Game design jobs

Kirbys Epic Yarn

The Short


Pros
- Vibrant, charming adventure starring Kirby in Yarn World
- Simple 2D platformer across several varying worlds of adventure
- Kirby transforms into zany stuff at set intervals to mix up the gameplay
- Despite not having his trademark eating, still feels like a Kirby game
- Graphics and yarn aesthetic do a lot to sell the presentation
- Handful of secret levels to unlock and an apartment to furnish
- Music is pretty mellow and stuff
- Two-player co-op
- Excellent game for children

Cons
- Extremely easy; it is impossible to die
- Co-op suffers from the same issue as New Super Mario Bros Wii in that you can shove people off cliffs, pick them up and kill them on accident, etc.
- Despite being easy, it can get frustrating when you get hit and lose all your beats, especially in co-op
- Very, very short
- Kirby and Prince Fluffs voices are supposed to be cute, but they are more likely to make you want to put a cheese grater to your ears
- A bit too simple of a platformer; theres never any real dexterous challenge or build up to something harder

This is Kirby. And yes, he is made of yarn.

The Long

Pull zippers to dramatically change the landscape in real time! Call of Dutys got nothin on this!

Its a pretty simple platformer. You have a parachute hover (which of course means one thing: air vents in future levels). You have a butt-slam. You can double tap to go faster. Each movement is accompanied by a little yarn transformation, which is a cute touch. In fact, 90% of what sells this game is the cute touches. As seen from screenshots, you pull tabs to remove fabric, pull zippers to change landscapes, "unwind" from time to time to fit in small gaps, etc. Its all still like "Babys First Platformer" (at least until the harder levels), but Im fine with that.

Doom Robot Kirby aint taking your bullcrap.

The "this is a kids game" is only further accented by the fact you cant die. Like, at all. We tried, trust me. If you get hit all the beats youve accumulated come flying from you like fleas off a dog, and if you get hit when you dont have any beads Kirby just sort of slumps over depressed until the enemy gives you a pat on the back and everybody feels better. Seriously, thats it. Fall off a cliff and an angel will save you every time, get hit by fire and hell turn black and burned but end up ok, etc. It is impossible to lose at this game. Which is actually a good idea, since the lives idea in games is total bullcrap anyway, and it just makes the player waste time they shouldnt. While this might be a step too far...its for kids. So it works.

The bosses look awesome and yarn...ish.

Theres a fair number of worlds, with the final one (a yarned-up Dream Land from other Kirby games) easily being the standout, but they cover all their basics. You have your starting green fields, a fire/egyption one, a "Treat Land" which I pointed out over and over only has one level devoted to food (and no yodeling bass chef. Point for the food level goes to Rayman Origins), one in ice because a fire and ice level are mandatory for platformers, a space level, and a water level (again, mandatory). Its your basic stuff, and while they dont really mix up the gameplay by any serious amount between levels, its easy and the levels are quick enough that you dont care.

Throw your partner into the pit of flame. Just like you did to your Companion Cube. You Monster.

This game really looks good.

Despite not being in HD, Kirbys Epic Yarn looks amazing. It doesnt need to push pixel density or hefty graphics to fit its cute and cuddly fabric theme, and its just so gosh darned cute youll be willing to forgive just about any technical shortcoming. My only complaint is I wish they took it further at times. Zippers show up a lot at the beginning and disappear later, with a lot of levels just being regular platforming levels set on a fabric backdrop but not utilizing their unique setting. Still, it looks cute, and thus we will take it.

UFO KIRBY WILL ABDUCT YOU MWHAHAHA