Kirby’s Return To Dreamland for the Nintendo Wii

Kirby’s back for the Wii in Kirby’s Return To Dreamland! Besides being able to play the game as Kirby, now you can play as three other characters, with your friends! But, beside your favorite Nintendo character’s ability to suck in his enemies and expel them out, does this Nintendo Wii game suck, or is it good enough to earn a Thumbs Up or two? Find out, as you read my review!

Kirby’s Return To Dreamland is a 2D platform style game that covers some old territory, but with a few new added twists that help make playing it a fun (but frantic, when you play it with friends) experience.

You are Kirby and if you play co-op (up to four players) they can choose between another Kirby, King Dedede, Metaknight, or a spear-carrying Waddle Dee. This large space ship (literally, a ship) breaks up over your head while you’re running through a field with some cake. You investigate and you meet Magalor who wants you to find the 5 pieces of the ship that fell, along with Energy Spheres (basically collectibles). In order to leave, and beat the game, you have to locate and gather up the 5 pieces. You go to through 5 worlds, each with a theme (grassland, ice, ocean/island), and each world has 4 or 5 levels and a boss. Each level has 3-5 Energy Spheres. The more you collect, the more bonus doors you unlock in the ship, like mini-games, challenge rooms, and rooms to practice the different morph ability. Once you beat the 5 worlds and repair the ship, you have a couple more worlds and a twist ending.

Kirby is traditional Kirby this time, as opposed to the yarn version previously. You suck up enemies and you get their powers. But they’ve expanded on the powers this time around, and there are multiple moves you can do with each power (of which there are about 30.) The game starts out pretty easy, but the difficulty ramps up near the end, following in the tradition of Super Mario Galaxy 2, Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Donkey Kong Country (all of which heavily bring the nostalgia factor along with old school style. Nintendo realized that its old games were still beloved, much more so than the ones they make now, so they went back to that formula.) And after you beat the whole game, you unlock Extra Mode. It starts off just like the main story, except there are some visual different, enemies have new moves, are tougher, and in some cases bigger, and you have a lower maximum health. The co-op partner is less of a hindrance than in Super Mario Bros. Wii. There’s no being blocked by the other player or accidentally bouncing off their head, but you all share one set of lives, so if they keep dying, the lives you’ve stockpiled could be quickly lost. But besides that, it’s worth playing with someone else, as it can simplify collecting some of the Energy Spheres and can make boss battles a bit easier.

The Pros about this game is that is has a fun, bubbly soundtrack, and that the ability to play as different characters with your friends is a nice addition. It’s a game that anyone can play right from the start. Also, there are secret areas to explore that open up from time to time, which gives you an incentive to go back to areas and collect further loot, which in turn allows you to unlock special stages, mini-games, and bonus content. Examples of the mini-games you can unlock are: Scope Shot, Ninja Dojo, and The Arena. There’s also a new super-inhaling power that allows you to gulp down much larger enemies than you are, or a large number of blocks, by shaking your Wii remote.

The Cons are that it’s too short and a relatively simple game to beat. Even without the sword, Kirby could probably handle the enemies he faces without much trouble.

A Cheat about how to defeat the Great Doomer is that you pick the Cutter ability and begin to fight him. Keep getting under him as you attack, and direct your boomerang into his body. When he’s got very little life left in him, he will get replenished by full 4-Star Health. Then, get rid of your Cutter power, and wait for the Great Doomer to make a super-powered enemy, then get your Cutter power back and use it four more times. Using it one more time will defeat him.

Kirby’s Return To Dreamland by HAL Labs for the Nintendo Wii is a fun game, one that offers a good time for the entire family, or you and three friends. But, it’s also a relatively short game, one that’s fairly easy to beat. So, while the game is pretty fun and doesn’t suck, it’s not the most challenging game in the world, either. What do you think of the game if you’ve played it? Please leave your comments below!