Kirby's Epic Yarn

Kirby's Epic Yarn
by Nintendo

Kirby's Epic Yarn
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Product Summary

Brand: Nintendo
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Published: 2010-10-17
Release Date: 2010-10-17
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Model: RVLPRK5E
Publisher: Nintendo
Product features:
  • Gems and collectible items are scattered throughout the environments for players to find
  • Kirby's first home console platform game since the Nintendo 64
  • Pulling on stray threads might reveal hidden areas, invisible to the player otherwise
  • Thanks to his versatile yarn composition, Kirby can take on a variety of forms both in his common actions and when he transforms into powerful vehicles
  • A co-op gameplay option allows two players can play through the entire game together

Video Game Reviews of Kirby's Epic Yarn

Customer Review: Kirby's weirdly wonderful patchwork world
Summary: 4 Stars

Kirby's Epic Yarn, the first Kirby platformer on a non-handheld console in 10 years, is a different and slightly off-kilter but mostly welcome addition to the Kirby universe. What may be a bit of a turnoff at first is that it is one of the first Kirby games to be void of Kirby's two trademarks: inhaling foes and copying abilities. These were two of the key components to what defined Kirby and what made his games unique and memorable. Kirby's Epic Yarn still maintains its fun factor, but excluding those traits robs the game of some distinct Kirby-ness.

This time around, Kirby gets sucked into Patch Land, a world where everything is made of yarn and cloth (incorporated into every minute detail of the gameplay), giving the game a very striking aesthetic feel. In this world, Kirby meets Prince Fluff, a blue fellow who strongly resembles Kirby himself. Prince Fluff is a playable character in co-op mode, which is an available option for the entirety of the game, allowing each level to be completed with either 1 or 2 players.

Both Kirby and Prince Fluff play exactly the same, wielding a yarn whip as a weapon that can both unravel and destroy enemies or roll them up into projectiles. They can also dash by transforming into cars and float gently to the ground by changing into parachutes. The game is controlled like a basic 2D platformer, requiring the player to hold the Wii Remote sideways, using 2 to jump, 1 to attack , and so on. Several aspects of the game are alarmingly similar to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, particularly in co-op mode.

Although Kirby is unable to copy abilities in this game, both he and Prince Fluff can use Metamortexes to transform into various objects. The Metamortexes can change you into an enormous tank, a dolphin, a UFO capable of using long-range electrical attacks, and even a train which can follow tracks you `draw' yourself by pointing the Wii Remote. These transformations, many of which drastically change up the control method and gameplay, are by far responsible for some of the most exciting and innovative in-game moments.

Kirby's Epic Yarn has been accused of being overly simplistic and easy; while it's true beating the game is no overwhelming feat, there are certainly more challenging aspects, some more prominent depending on whether the game is being played with 1 or 2 players. In addition, completists have the task of collecting the trio of treasures hidden in each stage, which can be used to decorate an apartment awarded to the heroes at the beginning of the game, and also unlock hidden stages if they're all collected.

Part of what may be inciting the simplicity criticisms is the fact that Kirby never actually `dies' or loses any lives in this game. Instead, when he is struck by an enemy or falls off an edge, he is rescued by a yarn angel, brought backward several steps, and loses several of the beads he'd collected. This is no devastating penalty, since the beads are merely collected throughout stages like coins and don't really seem to add up to any spectacular goal. You'll receive a different medal at the end of the stage depending on how many beads you collected, but only the quantity of beads you collect during boss battles really add up to anything relevant (you can unlock additional hidden stages in this way).

The Wii rarely prides itself in being visually impressive, and Kirby's Epic Yarn isn't necessarily any different, given that many of its characters and backgrounds are essentially outlines. However, the game manages to create a vividly colorful, playful atmosphere, and a surprising amount of attention is paid to minor details; Kirby reacts to standing on edges, and enemies behave and move differently depending on where they are and what's being done to them. The yarn motif may seem wonky at first, but they follow the theme to a tee and somehow make it engaging and make it work. Granted, hopefully Nintendo won't use this bizarrely recurring trend of creating cartoony landscapes for the sake of theme (Paper Mario, Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker, this game, etc.) as an excuse to continually keep things graphically limited.

