Kirby & the Amazing Mirror

"What do you get when you cross Zelda, Kirby and a whole mess of abilities? A game that is completely awsome!"

I'm not much of a Kirby lunatic, but he is one of the coolest characters in gaming history. He's round, is a puffball, can copy any ability from his enemies, can float, need I continue? For those of you who have never played a Kirby game, have only played as him in Super Smash Bros., or are just looking for a fun romp on your GBA, get this game.

Story(8/10)- Here's the basic layout: Kirby is taking a walk when Meta Knight comes out. Before he can even say hello, Kirby is cut in four, turning into 4 different colored Kirbys. Red,Yellow, Green, and Pink. So here he is, with his clones and no idea what's going on. So he follows Meta Knight, or at least his direction, and ends up in a place with a big mirror that has been shattered into 8 pieces. This is the game's namesake: The Amazing Mirror. Armed with nothing but his clones, his abilities and his trusty cellphone, he sets off through the other mirror in the room. Thus, our game begins....

Gameplay(9/10)- This is a solid, action packed platformer that pulls off the copying ability approach very well. Basically, your main hub is the Hall of Mirrors, where you access the mirrors. There are nine levels, eight of which holds a boss that posseses a mirror shard. Your main approach is to get through the level, beat the boss and get the shard. Along the way, you swallow enemies to defeat them. Many enemies have abilities that you can use if you swallow them. Old favorites include Sword and Cutter, while new ones include Cupid and Smash, which allows you to use Kirby's Super Smash Bros. Melee moves. Along with that, you can use the phone to call in the other Kirbys to help you out and follow you. However, you have a limited amount of use with them. No, they I don't mean that you don't really use them much. I mean that they can't stick around for very long. You have a limited amount of bars on your cellphone, and when they run out, the Kirbys go back to somewhere else. You must find batteries to refuel your phone. Crazy, insane, and totally fun.

Sound(9/10)- This game's music is very catchy and cheerful. It fits the game's mood well, and if you are glum, it will perk you up. The sounds are cool too, though not that good.(The sucking in enemies sounds can get annoying.) Overall, the sound is good enough for me.

Graphics(10/10)- What!? You are probably thinking that, being that this is a 2-D game, but trust me. This game has a unique cartoonish style that only Kirby could pull off. This doesn't mean that it is as good as Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories's graphics, but I just happen to like the style. It doesn't mean YOU have to like it, but still. The levels don't get very repetitive when you are in the different rooms, which is a good thing.

Replay Value(9/10)- This is one of those games where you can just go in and mess around in the levels. Try seeing if you can finish the game by going through the levels in a different order(Yes, you can do that.). You can spray paint Kirby in the Collection Room, and there are 3 addictive minigames that I will gove 9/10 points. Yes, they're that good.

Pros
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*Colorful, Nice looking graphics
*Fun, addictive gameplay
*Cheery music
*Great replay value
*Copying an enemy's ability is just plain awesome
*The cell-phone idea is inputted greatly

Cons
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*Sounds are alright, but not spectacular.
*It's a bit confusing to get around through the levels.
*Can't seem to think of anymore Pros.

Overall Score: (9/10)
Game Rating: Everyone
Price: $30

Bottom Line- Get this game. You won't be sorry. It's well worth $30 and you just can't help but like it.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/23/05