Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Cover art
Developer(s)	HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Shinichi Shimomura
Producer(s)	Masayoshi Tanimura Hiroaki Suga Kenji Miki
Composer(s)	Jun Ishikawa Hirokazu Ando
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Nintendo 64 JP March 24, 2000 NA June 26, 2000 EU June 22, 2001 Virtual Console NA February 25, 2008 EU March 7, 2008 JP April 15, 2008
Genre(s)	Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: E

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, known as Hoshi no Kirby 64 (星のカービィ64, Hoshi no Kābī Rokujūyon^?, lit. "Kirby of the Stars 64") in Japan, is a platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. The game is a sequel to Kirby's Dream Land 3, and is one of few Kirby titles not directed by Masahiro Sakurai.

Kirby 64 was re-released on the Virtual Console for the Wii in 2008.^[1]

Gameplay

Unlike past Kirby Games, Kirby 64 is a 2.5D platform game, with game play similar to earlier Kirby titles, where the titular character Kirby has the ability to inhale enemies and objects and extract their abilities. Kirby is required to travel across six different planets, which consist of separate levels, and collect the scattered pieces of a Crystal, which is used to defeat the game's main antagonist, Dark Matter.

Copy abilities

There are seven different copy abilities in Kirby 64, and any two can be merged to create a new copy ability. They are Burn, Stone, Ice, Needle, Bomb, Spark, and Cutter. Though Kirby only needs one element in his body to gain an extra attack, Copy Abilities can also be merged with abilities of the same type for more powerful versions of the basic abilities. In total there are 35 abilities, combined and stand-alone. Combined abilities are usually stronger or have added effects.

Minigames

Three minigames can be played separate from the main quest in Kirby 64. Each game can be played by 1-4 players on one of four difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard, Intense). Characters from the game (i.e. Kirby, Waddle Dee, Adeleine, and King Dedede) are playable in multiplayer.

Plot

Ripple Star, a planet populated by fairies, is invaded and taken control by Dark Matter. Ribbon, one of the fairies, flees from the planet with their sacred treasure, the great Crystal. In its pursuit of Ribbon, Dark Matter shatters the Crystal into pieces, which scatter throughout the solar system. Ribbon, stunned by the attack, falls onto Pop Star.

Ribbon, heartbroken to find she is left with only one of the shards, is consoled by Kirby, to whom she reveals her predicament. Kirby agrees to help her retrieve all the Crystal Shards and save Ripple Star from Dark Matter's control. Kirby and Ribbon enlist the help of Waddle Dee, Adeleine, and King Dedede, and they continue to search for the pieces across the solar system.

Kirby and the group restore the Crystal and eventually reach Ripple Star, where they purge the planet and its queen of Dark Matter's influence using the restored Crystal. However, Dark Matter forms a new planet called the Dark Star. The group travels to the new planet using the Warp Star. Kirby and Ribbon confront the leader of Dark Matter, 0² (Zero Two), and defeat it using the Crystal, which results in the obliteration of the planet. Kirby and the group are hailed as heroes for saving Ripple Star.

Development

Screenshots of the game's beta, under the name of Kirby's Cloud, were originally posted on Nintendo.com on June 1, 1999. They showed Waddle Dee, Adeleine, and King Dedede as playable characters throughout the game, which appeared to feature many more aquatic levels than the finished product.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

Reception
Review scores
Publication	Score
Famitsu	32/40[2]
GameSpot	6.9/10[3]
IGN	7.9/10[4]
Nintendo Power	8.1/10[5]

Many accused the game of being short and easy while others enjoyed the varied level design and colorful graphics. The game sold 1.07 million copies in Japan and 541,600 copies in the United States.^[6]

Gamespot gave the game 69% saying "While some might be initially put off by the youthful nature of Kirby 64, the depth of the power combo system really brings a lot to what would otherwise be an average platformer."^[7]

References

1. ^ "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards and Psychosis Now Available on Wii Shop Channel!". Nintendo. 2008-02-25. http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/IInBmoqjvD6sLhgqmhlp8sD4kXurqiEs. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
2. ^ "Rating a Fat Blob". IGN. March 16, 2000. http://ign64.ign.com/articles/076/076678p1.html. 
3. ^ Gerstmann, Jeff (April 14, 2000). "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/kirby64thecrystalshards/review.html. 
4. ^ Boulding, Aaron (June 23, 2000). "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards review". IGN. http://ign64.ign.com/articles/150/150571p1.html. 
5. ^ "Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards review" (.jpg). Nintendo Power (134): 116. July 2000. http://kirby.classicgaming.gamespy.com/info/np/np_k64_score.jpg. 
6. ^ http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten2.htm 1.07 million copies sold in Japan.
7. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/kirby64thecrystalshards/index.html

External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards site
• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards at MobyGames