock. Kirby wakes up in Patch Land, a world made out of Yarn and fabrics. He discovers that he himself has been turned into Yarn and has lost his sucking up power. After rescuing a boy named Prince Fluff, the boy explains that Yin-Yarn has torn up patch land into pieces that were tied together with magic yarn. Kirby and Prince Fluff team up to recover the 7 magic yarn that can restore Patch Land back together. The story is basic and it's great for the kids with a narrator telling the story in the style of a storybook. They will enjoy listening on.

The gameplay is a basic 2D platformer which you play as Kirby going from each level to the next. You'll be collecting beads and treasures in every level, so if you love collecting things, you'll have fun playing the levels. The world and everything around you is made out of yarn and fabrics and you get to interact with the environment like going behind the scenery, pulling on buttons to scrunch the backgrounds together, spin yarn balls to reveal secret areas and more. It really works well and is something that will put a smile on your face. Unlike in other Kirby games, you no longer have the power to suck up enemies and gain their powers. This time you have a yarn whip to unravel enemies with and turn them into balls of yarn to throw at blocks and other enemies. Even though Kirby's sucking ability is gone, he still has transformations. He can become a car, a parachute, a submarine, a train, a dolphin and more. Each work well and even have their own sections of the levels to change the pace. The whole game can even be played in 2 player co-op with the second player as Prince Fluff, who has all the same moves as Kirby.

The level designs are fantastic. Each of the 50 levels all feel different enough to leave you wondering what you'll be seeing next. In terms of difficulty, the game is very easy. It's impossible to die at all. If you do get hurt or fall down a pit, you lose some of the beads you collected. The game isn't about trying to survive, but the challenge comes in finishing each level with a gold medal by collecting beads and collecting every item in the game for 100% completion. It's designed so kids will be able to enjoy it as well so hence why the game is easy. But no matter how old you are, it's the overall experience that makes this a blast to play.

The graphics are simply incredible. Everything from the levels to the characters is all made out of yarn, cloth and textiles. It's a sight to behold. If you like your art, you will love what has been done here.

The soundtrack is fantastic. The music takes on some very catchy jazzy style themes along with some soft piano music that is very relaxing to listen to. There are even remixes of classic Kirby tunes that fans will appreciate.

This Kirby game may be the most different to what Kirby games usually are, but this is not a bad thing at all. Kirby's Epic Yarn is a new and fresh take on the series and may be the best Kirby game yet. Fun gameplay, a brilliant original art style and it's great for the kids. No matter what age you are, pick this game up if you own a Wii or if you like simple 2D platformers. It's one of the console's best titles. 9/10

This is one of those games that are usually bought for the kids but ends up being enjoyed more by their parents. Kirby is back and seems to have had a complete makeover. And this time around, he refuses to stay in the shadow of the other Nintendo characters.

The game design is unique, fresh and beautiful, not to mention adorable. Kirby is enchanted out of his usual abilities and is trapped in a world made of fabrics. The design, however, is not just eye-candy, it plays an integral part in the gameplay which is equally imaginative and surprising.
It is as if the gameworld is made up from cloth, loose threads and your grandmother's yarn basket. The colorful items that make up the characters and the backgrounds will bring back memories of preschool naivete but they also serve numerous in-game functions and transformations such as weapons, levers, surf-boards, wings...The game is a creativity bomb that went off in a seamstress' shop.

The sounds add greatly to the overall experience. The background music is soothing like a familiar lullaby whereas the action sounds will bring back the echo of the laughs we had during our own Saturday morning cartoon marathons.

KIRBY'S EPIC YARN is a side-scrolling platformer in the classic sense (move forward, collect items, reach the boss and beat him) but I promise you it will not feel like any game you have played so far. The levels have been designed with endless imagination and a lot of care.

My only complain is that the game is a bit short. Adults may find it a bit easy as well (Kirby cannot die, taking a hit means he looses some of the collected beads); however, it is not that easy to complete having found and collected every item, making it a game one would want to replay again and again.
As a bonus, with a second controller, two people can join in and play cooperatively, greatly increasing the fun but also the challenge to complete the game.

Be warned: you bring Kirby home, get ready to wrestle your young ones for the controller.

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My 10 year daughter likes this game alot but said it was a bit easy to complete,but is still fun to play.It is great for younger players, when she will let her 6 year old brother play he does struggle a little bit.