Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

"The Pink PuffBall Returns!"

INTRODUCTION:
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is actually a remake of the classic NES title, Kirby's Adventure. It seems that Nintendo has not even mentioned that the game was indeed a remake, but, fans of the original will definitely notice that they are playing the same game back in 1993, with a few upgrades of course. Anyway, on to the review.

STORY:
Everyone in Dream Land has lost the ability to dream. King DeDeDe is bathing in the “Fountain of Dreams” and has even taken the "Star Rod", the source of the dreams that flow at night. Kirby must now retrieve the "Star Rod", which has been shattered into many pieces, and restore peace at "Dream Land".

GRAPHICS:
Obviously, if one thing is going to improve over the NES version, it's the visuals. And, what we've got here really demonstrates the color capabilities the GBA has to offer. The backgrounds are very colorful and detailed. They look like something you would see in a painting. They're absolutely gorgeous. The sprites have also received more color as well, making them appear more cartoonish with fluid movements in their animation, as well. Everything else just looks cuter and more livelier than what was found in the NES version.

SOUND/MUSIC:
The music in this remake has improved as well. While, they may not have received a dramatic overhaul as the visuals did, it does a fair job of recreating them, making them sound a bit more complete with some added instruments here and there. But, most importantly, it gets the job done in creating a sense of a happy and cheerful Kirby game.

GAMEPLAY:
The Kirby games have always been aimed at a younger audience. They may not provide the same depth or challenge in gameplay as some of the Mario games. But, the whole point of the Kirby series is to be fun and simplistic in order for a young one to get enjoyment out of the game. It's pretty much your typical side-scrolling adventure game with some bonuses and secrets here and there. But, of course, how you play the game is what makes the Kirby games so unique. Most of the enemies found throughout every level contain a special power. And, if Kirby swallows up an enemy with a special power, he can basically mimic that attack. Such as: a sword attack, a fire-breath attack, an ice-breath attack, and even a UFO attack. This definitely helps create a variety of ways on how to play the game as they can also be used to locate some hidden areas found in the game.

REPLAY VALUE:
The game is very identical to its NES counterpart. So, some Kirby veterans may feel a bit disappointed. So, is there anything else new in this remake? Yes, there is. The game has replaced the old mini-games with some new and better ones. “Quick-Draw” is a game that truly tests how fast you react to attack your opponent once the exclamation point appears. “Bomb Rally” is pretty much lobbing a bomb around three other Kirby's until one misses and explodes in an elimination game. The last one is called “Kirby's Air-Grind”, where you race against other Kirby's across a rainbow that contains some rough portions along the way, and your job is to only grind on the smooth path. The best part of these mini-games is that they can now be played with multi-player along with the main adventure itself, cooperatively. Of course, a solo game can be fun as well. And, once you've completed the game, get ready for the “Extra Mode”, where the difficulty steps up a notch. For those who find the first adventure a little too simple, then you may find some challenge in the secondary adventure.

CONCLUSION:
In the end, the game does as much as it could to improve on an already fantastic game without altering the game too drastically. Overall, it's a fun little platformer that may turn you off from its simplicity. But, other than that, it's a solid game that is easily accessible to anyone.

FINAL SCORE:
8 OUT OF 10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/12/04, Updated 12/30/04