Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

"Now those new-schoolers can see what all the fuss is about."

Remember Kirby? That cute little pink ball that bounces ever so happily through Dreamland? I do. I still remember that fateful day when my parents picked up a copy of Kirby's Adventure, gave it to me, and let me play it on my old Nintendo... I was happy. At the time, I didn't like cute games very much. I was but a young boy, therefore I was into violent games such as Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and any sports game on the market. However, when I was playing this, my lips curled up into a smile watching that marshmallow suck up the bad guys and take on their abilities with ease...

Now I get to relive those days on a small hand-held 32-bit system. Sure, the feeling is somewhat different, if not less. But something about it just makes me... So very happy. Why, you ask? Well, let me explain.

Story: 7/10

An average, cute storyline. Kirby is in Dreamland, happily resting his days away... When one night, no one can dream! All their dreams have turned into horrible nightmares! But why? It had to be King DeDeDe messing with the Fountain of Dreams! Kirby, knowing that he's faced King DeDeDe before, ventures off to save Dreamland of its nightmares and to bring back the sweet dreams of the past! Very simple, yet so wonderful.

Graphics: 10/10

Using graphics very reminiscent of the great SNES game Kirby Superstar, everything moves smoothly and wonderfully. Kirby is still so cute, and everything else is much happier. Sure, enemies don't seem as menacing or evil as before [in fact, one of the mini-bosses is a happy-go-lucky elephant], but it just adds to one of the reasons why people began playing this game in the first place. There's no slowdown, no glitches it seems, and everything looks just fine. It's wonderful to watch.

Sound: 9/10

Remixed from older Kirby games, mainly from Kirby's Adventure, the sound now takes a 16/32-bit sound quality... 24-bit, if you will. [Such a thing exists, like the NeoGeo systems.] The music is a fantastic little reminder of the days of old, and makes you hum, whistle, even sing along to the wordless songs.

Gameplay and Controls: 9/10

Still very classic gameplay. Kirby is easy to control, and there's hardly a single bit of learning curve. A Button makes Kirby jump, and, when pressed again, allows him to float. Pressing repeatedly or holding the button down will let him float where ever he pleases! The B Button inhales, allowing Kirby to suck up his enemies. Then all you have to do is press down to get that enemy's ability, or you could just push the B Button again to shoot out your now-starred foe! When you learn an ability, all you have to do is push B to use it. There are at least 35 abilities in this game, each one different from the last, and ranging from many elements, such as fire, ice, lightning, stone, and even a few physical abilities, such as grappling, throwing. There are also very powerful abilities that you can only use a certain number of times, in contrast to the other abilities with infinite use. These abilities destroy everything on screen, leaving a path of emptiness in your wake. The controls are very responsive, with everything happening instantly.

Replay Value: 9/10

Plenty of replayability here! After beating the game, you'll earn an Extra mode, which allows you to play a more difficult version of the game. Beating both with 100% may net you a great little secret... There are also plenty of minigames, such as Rainbow Race, Bomb Hot Potato, and the Samurai Reflex minigame from Kirby Superstar. You can play with your friends on the minigames, as well as the regular mode. Sure, the game gets a little cluttered with other people, but it's all for fun.

Overall: 9/10

This is an excellent port of the original, greatly updated to appease. If you own the original game, I wouldn't consider buying this... Unless you really are a good fan of Kirby games. It's good to know that we're finally getting the real classics ported to the GBA, that we can finally go anywhere with a pink puff of cuteness right by our side. Worth buying? If you love side-scrollers, cuteness, and classic gaming, definitely. Two of any, very much recommended. Only one of the three... Think about it. Rent it, if you must. But don't pass on it, just because it's a port. Because it isn't just a port if it's a part of your childhood!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/15/02, Updated 12/15/02