Justin Berube writes: Kirby is back again in one of the last major titles for the Nintendo DS. Kirby Mass Attack is a 2D side-scrolling platformer that controls exclusively by using the DS touch screen. While this may sound limiting to those that didn’t play Kirby’s last vastly different touch-screen-only DS game, Canvas Curse, I can assure you that it works wonderfully.
Happy anniversary to the pink ball of fun.
The first Kirby game was Kirby’s Dream Land, which was released on the Game Boy in the west in August 1992. Nintendo has a habit of honoring the day by adding Virtual Console games to the various Nintendo eShops in North America. Last year, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, and Kirby Squeak Squad joined the Nintendo Wii U Virtual Console library as part of the celebration.
This year, Kirby’s Dream Course, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, and Kirby’s Mass Attack are the newest titles in the North American Nintendo eShop.
Kirby Mass Attack offers a unique take on the Kirby series with the ability to command up to ten pink puff balls at a time. If you're interested in a downsized and linear title that takes inspiration from the likes of Pikmin, Mass Attack is one to consider. In terms of Kirby's DS adventures, this probably isn't his grandest outing, but it certainly evolved with the times and understood at the time of release that it took more than just the exclusivity of touch controls to provide an appealing game experience on the portable system. It's definitely a standout as an experimental entry in the Kirby franchise that has aged well, but more traditional Kirby outings still reign supreme.
Great game.