Kirby Super Star Ultra

"The Super Tuff Pink Puff"

Kirby Super Star Ultra is a remake of the excellent Kirby Super Star for the SNES, which is considered the best Kirby game ever. Rather than being a whole game with one story, this game is really made up of smaller games, along with some mini-games. The original had 9 modes to play, 6 games and 3 mini-games, and Kirby Super Star Ultra includes those original nine, and several new ones as well.

The graphics, for the most part, are colorful and nicely detailed, and I have no complaint about them. This game now includes some nice rendered cut scenes that you watch at the beginning of a game(except the mini-games), and at the end, sometimes during interventions in the game(Metaknight's Revenge).

The music is also well done, but since this is on a DS the sound quality is not as good as it was on the TV. The tunes are catchy always fit the mood, but don't expect anything epic.

If you never played a Kirby game before, the gameplay is pretty simple. Kirby can swallow enemies to gain their power and use it himself. Each power has its own moves you can do depending on with button combination you use. Kirby can also call a helper if he has a power; he'll turn the power into a helper, which may help(sometimes they get a little stupid)

The games are varied and each has its own little story line or objective. You start off with only Spring Breeze and the Mini-games, but as you but each game you unlock more.

In "Spring Breeze", King Dedede has stolen all of Dreamland's food, and its up to Kirby to return it. This game is simple enough for anyone to pick up and play(it was intended to introduce you to the game). This is like a condensed version of the original Kirby's Dreamland, and is about 20 to 30 minutes long.

In "Dyna Blade", Kirby must stop Dyna Blade from destroying all of the crops. This game features a small world map that consists of five levels, with some secret levels. This one also ups the difficulty a bit, but not so much. This is also about 30 minutes.

"The Great Cave Offensive" has you traveling in a giant cave searching for hidden treasures, many of them referring to other games. This mode can take hours to complete, and if you don't know where to look or find treasures you missed, it could take multiple journeys again through the cave.

"Gourmet Race" is more of a mini-game, as you race King Dedede through 3 tracks while collecting foods. There is also a time trial mode that lets race for your best times and the food you collect.

"MetaKnight's Revenge" involves Kirby trying to stop Metaknight and his crew from invading Dreamland. He has to take down their massive ship, the Halberd. This mode is harder than the others before it, and you always have to race against a timer, to finish the level and fight the boss at the end. The dialogue between Metaknight and his henchmen has been redone as well(probably for more clarity).

"Milky Way Wishes" is different from the others, in terms of powers. Kirby could always eat enemies for their powers, but in this one, you must find all of the powers hidden across the levels. Once you find one of the stands with the power, it is yours permanently, and can change between powers at will via the touch screen.

"The Arena" is the boss mode of the game, where you must take on all of the game's various bosses and mini-bosses as well, with only limited healing items.

New games include "Revenge of the King", a harder and modified version of Spring Breeze(different levels plus one new one). "Meta Knightmare Ultra" has you playing as Metaknight, through many of the other stages from previous games. You also have two new arena modes(level 1, for example, is the entire Spring Breeze). The 3 new mini games are fun distraction and you can play them with up to three friends. They are all touch screen controlled.

Although we still have all the same button from the SNES, the controls have changes. However, if you have played the original, you will probably get used to the, so no worries. The controls in the game work very well, responsive and easy to learn

The difficultly starts off easy, and gets harder as you progress. Some of the later challenges can prove to be very difficult, some of which are probably the most challenging in the entire series.

If you never played Kirby Super Star, you should buy this game, especially if you love Kirby. Those that have played it(like me) can still enjoy the new modes, and if you do not want pay $30 for it, this is a must rent. I will hardly get old, and is still fun to play even after unlocking everything.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/30/08, Updated 10/03/08

Game Release: Kirby Super Star Ultra (US, 09/22/08)