As a franchise, Kirby tends to fluctuate between entirely traditional platformers
and titles with experimental controls and art styles.
Kirby Star Allies falls into the more traditional branch,
bringing the familiar gameplay to the Switch with some new co-op elements mixed in.
The simple plot sees a wizard from a distant star
scatter dark hearts across the vastness of space.
Some of these fall near Kirby’s home,
corrupting the desires of characters like King Dedede and MetaKnight.
Kirby also absorbs a star,
but it instead allows him to instantly turn enemies into allies.
Upon waking to see that something’s amiss,
Kirby sets out to investigate and follow the trail of hearts to find their origin.
Kirby’s puffy body isn’t the fastest,
but he makes up for this with his signature ability to inhale enemies and absorb their powers,
giving you access to dozens of different move-sets.
These range from things as basic as fire and ice
to more inventive abilities like the artist
which allows you to paint small minions
and sculpt statues to bash enemies.
If you pause to check out each ability’s list of commands,
you’ll likely find more than you expect, with lots of fun moves to experiment with.
From time to time, you’ll also gain more powerful single-use abilities,
such as the chef which lets you stuff every enemy in sight into a massive pot,
cooking them into health-restoring treats.
These abilities also serve as your means for overcoming the obstacles that stand in your way.
Flames can light fuses for cannons and bombs, blades can cut ropes,
and hammers can drive posts into the ground that often serve as switches.
Where Kirby Star Allies departs from the traditional formula
is with the ability to throw hearts to turn enemies into companions.
You can then work with your partners to combine various powers.
Many combos are as simple as adding elemental effects to physical abilities
such as applying water to a ninja or electricity to a staff,
but some go a bit outside the box
such as combining ice and stone skills to create a curling stone
that slides across the ground, smashing everything in its way.
Each time you discover a new combo, there’s a dramatic bit of fanfare,
which thankfully doesn’t repeat until you reboot the game.
In addition to power combos, you’ll occasionally come across platforms
that allow your group to team up in more set-piece situations.
You can link together to form a friend wheel
that can roll through enemies and smash through walls
or you can build a friend bridge to guide key-holding enemies to locked doors.
While the ally system facilitates co-op play,
it works just fine in single-player with AI buddies.
Characters capably hit switches, attack enemies, and combine powers.
Although they tend to have a bit more trouble avoiding spikes, lava, and other traps.
Plus, if you ever want to use an ally’s skills without giving up your own,
you can ride piggyback to take direct control.
Playing with a full group of four can be more fun
largely due to the added energy and need to communicate.
If you see a particular enemy and want its abilities,
you may have to shout to stop other players from attacking it.
Likewise, you need to be more intentional about talking with one another
to gain different power combinations or look for secrets.
Unfortunately, Kirby Star Allies only allows for couch co-op,
so you can’t join friends online.
As much fun as it is to experiment with different abilities,
the game does little to push back.
The vast majority of enemies can be defeated with little resistance,
and even most bosses just take a minute or two of mashing to overcome.
Whether you’re playing alone or with friends,
it’s easy to steamroll your way through most of the game using only basic attacks.
Likewise, puzzles are typically just a matter of activating switches
or combining powers that are right in front of you,
and you should have little trouble locating the vast majority of secrets on your first try.
Kirby games usually aren’t particularly difficult, but the lack of challenge adds to the sense
that much of the game feels rather indistinct.
Puzzle elements and mini-bosses are reused so much
that many levels feel interchangeable.
The good news though, is that if you stick through the 6 to 7 hour journey,
the last set of levels is easily the best,
and the final boss is unlike anything else in the game.
Outside the critical path, there are hidden switches to unlock optional levels
as well as collectible puzzle pieces that form pictures celebrating Kirby’s past.
There are also a couple of small mini-games, some bonus modes
that unlock after finishing the story,
and dream friends from past games that are being added as free DLC.
Amiibo are supported as well, giving you instant access to healing items and
puzzle pieces with the only limitation being
that you have to complete a level before using the same amiibo again.
The visuals feature a clean, pleasant style with some nice bits of detail
and a sense of depth in the backgrounds.
The music isn’t among the best of the series, but it’s still high quality
with new takes on familiar themes
and a few songs worth stopping to listen to.
One minor annoyance though, is that levels are designed in sections,
and you’re frequently met with brief loading screens that feel like they break up the action a bit too much.
Kirby’s greatest strength lies in the versatility
and inventiveness of the powers he can absorb.
Forming a team and combining those powers only adds to that joy of experimentation,
but it’s disappointing that the places you go
don’t do more to make the most of those abilities.
Kirby Star Allies does get better in its later stages, it just isn’t particularly memorable as a whole.
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