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Kirby: Planet Robobot (3DS) Hands-on Preview

by Daan Koopman - April 28, 2016, 6:00 am EDT
Total comments: 2

Don't lose your robo way in this shiny new Kirby adventure!

Kirby: Triple Deluxe was one Nintendo 3DS game that I adored from start to finish. From clever level design to smart implementation of the handheld's features, this was one Kirby game that you had to play. When a new entry got announced, I was sort of skeptical. The Nintendo 3DS was pushed to its limits in the last one and the new mechanics didn't seem like a gigantic leap forward. But then I played it and continued to play it for hours on end. The new Kirby game, subtitled Planet Robobot, is one of the finest games that you will play this year.

Usually I am not really interested in what a Kirby game puts together story wise, but Kirby: Planet Robobot is a game changer in that regard. You will fight against an evil corporation, known as the Haltman Works Company. They invade Kirby's home Planet Popstar and tries to give everything a mechanical overhaul. You will have to fight their army of enhanced creatures and devious bosses to save the planet. You will fight against some familiar faces (like a certain tree) and Susie the mysterious assistant to figure out the true motivation of Haltman's fellowship. The story is told with voice trinkets and text, but it is a charming tale through and through.

From the outside, it may seem that this is Triple Deluxe 2. Kirby acts and controls exactly like he would in that game. You walk, run, jump, float and swallow up enemies like usual. That isn't a bad thing in the grand scheme of things, because that game felt great to begin with. The majority of the game sees you eating up enemies to get new powers. Among them are many classics that will feel right at home for newcomers and veterans alike. Cutter and Bomb have a good range to tackle enemies, while Sword and Beam tackles the enemies up close. Players will quickly discover their favorites and likely stick with them through the majority of the game.

Despite its classic roots, there are some new Kirby abilities in play as well. Doctor sees you throwing pills and shooting mysterious fluids into the air. The former in particular reminded me of a certain doctor from a well-known puzzle franchise. Kirby also looks amazing with glasses and a nice coat to show he’s ready for business. Another fun one is Poison Kirby. He will spew out poisons into the air and dangerous liquids on the ground. The longer both of them stay in place, the more damage they will inflict on the bosses you will encounter.

Finally, we come to the most overpowered and glorious new entry to the Kirby arsenal. ESP will not only make the pink puffball wear a fancy cap, but you will be able to send an energy ball across the stage. You will be able to control this ball, attack your opponents with him and feel extremely powerful while doing it. While running, ESP Kirby is able to teleport and attack the enemy in the process as well. In a pinch, I found myself grabbing a compatible amiibo and using it to get that ability back. While I also got a little bit of health back each time I did it, I found it necessary to have the stuff on me that I would use the most. That doesn't mean that having your way will always help you as certain puzzles require that you have a specific copy ability.

HAL Labs have also find a way to increase the usefulness of certain abilities, thanks to the Robobot Armor. Pretty early on in the adventure, you will get access to a gigantic mech suit that Kirby will use to clear the challenges in the stages. It can sprint across the stage, pick up crates and move levers, make the abilities more powerful and create new ways to make levels feel unique. In my personal experience, I feel that the mech suit is way more than a gimmick. It is used in the majority of the stages and plays an instrumental role in changing up what Planet Robobot sets out to do. Many of the Code Cubes, the main collectible in Planet Robobot, can only be obtained in secret areas and you will really need the Robobot copy abilities for those rooms.

Those Robobot Armor copy abilities themselves are so beefed up that it is hard not to adore them. The game offers 13 in total and each sports an unique look and feel. One of my favorites is the Mic Mode, which gives the armor gigantic speakers and huge sound waves to play with. Another one is the Spark mode, where you fire two huge lasers in front of you. Some of these will be extremely specific to certain levels and can't be accessed elsewhere. The Wheel Mode transforms the Robobot into a car. In the level, you will have to constantly switch between the planes of the stage and race to reach constantly higher platforms. Another instance of this is Jet Mode. By getting access to this form, you will be thrown into horizontal shoot'em up stages that see you maneuvering on point and shooting everything down with a powerful pellet gun.

