Kirby Super Star Ultra

"Usually remakes aren't as good as the original due to nostalgia, but in this case, it is different!"

So, the game is here: Kirby Super Star Ultra for the Nintendo DS developed by Hal Laboratory. As most of you may know, it is a remake of the game, Kirby Super Star for the Super Nintendo released back in 1996. It was perhaps known as the best Kirby made ever created, and why should that be surprised? It was considered a huge improvement from it's predecessors (Kirby's Dreamland 1 and 2 for the Gameboy and Kirby's Adventure for the Nintendo Entertainment System).

It introduced the Kirby "Hats" (when swallowing an enemy, Kirby actually had some slight costume changes), had improved graphics, plus introduced the buddy system, which lets you sacrifice the ability you have in order to summon an ally (or known as "helper") that represents that ability. Superstar also has seven regular games as well as some two subgames (or minigames).

Kirby Super Star Ultra retains all this, plus adds more. Now, it has four new games (adding up to twelve games), and adds three new subgames (making a sum of five subgames). Super Star Ultra also has slightly improved graphics, plus now possesses 3-D FMV (Full motion video) cutscenes.

In addition to this, you can also listen to the soundtrack as well as various sound effect using the famous "Sound Test." You can also re-watch the 3-D cutscenes in "Theater" mode

Overall, this is an excellent game which is a must have for the Nintendo DS for those who didn't have the luxury of playing it for the SNES and even those who have had that luxury.

Gameplay: 10/10

This retains the gameplay elements of past Kirby games (more so with Kirby: The Amazing Mirror, Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland, and Kirby: Squeak Squad), with some improvements.
Now, instead of health units, you have a health bar (so instead of having say, 6 units of health, you have a full bar which each attacks do different amounts of damage).

You can sacrifice the ability which you possess, to summon a helper which represents that ability and does all the attacks you would have normally done had you not sacrificed. And this helper has the same amount of health as you.

You can do more then one move with each ability unlike with most other Kirby games with where you only do one move.

You don't automatically lose your ability when you get hit once all the time, you can still lose it however, but not so easily.

Now, you can even play with Meta Knight when you unlock the game Meta Knightmare Ultra, and he has his move set which is basically the sword ability one when you are Kirby. He also has four extra moves which you have to select using the touch screen, but you can only use them when you have enough points which you gain when you defeat enemies. The maximum you can have is fifty points

He can use the "Knight Call" which summons either a Sword Knight or a Blade Knight helper for the cost of two points

He can use the "Metaquick" move which makes him move faster for the cost of eight points.

He can his "Heal" which restores him to full health for the cost of ten points.

Or he can use his "Mach Tornado" move which freezes the screen and deals a great bit of damage to all enemies on screen, for the cost of thirty points.

It's subgames are also better then ever, as well as bringing back the nostalgic "Megaton Punch" and "Samurai Kirby" (although you have to unlock them by beating most of the various games). It's new subgames are "Kirby Card Swipe," "Kirby on the Draw," and "Snack Tracks." These new minigames also utilize the DS's touchscreen, which can make it more fun.

Overall I'm giving this a perfect ten because it really deserves it, as Hal Laboratory really outdid themselves.

Story 10/10

Now this is more like a whole bunch of stories with the different games you can play.

The very first one is "Spring Breeze," which basically takes you back to Kirby Dream Land in which King Dedede had stolen all the food in Dreamland, and now Kirby must defeat him and retrieve the food. This isn't a very hard game and is more of a game for beginners, but it's still fun to play.

The second game is "Dyna Blade," in which a giant bird known as "Dyna Blade" has damaged the crops of Dreamland, and Kirby must stop her. However, there is actually apparently a good reason for this. This game is a bit harder than Spring Breeze, and is still very fun to play.

The third game is "The Great Cave Offensive," where Kirby decides to go into a cave to collect sixty treasures. The real challenge in this is collecting all the treasures, and some treasures even reference other games (example, Mr. Saturn from Earthbound or Screw Attack from Metroid). This is perhaps one of the longer games, if you decide to go for all the treasures (which I'm sure most of you will).

The fourth game is the "Gourmet Race." This is actually pretty much a subgame. Here you have to race against King Dedede and beat him to the finish, while collecting as much food as you can. There really isn't much plot in this, but still makes for something worth playing.

