Kirby

Sonic ran into a similar problem when he went into 3D. A 3D environment makes Sonic's most recognizable ability a great deal less important and effective almost by default, and so it took a really long time for them to bring it back in a meaningful way.

They'd have to change up how it works, but I really want a 3D Kirby. We don't have enough 3D platformers, and there's got to be a way Kirby can do it uniquely.

They were planning on making one once, but cancelled it.

I HAVE SOURCES.

I think the first obstacle to overcome in designing levels for a 3d Kirby is his infinite jump. Perhaps limiting it to six like Smash does except when using an ability like wing or beetle that changes how jumping works.

Look at this.

[1]◊

edited 21st Jan '15 7:26:03 PM by Beaver

I feel like the very limited platforming you got to do in Air Ride is a nice template for how a 3-D Kirby game could be. They just need to give him the dash and, well, swallowing while walking and it'd be fine. Programming aside, I don't think that'd be too difficult to implement.

Of course, the platforming in that game was traveling around a huge cityscape with no enemies beyond whoever you're playing against, so they'd have to make it not so much open-world. Maybe something taking cues from Super Mario Galaxy 2, which I'd say does a great job of linear yet fun 3-D platforming.

The cancelled 3D game was an attempt, Kirby looked like he played exactly the same, but they didn't really do much with showing levels...they showed really basic stuff.

I know, just found it interesting.

Apparently, the 3D Kirby attempt had "extremely challenging gameplay." Of course, I'm assuming that Kirby has a finite number of jumps he can do, much like in Kirby 64. If there does turn out to be a 3D Kirby game, it'll most likely look similar to their previous attempt.

I can't quite explain why, but even though Return to Dream Land was intended to be a "return" to the Sakurai Kirby gameplay (abilities had elaborate movesets; continuity nods favored DL1, Adventure, and Super Star; etc.), I felt that it was more like a mix between Sakurai's games and the Dark Matter Trilogy. It didn't feel quite as fast-paced as Super Star (Ultra), probably because it had an Adventure-like structure while Super Star (Ultra) was split into small segments. That, and puzzles still had some prominence in Return thanks to the Energy Spheres.

I haven't played Triple Deluxe (yet), but I'm assuming it's the same thing as Return.

edited 21st Jan '15 8:22:00 PM by BurntMario

Again, I think a combo-heavy button-masher beat-em-up is the way to go for Kirby, particularly if they want to adapt the Sakurai style to 3D.

Well, that was certainly anticlimatic.

edited 22nd Jan '15 5:48:39 PM by Grounder

I know this would never happen but honestly (along with a remake of Air Ride) all I really want out of the Kirby Series is a game staring the Waddle Dee's.

If they could make it really difficult with multiple Waddle Dee's serving as "lives" ala Prinny Can I Really Be The Hero that would be even better.

I dunno, that's a bit dark for a Kirby game.

Usually they're bright and sunny right up until the end.

Okay, I wasn't expecting this to show up

A C-R-O-W-N-E-D rock remix.

Musical spoilers, possibly.

edited 23rd Jan '15 6:56:33 PM by rmctagg09

D-A-M-N...

@Monocle: Maybe a Lemmings-style game starring the Waddle Dees?

Though if I'm not mistaken, I think Kirby Mass Attack is in a similar style. Haven't played it yet, though. Can anyone confirm?

That's exactly what it is.

Since Nintendo is cancelling Club Nintendo in lieu of some new, Nintendo Network-account-based service TBD, i need to dump my coins, and have decided to splurge on virtual console games. I grabbed Kirby's Dreamland 3, and it is cuteness overload. I love the expressive allies, and how each ally adds a spin on the otherwise simple copy abilities.

Cuteness overload, you say?

Heh heh...heheheheheheheheheh...

I'm not a big fan of the Dark Matter games, really. I love the more complex abilities from the Sakurai style.

I do prefer Sakurai's Kirby games when it comes to gameplay, depth, and excitement (Super Star is certainly superior to Dream Land 3, if you ask me), but I still enjoy the Dark Matter Trilogy quite thoroughly. 64 may not have had complex abilities, but it did add a fresh spin on the copy mechanic that made experimenting fun to do. That, and I like the Dark Matter games' (mostly) relaxed tone. Dream Land 3 and 64 both still look great even to this day.

edited 24th Jan '15 1:51:48 PM by BurntMario

I'd love to see the Dark Matter games remade to have a similar kind of variety in abilities as Superstar or the more recent games.

No one has really heard a word from Shinichi Shimomura, the director of the DMT, since 64's release. There have been several speculations stating that (s)he must have died, which probably explains why the DMT is referenced less often in recent games, but we don't know that for sure. Heck, we don't know anything about Shimomura.

I can't help but imagine what the movesets of the mixed abilities would be like in 64. Bomb + Cutter could be similar to Ninja in the Sakurai-style games, while Stone + Spark could work like Yo-Yo. And don't even get me started on how Ice + Spark would be retooled.

edited 24th Jan '15 2:19:06 PM by BurntMario

Nah, I'm more thinking just give the 56 abilities directional and aerial variations, where appropriate.

That doesn't make sense. The point of the Dark Matter games is to have the right abilities and right Animal Friends at the right time, with combat taking a backseat.