The levels themselves constantly switch between the standard and Robobot mechanics. It honestly never felt out of place and made me wonder about what was next. That is also the biggest props I can give to Kirby: Planet Robobot, because the level variety is simply stunning. Regardless if it is climbing on rooftops in Resolution Road, swimming in the Overload Ocean, enjoying the musical city life on the Rhythm Route or uncovering the boiling hot machines of the Gigabyte Grounds, there is something for everyone to enjoy and master. The Patched Plains is an example of a level that’s tricky but not too hard, and just walking through the stages is incredibly joyful. Even it is as simple as climbing on ladders or avoiding incoming cars, I was charmed by what Kirby: Planet Robobot offered.

One of the bigger things I noticed is that the moments that required tilt motions are heavily reduced. There are a few times where you are sitting in the cart, but that is about it. Personally I did not mind that at all. While these were really novel a few years back, the Robobot Armor makes enough impact where you barely take any notice of changes. You will now dismantle screws and change the perspective of certain platforms, which goes perfectly hand-in-hand with the 3D effects. Those 3D effects still get an impressive use as the multiple layer system returns to further polish up the levels. There were a few moments where the framerate slowed down, but it was nothing major. Many of the holes within those environments also contain a nifty surprise in the form of stickers, which will allow you to deck out your robot.

Next to the main game, there are two minigames that you can play from the start. First, there is Kirby 3D Rumble. In this minigame, you are on a 3D plane where you will swallow up enemies. You will need to shoot these enemies at others to rank up combos and get yourself a better score. Next to the enemies and obstacles, there are also coins strategically placed so that you will explore the platform somewhat. Every stage has multiple platforms to deal with and you have to complete each in quick succession. It reminded me a lot of the canceled Kirby GameCube concept, but souped up to create a more puzzle like experience. Sadly, this minigame doesn't have much on offer. You will fight the same boss at the end of every stage and there are only three stages in total. Kirby 3D Rumble wasn't all that hard to get Platinum Medals on, which is the highest possible reward here.

While the second minigame doesn't fair all that much better, I did myself enjoying it a ton more. Team Kirby Clash sees you, with CPU or friends, fighting against some incredibly strong foes in an action RPG type fashion. You have four copy abilities to choose from and each has been expanded with additional skills and options. The trick is to find the way to use these at the right time and take down the enemy quickly. In the beginning, this won't be easy as you aren't leveled up yet, which means that your stats are incredibly low. By replaying missions and gaining experience, you will your results constantly improve and fully complete the six missions it contains. I had to play them all a few times to see everything Team Kirby Clash offers, but you won't be sticking around for it that much.

Kirby: Planet Robobot looks incredibly sharp. While Triple Deluxe was quite the looker, they outdid themselves here. It looks crisp, clean and colorful, in particular when you are playing on a New Nintendo 3DS. The levels have a lot more enemies and trinkets, which makes them fun to explore. The soundtrack sits on the same level as Triple Deluxe’s, with sharp tunes and a lot of variety. While I do think that I prefer some tunes in the original 3DS game, Planet Robobot rocks out in its own way.

While I had my reservations, Kirby: Planet Robobot is one fantastic game so far. The main game has seen multiple improvements and changes that make it more engaging than before. It isn't hard to play through, but from the first moments, I was fully hooked. The minigames still remain sort of there. I don't dislike them, but they offer too little to make a major impact on me. Overall though, this is one great game for on the go and it shouldn't be missed.

Talkback

Man, really?

Everyone seems to be coming away from this game with really positive impressions. This could be the first honest-to-god Kirby game that comes out in more than a decade that I honestly get excited about!

supermario2kMay 02, 2016

Man I hope so, this game is the game that has me finally getting a 3DS for certain this year.

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Hoshi no Kirby: Robobo Planet Box Art

Genre Action
Developer HAL Laboratory
Players1 - 4

Worldwide Releases

na: Kirby: Planet Robobot
Release Jun 10, 2016
PublisherNintendo
RatingEveryone
jpn: Hoshi no Kirby: Robobo Planet
Release Apr 28, 2016
PublisherNintendo
RatingAll Ages
eu: Kirby: Planet Robobot
Release Jun 10, 2016
PublisherNintendo
Rating7+
aus: Kirby: Planet Robobot
Release Jun 11, 2016
PublisherNintendo
RatingParental Guidance

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