Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land

"Swallow the enemies, Kirby!"

Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is a 2D action platformer game, and the first Kirby game I played. As I am a fan of platformers, I found this game to be quite fun. But even if you aren't a fan of platformer, this game will still be enjoyable for you to play.

Story - 8/10
The people of Dream Land were sleeping for the night. The Fountain of Dreams is the source for people to have dreams. One day, the people of Dream Land couldn't dream any longer. King Dedede was swimming in the Fountain of Dreams and locked the source of the energy that flows in the Fountain of Dreams. The source of the dreams is the Star Rod. Kirby, the superstar, must go and try to find him and get back the Star Rod.

Gameplay - 9/10
For people like me and don't know how the concept of Kirby games work, the entire thing is new and intriguing. It took me some time to realize how to play but eventually I got the hang of it and has one of the greatest style of gameplay I played.

There are many stages in this game, and each stage has an a zone of the place. In each stage, there are numerous doors, and various different types of doors also. Doors may lead to one of the following rooms: a zone room, a combat room, a Mini-game, and a "Copy" museum. There are also various bosses, including sub or mini-bosses that are in some of the zones in each stage.

Kirby is a small, pink, round creature that has the unique ability to suck up and swallow enemies and shoot them back as stars for damage. Along with the process, it can also acquire abilities, given the thing it sucked up has an ability. There are various types of abilities that Kirby can transform into and have that power: Fire allows Kirby to blow fire when attacking, Spark allows Kirby to stand and give out an electric shield to attack those who drop by near you, Sword allows Kirby to attack with a sword, and others. There are so much kinds, and only specific enemies will have the powers. However, if you have an ability and you get hit, you lose that ability and the star for it will bounce around for a while before it will disappear. Another unique ability Kirby has the ability to float around by holding his breath. This could save you from death from a lot of times if you happen to accidentally reach to a place where there is no ground. However, floating around only is not going to help as you can't while floating. So it shouldn't be overused unless necessary.

For the zone, you have a health bar with 6 bars. You lose a bar each time Kirby gets hit by normal means. In other situations, Kirby may lose more than one bar. You lose all your bars, you lose a life. It is possible to gain more lives by finding them around the zones. In some zones, there may be mini-bosses to fight. Mini-bosses are like preparation for the actual stage boss so you shouldn't slack off from them because they show no mercy. There is always a way to defeat them even if you don't have a copy ability. So learn them and they will be easy.
This game is a platformer game so the main goal is to start the zone and get to the end of the zone in any way possible. Though I would say that you shouldn't be reckless and quick about.

In the stage hub, there are various doors. There are different kinds. Most kinds you will encounter are the zone doors. When you enter a Combat door, you face off with a mini-boss and must defeat it. You may get a chance to acquire an ability from it and earn an extra life. When you enter a mini-game room, you can play a mini-game in it which can help earn you extra lives if you win. Once you do a mini-game, the door will be locked and you can't do that one any more, regardless if you win or lose. When you enter a copy museum, there is an enemy with a specific copy ability mentioned above it. It is basically a free copy ability. Though however, not all copy abilities will be on display in the Copy museum. The stage select door allows easy access going through the stages you have been through. Lastly, there is the Stage Boss door where you need to beat in order to continue on to the next stage.

If you go around the zones, you may encounter various giant switches. These giant switches, upon pressing them, reveal secret locations that can't be accessed normally. However, these switches are hard to find and may be held in secret locations. It's up to you to find them and find out the secrets from pressing them.

Graphics - 8/10
Very beautifully designed for each stage and zone. The backgrounds are suitable to the environment and the feel of the stage. All the enemies are drawn uniquely even the bosses themselves, so it is quite possible to distinguish one from another. In addition, the way Kirby looks after changing into a unique ability is unique also, as each changes Kirby's design, even a recolor if necessary. Overall, great graphics.

Music/Sound - 8/10
Traditional style Kirby music with some new tunes. For those who have played past Kirby games, the songs may become recognizable. Since this is my first Kirby game, I could say it is great music and fits the theme of each situation. Gentle style for the first stage, and then getting a little more intense in the later ones. Though I would say the later ones aren't as great as the early ones. Still, the music rocks and fits the theme well. Sound is okay, but like any other game, repetition comes in mind but it isn't annoying. So that is okay with me.

Replay Value - 9/10
Try completing this game 100% and find all of the secret switches. There are various things you can unlock by doing so. They are so secretive that you wouldn't even expect that they would be there. As a game, it could last some time and completing 100% isn't an easy task.

Overall - 9/10
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is definitely worth playing. A little pink puffball can actually make a game into large fun. Various things you can do, a very nice platformer game to play.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/18/04, Updated 11/20/06