Kirby’s Adventure may not have been the first Kirby game in Nintendo’s long running franchise of largely successful games but it is a cornerstone of the series. Kirby’s Adventure is one of the key games in the NES library. It mixes platforming as well as some other elements such as action. Unlike other games where it is all laid out for you immediately Kirby’s Adventure is different in the sense that you more or less choose the way you want to play. All in all Kirby’s Adventure is a classic.

Kirby was a late NES game. This might explain why the game still looks beautiful today. By the time this game was released programmers knew how to make their games look good and this is a full example of that. Kirby’s sprite is bright and vivid, as well as the backgrounds actually look like they are back there, and there is actually something back there. I appreciate that because in many games of that time backgrounds were typically overlooked and there was just blue sky. This is not the case in Kirby as you have a space background, a grass background, as well as many others. The game looks great. Enemies have the same level of detail as Kirby and so do the environments. There are sandy pyramids, forest like jungles, and weird creative wonderlands. When the foreground and background meet in this game it is something of awe. I love how this game looks and would go as far to say the best looking game on the NES by far.

But does the game control as good as it looks? More importantly is what you are controlling worth doing so? I have to answer a big yes on both of those. Unlike most NES games this game does not have that tight feeling that feels like it is constricting movements pixel by pixel. With Kirby you feel like you have complete control as well as he has a floatsy feeling. This makes sense as you can fly with Kirby by simply holding down the up button. This and eating monsters for powers is one of the key staples of the franchise that was introduced in this game. Eating monsters is easily one of the best parts about this game as a whole. This gives you a lot of freedom to play it more or less your own way. If you want to turn the game into a side scrolling shooter you can go right ahead and do so. If you want to play it without any of the sucking up or things of that nature then you have that option as well. If you do this you will be missing out on a main point of the game. Really the game wants you to enjoy yourself and that is what this offers you. Oh and you can go left. This may not seem like a big deal but this opens up a lot more opportunities. That you would not have had if you were stuck going right. Many times I will go back to get to a secret area or to grab a power that I know is back there or something of that sort. And I must say that it really increases the game play as you can go all over the place as you please.

The game is flat out addictive. This is the last game that I have played in a while that I actually had fun playing. Don’t get me wrong I play games for fun but this one seems to stand out to me. I think this has to do with the fact that levels are fast. You could finish some of the levels in the first world in about 30 seconds, not speed running. This means that you can get through worlds pretty fast but the game still feels like it has quite a lot of meat on the bone. I think that this is partly due to the fact that the game has a nice little hub menu. This is where you choose levels as well as play fun little mini games for extra lives or to heal. There is also some spots that give you different powers pretty much for free. These keep the game feeling a little more modern as you can play it at your pace. Also if you liked a level a lot you can go ahead and play it again. The fun factor still keeps me coming back and I have already beaten the game a few times.

This game is also really deep yet really simple. By this I mean you may thing that just because the game has a few monsters that you can suck up that it is going to be shallow but that is not the case. Play style is everything in this game. So much so that going back through with a weird power through some levels will make it feel like an entirely different stage, or in some rare cases a different game. With all of the powers to choose from you will never be at a loss of what you want. The other fun thing that increases this games depth is multiple paths. This is not a huge deal as it does not affect the next level but it is still fun to see a door that is below you find a way to get there and snatch a 1-UP. It is a very satisfying feeling.

The game sounds absolutely fantastic. This is some of the best 8 bit music that I have ever heard. The thing is that it barley sounds 8 bit it sounds almost better. These songs are still in many of the Kirby games today and I can see why. They are just happy melodies that only a scrooge would not enjoy. The dyeing theme is worth hearing though you will actually rarely die. The other great part is the music during the dancing Kirby’s theme. You will fall in love with each of the tunes that play during each level and not once will you want to shut the music off or even turn it down. I can not come up with a better example of how good music can fit with a game besides this game. The game is floatsy fun and so is the music. It just makes sense, it is like a heavy metal band playing heavy metal, and if they didn’t then they would suck as a band. You the music that is played in this game, I guarantee you that.

The one thing that I would normally bash about these kinds of games is if it is too easy. That is strange because I actually do not have a problem with the difficulty of this game. I love the fact that it is so easy to pick up and play. It all just makes sense. The fun music, fun game play, fun to pick up and play, it could not be any other way. The game being really easy adds to the game so much, because if it was hard it just would not make sense. I would not like it because it would be this friendly game on all fronts that is beating me up for having fun. This game wants you to have fun and the difficulty shows it.

Well believe it or not but this is my first perfect score for a game. I do not give this out often but the game is just too fun not to play. I have no problems with the game on any fronts and honestly it is as close to perfect as you can get.

Graphics: 10 - This game is looking great still even after the many years after it’s release. One of the few games that really showed what the ageing hardware, the NES, could do. This game puts other NES games that were made at the same time to shame.

Sound: 10 - The game sounds like it looks and plays: full of fun and full of life. One of the best soundtracks I have ever heard and it fits the game well. Easily the best music I have heard on the NES.

Addictiveness: 10 – With so much to do and so much fun to be had you will be playing this one for years. Not because you can not beat it but more because it is so much fun.

Depth: 10 – The game may seem like a normal platformer from a glance but I assure you that it is not. It is a definitive title in the NES library that has a lot more up its sleeve then it is willing to show.

Difficulty: 10 – The difficulty is just right. Yet the game is easy. Yet it could not fit this type of game any better. I enjoy the game difficulty and humbly accept the few cases I die because I was having too much fun and lost track of my goal. Perfect.

Overall: 10 – Best NES platformer I have ever played. I know that many will say that Super Mario Bros 3 is better but I disagree this is the best I have played on the system and I love every aspect of it. The game could not be any better in any way. This is not an easy score to get from me.

This game is so awesome.  I love playing it and I would play it all the time.  Nice review.

Agreed. For those who still have their NES, this game has to be in the collection. It is amazing, and I can play it over and over again. 

billythekidmonster : very thorough review. Good work.

I loved this game as a kid, I had the originals on gameboy, but this one revolutionized the franchise. So I had to go and buy just about every other Kirby game that proceeded. Nice review. What stands out in my memory about this game is the mini-games for the Draw and the Egg Catching in the boxing ring.

Also, the closing segments of the review for the ratings adds well to the already descriptive and extensive aspect. Keep 'em coming =D, I don't see why you shouldn't be writing staff reviews for the site.

rcarter2 : Thank you very much. I try to go as in detail as possible. That is the way I like to read reviews so I know what the game is all about.

Marcmoney : Thanks! I try to make my reviews the best that they can be.

Haven't you been submitting your reviews for a position? I agree with tRIUNE. This is staff worthy. 

rcarter2 : Yes I have. Either the upper ups believe that there are enough reviewers or they do not think this is staff worthy. Either way they can choose what they want.

tRIUNE : Thanks for giving me pointers to make my reviews better and thanks for the compliments!