Kirby and the Rainbow Curse

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-4 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, released on the Wii U in 2015, is a sequel to the 2005 Nintendo DS game Kirby: Canvas Curse. As such, it features a similar style of gameplay – this is a family-friendly Platformer where players do not control Kirby directly. Instead, Kirby automatically moves forward, and players must control his path by drawing platforms and walls using the touchscreen on the Wii U gamepad.

The resulting gameplay here is still the same great kinda’ stuff that was in that earlier game, though of course it comes off as less fresh and new the second time around. That’s not to say there aren’t new elements here, though – for one thing, players can power up a temporarily supercharged version of Kirby by collecting enough stars in a level. The game also supports asymmetrical multiplayer Co-Op, where additional players control helper characters using Wii remotes.

However, for the most part, this plays just as “more Kirby: Canvas Curse”… which is fantastic if you enjoyed Kirby: Canvas Curse (as I did). In fact, this game even does away with the copy abilities used in Canvas Curse, replaced here with temporary vehicle-based power-ups. It’s not a huge change in the grand scheme of things, but in some ways it does feel like a step down. However, despite this, the gameplay is still solid, the level design is excellent, and there’s enough variety to keep things interesting throughout the game.

Much as Kirby: Canvas Curse impressed with painterly visuals and a great soundtrack, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse also looks and sounds great, with a fantastic look that perfectly imitates the appearance of stop-motion animated clay, and a nice, lighthearted soundtrack befitting the gameplay.

Ultimately, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse may not quite be the refreshingly original game its predecessor was, but it is still an outstanding follow-up, one with great visuals and music, and excellent gameplay that does little to move the series forward but is nevertheless a blast to play. This is an outstanding addition to the Wii U’s game library.

tl;dr – Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is an excellent follow-up to Kirby: Canvas Curse, featuring similar family-friendly Platformer gameplay that has players using the touchscreen to draw platforms and walls to guide Kirby. It is naturally not as inspired and original as Canvas Curse, but it is still an absolutely superb game that should be considered a must-have by Platformer fans.

Grade: A

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