The fifth game is "Revenge of the Meta Knight." Meta Knight decides out of no where that he is going to take over Dreamland using his airship, "the Halberd." The Halberd in this game, now actually has the exact same design as the one in Super Smash Brothers Brawl for those who have played it. This game though actually has dialogue, as you hear Meta Knight and is Crew talking throughout the game (not to the point of distraction though, thankfully). As you may have guessed, Kirby must board the Halberd and destroy it as well as defeating Meta Knight.

The sixth game is "Milky Way Wishes." Here, the Sun and the Moon decide to start fighting, and Kirby must settle this by traveling through different planets to reach the giant comet, Nova who apparently can stop this fighting between the Sun and the Moon. This game is slightly different: instead of Kirby swallowing different enemies and getting their abilities, he now must find the ability statues to obtain the abilities. The advantage to this is once you have all the abilities, you can choose which ability you want to use via touchscreen anytime you want, but the disadvantage is not only do you have to find the abilities (in which some you have to really explore) and you cannot summon helpers anymore.

The seventh game is "The Arena," where you have to fight pretty much every boss fight thus far. The good thing is though, after you beat each boss, you have a chance to change abilities to the ones that are given as well as healing using Maximum Tomatoes, but there are only three of these so use them wisely. There really is no plot to this, other than Kirby has to battle his way to the top.

Now like I mentioned before, there are four new games.

The first new one is "Revenge of the King." King Dedede is sour about Kirby giving him a beating in Spring Breeze and now wants his revenge. The level layouts are extremely similar to Spring Breeze, except the enemies and bosses are now much harder, and Dedede is now much stronger.

The next new one is "Meta Knightmare Ultra." Now you play as Meta Knight (as I stated in the Gameplay section, you can look there to see his abilities). You play through the first six levels (excluding Gourmet Race, so that makes a total of five games) with Meta Knight, but some are slightly altered to fit Meta Knights Story. This really is a worth while one as Meta Knight is fun to control and now has new abilities which differ from Kirby's.

The next one is "Helper to Hero." This one is by far the most interesting. You don't control Kirby or Metaknight. Instead you can control one of the twenty helpers that have aided you when you were Kirby. Each one posses his own unique abilities. This one is similar to the Arena, except you have to best 13 random bosses, and this time you only get three Maximum Tomatoes so as with before, use them wisely.

The final one is "The True Arena." This is like the Arena game (you control Kirby this time around, don't worry), however, you face ten bosses from which you faced in these new harder games. And to top it off, you don't get Maximum Tomatoes this time around to heal. Instead, you get five regular tomatoes (I call them Minimum Tomatoes), which heal you about a quarter of your health. This one is definitely the hardest game, and you have to beat it if you want to get the full 100 percent. When you beat it though, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment (at least I did, and I do sometimes read messages asking on tips to beat the True Arena).

So there are many plots, all worth trying to uncover. I definitely think this section deserves a perfect score.

Graphics and Sound: 10/10

Now, because this is remade on the DS (which is superior to the SNES in terms of power), this does have improved graphics. Plus adding the 3D cutscenes was pure genius on Hal's part. Also, it posses the same sound effects and soundtracks which we all love, and perhaps has the best soundtrack from any Kirby game.

I'm also giving this a perfect score.

Controls: 10/10

This is similar to other Kirby games in which you press A/Y to jump, B to swallow/use ability, L/R to guard and take less damage when hit, and X to summon a helper when you can. you can also do a sliding attack by pressing A + down on the D-pad. It really works well which is why I'm giving this section a 10/10 as well.

Playtime and Replayability:

For getting the full one hundred percent, I would say it should take about thirty days, give or take.
As for replayability, this is actually one of the few games I could imagine playing for a long, long time without getting bored. You will most likely want to play the games over and over again, not only to help get your full 100 percent, but just to enjoy the good old days of the SNES and for the fun of it as well.

Rent or Buy:

Definitely Buy, especially if you are a core Kirby fan like myself. Like I stated, this is one of the few remakes which surpass the original game. It's definitely a must-have for the DS.

So overall, I'm giving this game a perfect 10/10. Hal really poured their soul into this game, and it definitely deserves to be bought and played, and it is perhaps the best Kirby game ever made.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/29/08

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