In the pink
As Nintendo cutie Kirby turns 30, we look back at some of the character’s best bits
IT’S been a massive few years for Nintendo with several of its most beloved games and consoles celebrating major milestones.
Last year saw Donkey Kong mark its 40th anniversary, while The Legend of Zelda turned 35.
This month marks the 30th anniversary of arguably one of the gaming giants most recognisable characters – Kirby.
The little blob of cuteness made his debut on April 27, 1992 in Kirby’s Dream Land, a platformer for the Game Boy, but things could have looked very different for the pink fluffball.
His visage was originally a placeholder, created by designer Masahiro Sakurai as he developed a protagonist for the game.
But the more he looked at it, the more Sakurai thought the simplistic ball-like shape was perfect for the game – and Kirby was born.
With his stubby little arms and legs, Kirby has gone on to appear in more than 20 games, from platformers and puzzlers, to racing and pinball games.
Proving he’s as popular as ever, his latest outing – Kirby and The Forgotten Land – debuted just last month and is already the fastest selling Kirby game ever, even outselling the highly anticipated Borderlands spin-off Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
To mark the bewitching bundle’s landmark birthday, Nintendo will host The Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival on August 11, streaming free via the official Kirby YouTube channel.
That’s a few months off, so while we kill some time waiting, here are five of his greatest outings, in no particular order.
Kirby: Planet Robobot (PEGI 7) 3DS
Released in 2016, this game was seen as a spiritual sequel to 2014’s Kirby: Triple Deluxe.
When mysterious mechanised invaders threaten to take over his home world, the cute little hero makes a stand.
Brandishing shape-shifting Robobot Armour, he smashes, blasts and splats the invaders as ‘Mech Kirby’.
In a neat twist on his mimicking skills, Kirby’s armour can scan and copy the bad guys’ moves – but if all else fails he can simply go back to inhaling them.
It was an instant hit with fans, with some critics saying it set a new gold standard for the franchise.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (PEGI 7)
Switch
It might seem like a cop-out to include the newest game in the list of best titles, but believe me it’s earned its place.
The colourful, joyride is the series’ first real foray into the world of 3D, following Kirby as he adventures through the New World, to rescue the Waddle Dees, which have been kidnapped by the ferocious Beast Pack.
The 17th mainline game, The Forgotten Land was developed to mark the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
While gameplay is linear, rummaging in the dark corners to find the Waddle Dees is enormous fun, and you’ve not lived until you’ve driven Kirby around as a car – with a little hat bobbing on the roof.
Kirby’s Epic Yarn (PEGI 3) Wii
Released way back in 2010, this game took the character to adorable new heights.
After eating a mysterious tomato, Kirby is transported to Patch Land, a world completely made of fabric.
Stripped of his copying powers, he morphs into objects and dons a series of hats that allow him to mimic the capabilities of those around him.
Incredibly stress free, this was an exercise in joyous gaming that left your face aching from constant grinning.
Kirby Super Star Ultra (PEGI 3)
DS
Released in 2008, this is a remake of 1996’s SNES classic Kirby Super Star.
The side-scrolling platformer was nothing short of magnificent, taking what had gone before and enhancing it brilliantly while taking away none of the game’s original magic.
Split into seven smaller games, this version added extra boss fights and three new touch-screencontrolled minigames that could be played with up to three friends.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land (PEGI 7)
Wii
This may have been released the year after Epic Yarn, but Return to Dream Land was the first traditional Kirby platforming console title since Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards landed in 2000.
Originally announced for the Nintendo 64, it languished in development hell for more than 10 years and was a surprise to all when it eventually landed in 2011.
But the wait had been more than worth it.
It was the first game in the series to use 3D player characters instead of the flat sprites that had gone before.
Alongside his traditional copying powers, Dream Land introduced ‘super abilities’, which gave Kirby temporary ultra powers that dealt devastating blows on his enemies.