Kirby Star Allies

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1-4 Co-Op (Local)

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Review:

Kirby Star Allies is a family-friendly Platformer in the long-running Kirby series that mostly doesn’t stray too far from previous games in the series. The one main difference this time around is the game’s new ally feature that allows you to toss a heart at any enemy you can “inhale” for a copy ability to instead create an AI helper companion, with up to three companions at any time – with additional players being able to control these companions if they join in.

This helper mechanic actually does have a pretty noteworthy affect on the gameplay, taking a series that’s already pretty easy and making it even easier, which may be good news for younger and more casual players, less so for more seasoned players. However, lowering the difficulty isn’t the only thing this mechanic does – it actually makes for some interesting ability-mixing possibilities, allowing players to combine the abilities of these helper characters with each other or with copy abilities to make new, alternate abilities.

This ability-combination thing may be familiar to those who played Kirby 64, which did something similar, although there are some subtle differences here. Ultimately, this makes for some delightful discoveries throughout the game, though it’s not without its frustrations, as it can mean occasionally replaying a level because getting a secret requires a specific ability or combination of abilities that you passed by earlier.

On balance, this is a pretty decent Kirby game, which overall means it’s still one of the better games in the genre, although I will also note that this does have the issue I find with many of Kirby’s “2.5D” games in that it feels a bit on the clumsy and sluggish side. It’s still fun, but I just definitely feel there’s room for improvement.

Ah, but there is one thing I haven’t mentioned yet – the presentation. Kirby Star Allies is, quite frankly, absolutely gorgeous. Previously I would have said Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was the best looking 2D Platformer on the Switch, but Kirby Star Allies may very well take the title from that game thanks to its beautiful, detailed visuals and wonderful lighting and water effects. This is paired with a lovely orchestral soundtrack that does a decent job remixing the classic Kirby themes.

In the end, Kirby Star Allies is a solid Platformer that skews toward younger and more casual players, and is an absolute audiovisual treat. While more skilled players may not find this quite as engaging as they might hope, less skilled players will find it absolutely delightful, and even better if they have others they can share it with. If you’re looking for a great kid-friendly co-op game on the Switch, this game should be extremely high on your list of must-haves.

tl;dr – Kirby Star Allies is a family-friendly Platformer in the Kirby series that largely stays true to the series’ roots, with the main difference being the new “ally” mechanic that has you making helper characters. It’s an audiovisual treat, and an absolute must-have game for those looking for a great kid-friendly co-op experience on the Switch. However, more skilled players looking for a challenge aren’t likely to find it here.

Grade: A-

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