Overall, the game's a pretty solid 9/10; the transformations are unique, the boss battles are exciting, and the soundtrack and visuals are silky smooth. The woven patchwork world offers lots to explore, and has some reminiscence to the bewitching childlike universe of Little Big Planet. Kirby's Epic Yarn may end up being something of an acquired taste for many in the long run, but like most Kirby games, it is an entertaining, engaging, flashy, and of course super-cute Nintendo title.

Description of Kirby's Epic Yarn

Go Behind the Seams With Kirby! Kirby has been turned into yarn, and now he must weave through a hand-crafted world of stitching, zippers, and eye-popping textures unlike anything you've ever seen! Experience this unique Kirby platformer that is as delightful to see as it is fun to play! It's Kirby's World, We Just Live In it. Help Kirby as he unravels yarn bosses, unbuttons night into day, unzips buildings to reveal secret passageways, and slips behind hidden seams in a visually stunning landscape that is sure to dazzle players of all ages. Use Kirby's new abilities to manipulate the environment in this one-of-a-kind adventure! Unspool A World of Pure Imagination. Transform Kirby into trains, tanks, submarines, monster trucks, flying saucers, and more as he battles an array of woven enemies through levels bursting with creativity and imagination! Play with Kirby's newest friend, Prince Fluff! Battle alongside Prince Fluff and help him recover his kingdom! A simultaneous two-player, co-op mode will have players of all skill levels enjoying this one-of-a-kind experience!

Kirby's Epic Yarn is a 2D platformer for Wii that blends classic Kirby gameplay with new abilities, functionality and more. Kirby's first console platform game since the Nintendo 64 days, Kirby's Epic Yarn introduces an amazing new look based on animated yarn and a world of cloth and textiles. The creative approach is woven directly into the gameplay and allows the ever-morphing Kirby to take on a variety of new forms. It's a one-of-a-kind platformer that lets players explore high and low for hidden objects, experience fun adventure and even join with a second player in a co-op play mode.

Kirby's Epic Yarn game logo

Kirby Offers a New Take on String Theory

Kirby's tendency for gobbling up items has set off another chain events. This time it has to do with an odd looking tomato-like object. Looking utterly delicious, down it goes. The problem is that it belongs to an evil wizard who reacts by sending Kirby to another dimension where everything, and everyone, even Kirby, are made of yarn. But that is a decision that the Wizard may yet regret, as Kirby joins forces with new friends in the strange land to unravel the plot of the wizard.

Kirby in yarn form from Kirby's Epic Yarn
A Kirby gameplay experience like none before it.
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Gameplay

Like all Kirby games, Epic Yarn is a side-scrolling platformer, but gameplay is different in this adventure. In its gameworld, everything is made of yarn or fabric, including Kirby and the game levels themselves. Kirby is of course pursued by the minions of the evil wizard that sent him to the gameworld, but in this world Kirby does not swallow enemies to dispatch them. Instead he uses a whip of yarn to stun them. Curled into the shape of a yarn ball, he can then toss them at additional enemies and/or obstacles. Kirby's movements are different as well. He no longer floats the way he did in previous games. Instead he glides in parachute form, or takes the shape of vehicles such as a train, a top, a truck, a UFO, a tank and others that are appropriate for the challenge at hand. Throughout the gameplay area are hidden beads, that if maintained, maximize points. There are also hidden levels that are revealed as Kirby pulls on zippers and loose threads encountered. Standard level progression is achieved via a series of patches that players receive on completion of levels. These are added to a tapestry by Kirby which results in the next level being revealed. The game also features two-player co-op through the entire game in which the second player takes on the role of an additional character from the game and works together with Kirby to access new areas.

Key Game Features

  • Kirby's first home console platform game since the Nintendo 64.
  • Pulling on stray threads might reveal hidden areas. When Kirby literally goes behind the scenes, the virtual fabric warps and bends to show his location.
  • Thanks to his versatile yarn composition, Kirby can take on a variety of forms both in his common actions and when he transforms into powerful vehicles.
  • A co-op gameplay option allows two players can play through the entire game together.
  • Gems and collectible items are scattered throughout the environments for players to find.

Additional Screenshots

Kirby platforming through dinosaur jaws in Kirby's Epic Yarn
Creative in-game art style.
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Kirby in vehicle form in Kirby's Epic Yarn
New movement options.
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Co-op play with Prince Fluff in Kirby's Epic Yarn
Co-op gameplay option.
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Hidden level and items within the game tapestry in Kirby's Epic Yarn
Hidden levels woven in-game.
View larger.

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