After a busy few weeks it’s time for another classic video game, and with a new Kirby game announced, it seems a good idea to look into an older entry of the pink puff ball. In fact why not look into his first entry into 3D?

The Big Mechanic people praise this game for still to this date is an evolution of Kirby’s copy ability. Now he can combine powers! While there are only 7 individual powers, Kirby can combine these with other creatures with powers to either get powered up versions of the core abilities, or combine with another to make something new. Say you get the cutter ability, combine that with flame and now Kirby brings out a huge flaming sword. It’s easy looking at it why people often want this concept to return, even though some are extremely situational or just plain bad. In reality most of them exist for the purpose of getting the crystal shards the main collectible of the game which unlocks the true ending and final boss.

The game plays through 6 worlds each ending with a boss. Levels contain 3 crystal shards on each level and the boss has a single one, upon beating the boss you get a cutscene and leap to the new world.

Completing the levels shouldn’t be too difficult, the main challenge comes from the bosses or more importantly getting those crystal shards. Some are just hidden on the screen somewhere (or in the middle of the screen to show they exist, maybe appearing when a mini boss is beaten)  But a decent number are behind locations you need a specific power combination to unlock. These are identified as they have a coloured pattern consisting of the two colours. If these powers can be found on the level, then it’s no big deal, but some later on in the game, especially by world 4 and 5 had me have to run back to usually the first few levels, grab the combo and then get back to that point in the later level. But these are easily worked out. There is however one crystal shard I view as the worst from a game play perspective. It requires a combination but doesn’t show it needs one, because it requires an ability that combo could use rather than just destroying a block. There was no way playing the game for me to find this out, and if I have to go online to find that out I consider it a fail.

Kirby 64 is not long. The main amount of time will be spent having to run back and forth to claim the crystal shards, but it is worth it to get to the final boss as this is one of the big ones in the franchise that has one of the most iconic final boss themes in the Kirby games, and yes its once again rather Lovecraftian in its nature. But would it have been worth the cost of a full priced game at the time? probably not given how short the game can feel. Still you can play it on the N64 player on the Switch now making that a null point. You can get a quick game and check out why the Mechanic people keep wanting to come back.

Rating: 🎮🎮🎮