April2014
News HAL Laboratory Director Explains Why Kirby Tends To Be A Ball Of Rage On Western Covers
"We know there is a serious side to Kirby as well"
If you're a keen import gamer, then you may have noticed a slight disconnect between Kirby's games in the east and in the west — the Japanese boxart usually has a happy, smiling Kirby, while the covers of his western releases showcase a more determined — even grumpy — expression. Kirby:...
Month of Kirby The Uncopyable and Vital Mascot
Before he could be anything, Kirby was one thing
The Hypernova power is a fantastic addition to Kirby: Triple Deluxe. Dynamic and stage-altering, it’s a continued step up from the heightened inhaling power Kirby was granted in his Return to Dreamland. “But what’s really so special about that?” one might ask. “Kirby has always been a...
Month of Kirby A Series With Rewarding Game Design
The Great Cave Offensive, anyone?
It’s been 22 years since Kirby made his debut in the 1992 Game Boy confection Kirby’s Dream Land. In that time, players have seen the lovable pink puffball grow to become one of Nintendo’s biggest stars, scoring it big in hit after hit on both consoles and portables. Those not quite in the know about...
Look cute, lose friends
Kirby’s now comfortably over twenty years old at this point; HAL’s pink puffball is firmly entrenched in gamer’s minds as a Nintendo icon and the star of many, many games. When he’s not off saving Dreamland from the gluttonous King DeDeDe or going toe-to-toe with Mario in the latest Super Smash Bros., however, Kirby...
Month Of Kirby Kirby's Lost Levels
Kirby's Cancelled Curse?
In the first of a series of features that'll form a mini Month of Kirby — ahead of the release of Kirby: Triple Deluxe in May — we look at a few games starring the pink mascot that never saw the light of day. Kirby has had a storied run as one of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters, having appeared in traditional...
February2014
News Now There's a Kirby You Can Wear
You won't look ridiculous either
Gaming fashion is sadly all-too-often nothing more than a current-gen logo or character ripped from some art you've already seen plastered everywhere, and then printed on a "one size fits all" (allegedly) black t-shirt, or an ironed-on bit of pixel art slapped roughly in the middle of the chest area if you're after...
January2014
First Impressions Kirby: Triple Deluxe Is Three Times More Fun Than Most Other 3DS Games
Definitely doesn’t suck
It’s obvious from the moment you start that Kirby Triple Deluxe is Nintendo and HAL Laboratory at the height of their collective powers — software and hardware coming together to create a game as games should be: good fun, embracing all of the the 3DS’s unique features without ever reducing them to mere gimmicks. We...
November2013
News Signed EarthBound Cartridge to Be Auctioned Off for Cancer Patient
“For James”
EarthBound is all about strong bonds; not only within the game but also its fan community. There is nothing that may demonstrate this point more fluently in recent days than the story of a special EarthBound cartridge that will soon be auctioned off during the EarthBound Bash marathon. The cartridge began in the hands of James...
October2013
News New Kirby Game Will Be Blowing Up The 3DS in 2014
Full of hot air, but in a good way
Today's Nintendo Direct may have had a few surprises — the delay of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and the confirmation of Sonic in Smash Bros. being two examples — but there was only one new game announced: a fresh Kirby instalment on the 3DS. Some gameplay footage was shown and it all looks very...
August2013
News Marcus Lindblom - Writing the English Script for EarthBound Was a Giant Step
But it was worthwhile
Writer and EarthBound designer Shigesato Itoi is a cultural icon in Japan and a name well known among longtime fanatics of the game. But the text from the English version of the game came from other, mostly unsung sources. Marcus Lindblom, who chiefly shouldered EarthBound’s localization writing, has had a chance to shine on...
May2013
News EarthBound Listing Materializes on Amazon UK
You cannot grasp the true form of Amazon’s listing
We already know that the kooky SNES RPG EarthBound is making its long overdue appearance on the Wii U Virtual Console in Europe and North America sometime this year. Then what’s up with this odd listing for the game on Amazon UK? It may just be a placeholder for a download code, but the £44.99...
News Trio Of Kirby Games Hitting Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Three Super Famicom classics incoming
Japanese Wii U owners are being treated to three Kirby titles in a single week. Some folks have all the luck, right? The games in question are all Super Famicom titles. Kirby’s Super Star Stacker (Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu), Kirby’s Dream Course (Kirby Bowl), and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (Hoshi no Kirby 3) will...
June2011
Nintendo Download 30th June 2011 (Europe)
A dreamy download
This week it's fairies, vampires and dreams on the European Nintendo Download, including the first outing of a famous and beloved mascot from the Big N. What games are you dreaming of downloading? 3DS Virtual Console: Kirby's Dream Land (Game Boy, UK: £3.60, EU: €4) — Kirby floats onto the 3DS with his first dreamy adventure,...
Kirby sucks once again
Although Kirby's Epic Yarn was a wonderful experience, there were a lot of diehard Kirby fans who we're a bit put off by its radically-different visual style and gameplay scheme. Now Nintendo is sending Kirby back to his roots and bringing back not only the familiar visual stylings fans have grown to love over the years, but...
April2011
News New Kirby Game Details Gathered, Now Absorb Them
A gang of Kirbies embark on their latest DS adventure
Since Nintendo announced the development of a new Kirby game at a conference it held last September, things have been rather quiet until now. As reported by 1UP, Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has detailed some initial game info on Atsumete! Kirby (roughly translated as Gather! Kirby.)
January2011
News Iwata Asks About 3D Gaming on the Famicom Disk System
Early 3D experiments under the microscope
Nintendo's history with 3D goes back years before the 3DS was ever announced: the GameCube was 3D-compatible with an LCD accessory, Satoru Iwata still has a 3D GameBoy Advance in his sock drawer and of course there was the much-maligned Virtual Boy. But the love affair goes back still further, as discussed...
September2010
News Nintendo of Japan Showcases Wii Line-up in New Video
Includes footage of (presumably) a new Rhythm Heaven game
As part of their recent conference, Nintendo of Japan's just released a video showcasing some hotly anticipated games in the upcoming Japanese Wii line-up. Everything from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to Super Mario Collection Special Pack and Mar
December2009
News Look out Europe! Picross 3D Coming to Swallow Up Your Time
3D chiseling goodness due on February 5th
Picross 3D was released all the way back in March for our Japanese friends. Since then Nintendo announced it for more Western shores during E3 in June, and then things went a bit quiet on the block-chiseling front. However, now Nintendo of Europe have piped up saying Picross 3D is now due for Europe on...
May2009
News Nintendo To Stop Taking Brawl User Content
No new stuff after June 30.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, a game absolutely packed with content, is about to lose a nice little feature soon. Over at the official Brawl site, this nugget has appeared: As of June 30th, 2009, the current service that accepts user-generated snapshots, stage designs, and replay data will no longer be available. Please note,...
