Kirby's Epic Yarn (Wii) - Review by Chris

Introduction

While Nintendo's A class of characters have been readily propping up release schedules since the Wii's release, many have wondered where one of their other properties, namely Kirby, had gone as there hadn't been a new platforming title on a home console since the N64 days. Fast forward to last year's E3 and our questions were answered with the unveiling of Kirby's Epic Yarn, a brand new title exclusive to the Wii which shows Kirby in a completely different style. And after a 4 month wait, Nintendo of Europe have finally let the game loose in retail stores for your gaming pleasure. But was it worth the wait or is does it unravel to reveal a mediocre game beneath the visuals?

Gameplay

Unfolding like a bedtime story being told to a child by a father, Kirby's Epic Yarn opens with everyone's favourite pink blob being confronted by a evil sorcerer known as Yin-Yarn. When Kirby notices he can't suck him up and dispatch of him, Yin-Yarn captures Kirby in his magical sock, teleporting him to Patchland, where he meets up with Prince Fluff. Upon hearing that the world is unravelled and learning of Yin-Yarn's evil plans to take over Dreamland, Kirby sets about sewing Patchland back together again and putting a stop to Yin-Yarn before it's too late. The story definitely plays out in such a way so as to appeal to the younger demographic of gamer but there's plenty of humour contained so as to appeal to gamers of all ages.

As its core, Kirby's Epic Yarn remains a typical side scrolling platformer, having you go to a variety of worlds which play on tried and tested themes within the genre and which also act as hub areas to a series of levels set within those themes. As you play through each level, you'll make your way to the end, collecting beads in the hope of gaining a gold medal ranking for the level as well as searching for 3 hidden collectibles, such as furniture pieces or music. Early levels make getting these collectible easy but as you'd expect, the further you head into the game, the harder they are to collect and in some cases you'll find yourself replaying levels so as to make sure you don't miss any of them. But even doing this doesn't dampen the game because the gameplay is so refreshing meaning that you'll be able to revel further in the delights of the levels for longer.

Whereas before you'd simply suck up enemies to get rid of them, the change in art style has resulted in Kirby having to rethink how he approaches his enemies, and this is something played upon heavily in the gameplay throughout. Now, he comes equipped with a thread lasso which he can throw out to grab hold of enemies and throw them about or unravel the thread which constitutes their construction. Not only does it become employed in defeating enemies and bosses at the end of each world, the developers have expertly played on the new art style and Kirby's new power to great effect in the gameplay. Using the lasso, you can grab onto buttons and swing from them, pull on threads to crumple the world together and make hazardous obstacles safe and you can even latch onto zips and unzip sections of the level, unveiling secrets. Seeing some of these actions unfold is a joy and makes for a fresh and unique take on the series as well as the platforming genre in general.

It's true that some of the best levels in the game play on many of these elements which involve using the lasso to change elements of the level but this new power doesn't mean that the old transformations from previous games have been forgotten. Instead of gaining them from enemies now, Kirby will rip a patch off of the world and reveal a hidden power-up which will transform him into a variety of vehicles this time around. Flying saucers, giant mech robots, dirt trucks, fire engines and space ships make up just some of the power-ups you'll encounter in your play and when you do, you'll notice how brave the developers have been in creating certain levels in the game, going so far as to forget the platforming template and incorporate elements from different genres into the mix. It's something which carries over the entirety of the game, continually adding fresh and new ideas right up until the very end meaning things rarely get repetitive.

Quilty Square acts as the main hub for Patchland, and it is here where you'll be introduced to Dom Woole, a character you'll ask for monetary contributions to help add floors to his block of flats and ask you to decorate the rooms of various characters who'll turn up after you've cleared certain worlds and afford you the opportunity to take part in a series of challenge levels. These are entirely optional and act as an aside to the main adventure but they do offer up further variety for the game and extend the playtime in around the 15 hour mark for those wishing to get the full 100% completion score, and you may get even more out of the game if you opt for the 2 player co-op, with a second player taking on the role of Prince Fluff. It doesn't add much to the game by bringing another player along but it definitely allows them to get in on the captivating experience. If left aside, the game does fall slightly on the short side, and can be completed in a little over the 6 hour mark which may disappoint some but ultimately, the path to the end is pure joy and the refreshing and varied gameplay mechanics ensure that even if you invest only the shortest amount of time in the game, you'll still come away with a wide smile on your face.

Controls

Just like Donkey Kong Country Returns before it, here you'll only need to use the Wii-mote, held horizontally, for play. It's your typical setup for a side scrolling platformer then, with the d-pad controlling movement, with a double tap turning Kirby into a car for dashing left or right, and the 1 and 2 buttons being used for jumping and using your thread lasso. It's simple and works extremely well, as you'd expect. Motion has been implemented, but only in small volumes with tilts of the controller being used to change the firing position of the cannons on the fire engine and mech transformations respectively and the pointer being used for the optional room decorating elements and the train transformation. They're simple implementations that add just enough so as to add something to the game.

Graphics

The biggest draw of Kirby's Epic Yarn is definitely the visuals and it is here that the game delights more than in any other area. The fabric aesthetic used to create every inch of each level is handled in such a believable way that you'll be in constant disbelief that what you're seeing was created on a computer. It looks that good, with every seam and texture perfectly recreating the look of the fabric and thread that would otherwise make up the likes of a patchwork quilt or something. The attention to detail really is admirable, with subtle touches such as fabric denting when you walk over it or when you walk behind it and things like clouds being made of cotton wool and fire leaving scorch marks to more non-subtle elements like being able to unzip parts of levels and pull on threads to rumple them up creating one of the best visual experiences you'll see on any console.

Even the character models receive the same treatment, with familiar enemies returning and being given a threaded look that really does look incredible, even more so when you see them walking, swimming or flying about. Kirby's own transformations really come through further as a result of the art direction and you'll find delight in seeing them over and over again, thanks to the superb animation which has gone into making them look so believable in their new style. There are, however, some frame rate issues which crop up when there are a multitude of beads and characters on the screen at one time. It's a little disappointing that these issues weren't smoothed out but they really can't put a dampener on the fantastic visuals.

Sound

The heavily jazz and piano based soundtrack presents a fantastic auditory backdrop upon which the game plays out, with a mixture of remixed classic tunes and newer pieces taking centre stage and settling in with ease to create a remarkably endearing atmosphere. Throughout, the music continues to delight, perfectly matching the levels they're set to in the way that Nintendo does best and while the remixes are definitely a nice touch and great in their own right, the new pieces really are the star of the show and sound incredible. The audio is even worked into many of the levels, with the music subtly changing depending on what you do, with one level in particular letting you add to the general beat of the music in various ways. Even the narration of the story, done in such a way as to evoke a scenario of a father reading a bedtime story to his child, is expertly handled and while it may sound a little silly in places, it's heart-warming in its delivery and adds further character to the title.

Final comments

Few developers can reinvent their characters as successfully as Nintendo and Kirby's Epic Yarn stands as a perfect reminder of the talent that resides within that development house and why Nintendo is so loved as a developer. Kirby's Epic Yarn is simplistic in nature but oh-so satisfying in execution, with a beautiful aesthetic helping to propel forward a truly enjoyable and endearing gameplay experience which is sure to bring a smile to even the most hardnosed of gamers. Some may begrudge the ease with which the game can be completed but there's no denying that the sheer joy it brings and the quality of content makes this a must play for any gamer.

Pro: Presentation is utterly superb, the ever changing gameplay is brilliantly engaging, incredibly fun from start to finish
Con: Some frame rate issues, it has to end at some point
Final score: 9

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