In this day and age where video games are currently in a territorial pissing match, trying to create the next best thing, a few developers try to get ahead of the curve and essentially leave the roots that built them up in the first place. In relation to the Kirby series, its a bit obvious a few newer releases have had some sort of gimmick added to them. I'm am not saying none of these were bad choices, I am simply pointing them out. Amazing Mirror added the cell phone, allowing you to call three other Kirbys to your side in battle or exit to the main hub. Canvas Curse had the player directing Kirby's movement via stylus. Squeak Squad brought back simplified elements from Crystal Shards and allowed ability combinations, albeit immensely toned down. Epic Yarn did away with Kirby's signature inhale ability and had him whipping and throwing enemies with a string of yarn. All of these changed gameplay either slightly or greatly. However, one thing Kirby games these days have endured is that they are extremely easy. There is little to no challenge in most of these games. The two games that come to my mind are Squeak Squad and Epic Yarn. Squeak Squad's addition of Copy Ability Scrolls, upgrades to your Copy Abilities that turn your already badass moves and turn it them to 11, made the game way too easy to blast through. There was literally nothing in that game that could stop you as soon as you found a few of them. Epic Yarn is a better example of child's play. There is literally NO way to die in Epic Yarn. No matter what happens to Kirby or Prince Fluff in game, how deep the hole or large the boss, none them can kill Kirby. The only thing that happens is that he's knocked back a few feet and loses some beads. No challenge is present because this game was pointed towards a child demographic.
But I'm done rambling about previous games. What I'd like to see in the near future in a new Kirby game are a few things.
One of the simpliest of simple bosses, Whispy Woods.
Number 1: Difficulty settings
- Sometimes I'd like to have a smooth run through the game, but other times, what would really be great is a challenge. Scale the enemy health, give them more attack power, lessen Kirby's power a bit, and randomize boss patterns. Have a very easy, easy, normal, hard, extreme kind of thing.
Number 2: A deeper Meta Knight
- Meta Knight is my favorite character in the series and arguably the most mysterious one as well. It's pretty hinted that he and Kirby have some sort of relationship. Father and son? Brothers? It's all up in the air. A game where MK and Kirby are pushed together in a situation where they are forced to learn more about each other and fight cohesively could interesting.
Number 3: Replayability!!!
- To be honest, me and my friends frequently 100% Kirby games over and over, taking up all three save files. It's just that once we've collected everything, now what? What I like about the Super Smash Bros. series is that it has those trophies and challenges that keep the player coming back for more. Even though SSB is not a platformer like Kirby in a traditional sense, Kirby definitely has enough content throughout the years to provide some incentive to attempt a daring feat, such as beating Kracko without losing health or beating a level on very hard without using copy abilities. Concept art of scrapped or old bosses, music from games past, demos of a few past games, all would be vaulable rewards for doing something that keeps me coming back.
Four player Kirby co-op or two player Meta Knight and Kirby co-op would be a nice addition too.