While European gamers are still left in the dark as to exactly when it'll launch, North Americans will be enjoying Kirby and the Rainbow Curse in the coming week. In the latest issue of Nintendo Dream - a Japanese gaming magazine - an interview was conducted with several developers working on Kirby's Wii U début to coincide with its release. What followed was an interesting view into the thinking behind several choices that were made in the game's development.
To start, they revealed why they chose to go with the rather unconventional, Kirby: Canvas Curse route as opposed to the usual Kirby formula.
When we saw the Wii U GamePad for the first time, we thought it could be interesting to use the different roles of the GamePad and TV in multiplayer. From there on, we came up with an idea of using the Wii Remote to control Waddle Dee and the GamePad to draw footholds. And the system of Kirby Canvas Curse fit that, so we used it. The result, after applying everyone's voice, was a very lively game.
The developers then went on to discuss why the claymation art style was adapted - the concept stemmed from a desire to make the painted style of Kirby Canvas Curse more three dimensional. The extremely authentic look of the clay was the result of the developers paying special attention to the construction of models, going so far as to model parts that would be completely invisible in normal gameplay, and from the frame rate being downgraded to give it that stop motion appearance.
The interviewers asked why Waddle Dees were chosen as the multiplayer characters instead of characters such as Meta Knight or King Dedede, and the developers had this to say:
The people who join multiplayer have one responsibility, and that is to protect Kirby. To me, I thought only one character really suited that responsibility, and that was Waddle Dee. He can catch Kirby, he can fight with a spear, and he's a lovable and humorous character that I think is unique and attractive for the game.
We're rather looking forward to this next week and a review will be posted promptly, so watch this space. What do you think of this game? Are you glad Nintendo branched out creatively for Kirby's HD debut?
[source nindori.com, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 23
This is gonna be a must buy game for me.......once I get the Wii U that is.
I'll get it whenever Nintendo choose to release it for Europe and Oceania. I don't understand the logic of making the English speaking PAL regions wait. It's not like we are getting any other Wii U games in its stead.
They should explain the lack of abilities :x
@AndyWARbear Yeah, I'm completely baffled as to why you Europeans aren't getting it until the second half of the year. There aren't any releases replacing it and it doesn't seem like there's any rhyme or reason to the delay.
@AndyWARbear Why should English-speaking parts of Europe and Oceania get the game earlier then the rest? It's not like they translate it from Japanese into English and from English into other European languages. All the translation work is done simultaneously from Japanese into all other languages. Europe always had to wait longer for Kirby games, because they just aren't as popular here as in the rest of the world. It's a marketing decision.
@EvisceratorX We don't know yet, if Europe will get another game in the first half of 2015 that the Americas won't get or get later. I can see releases of Yoshi's Wooly World or Project Zero 5 happen.
I really don't know how I feel about the gameplay aspect of this title, but I know I love the art style they chose! It looks so cool! That would probably be one of the bigger selling points for me.
@scamander I say English speaking PAL region because it's obviously been translated into English for the American market. I was at no point making a reference to the English speaking Europeans receiving the game before non English speaking Europeans.
There has been no Nintendo Wii U title since Captain Toad, Kirby has no reason to be held back from European release. Even more reason to release it now if, like you're saying, it's struggling in the European market.
@AndyWARbear I was talking about English speaking parts (countries) of Europe as well.
The point is, if Nintendo of Europe intended to release it in the same time frame as the US, the translations for all other European languages would be ready as well (maybe they even are!). But they didn't for whatever reasons (and there are reasons, we just don't know them, but we also don't have access to all the data that Nintendo uses to make those decisions!), so of course they won't release the game in certain countries, just because the game was already translated into English. Translation work is not the reason the game has been postponed in Europe in the first place!
Gameplay looks interesting. Price is right. Claylike graphics are looking good. Will pick this up at end of week. Hopefully I'll be able to snag MK and K DDD amiibo same day.
im gonna get it this week looks like a blast and the price is right
"To me, I thought only one character really suited that responsibility, and that was Waddle Dee."
coughcoughGooeycoughcoughcoughanimalfriendscoughcough
@scamander @AndyWARbear I doubt translation is the issue (cmon its a KIRBY game, how much dialogue can there be?), more likely its the backwards game rating system that most of europe has. There was some interview with an indie that explained the issues with game rating in europe that was on Nintendolife if you want to check that out
@Kirby_Fan_DL3 Yes please Bring back the hamster the most, he was the bomb.
In other words, you couldn't think of anything so you fell back on previous games.
@Bolt_Strike Well, to be fair, this should at least flesh out any potential in the concept that canvas curse introduced. I'd rather they give us something off the wall like this than a typical, powers-based Kirby platformer to kick off his Wii U presence.
@Kasplat The European Rating systems (PEGI & USK) can be a problem for Indie developers, because they are somewhat expensive for those. How would that be a problem for Nintendo? And why would we get some games months before the US if that was actually a problem?
I also want to address, that it is by no means "backwards" that the USK actually wants to play the game they are rating, while in the US it is apparently okay to let the publishers mark some check boxes and give them a rating based on that alone.
Still don't understand what is the problem with Nintendo of Europe and Satoru Shibata. Why is Kirby delayed for around six months when compared to the American release?
Makes no sense at all.
Also, still sad because of the fact that Kirby's Adventure Wii VC will release without launch discount. That will come up to bite Nintendo's behind as sales will be significantly lower now.
I loved Kirby's Canvas Curse for DS, so this is a must have for me.
@jgibson75 Same here, one of my favourite kirby games overall because it was so different and worked so well.
Saying that though isn't it time Kirby went 3D? I love Kirby but the games haven't improved since Kirby Superstar for me :/ Hire those ex Rare guys and make it.. Dunno how unpopular of an opinion this is
@EvisceratorX True, it does give the Kirby lineup some variety. Although I'm fairly certain we'll get both, Rainbow Curse is probably an "appetizer" game designed to hold off Kirby fans until the next main game comes out for Wii U later on (probably at the end of the Wii U's lifespan like usual).
I miss Gooey.
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