Massive sandbox style games have become progressively more and more common. We have ones set in the old west, fantasy lands, inner cities, and probably just about anywhere else. This game style leads to some problems, such as getting absorbed in the free exploration to the point that the story is lost or forgotten. Kirby’s Epic Yarn doesn’t worry about these issues as the gameplay harkens back to a classic game style of 2D platforming.

The first thing that stands out with the game is the art style. All the textures, backgrounds, and even characters are made of fabric. This is one of those times when just by looking at something in a game I can envision exactly how everything feels. Besides weather related scenes in games, I’m not sure I’ve ever really been compelled to think of any tactile response just from visuals. This style of background also lends itself well to being a 2D platformer. Now in fairness, the game is not completely 2D as there are times that you can go behind bits of fabric so it’s more like you are playing on a true fabric map. This kind of 3D aspect lends well to the idea this fabric world is real. Kirby is interacting with fabrics as if he really did move behind it or something causes a ripple in the fabric.

The story mainly unfolds at the beginning and between levels. It’s not really a complex story as all there is to it is the idea that Kirby has been pulled into a yarn world and is trying to get back. Taking a page from Yoshi’s Story the game is presented in a storybook fashion. During the cutscenes that movie the story along there is actually a narrator. The guy they got to do this is one of those guys you envision reading to kids. Any character he reads for he gives a different voice and the entire time he talks with a very soothing tone. Compared to Yoshi’s Story the narrator really adds that extra touch to the storybook theme.

Now the gameplay is fun and easy. This really does play out like an old school platformer. You can pickup the controls in no time. Because of this the first level being a tutorial on how to move around was pretty insulting to older gamers. Later levels when the controls would come up made sense however as these were specialized control schemes. Another part that makes the game way too easy is the inability to die. If you fall down a hole or are attacked you can lose the gems you collected but that’s all you’ll lose. This does tie into the replay value though as each level has three hidden items to find and based on the number of jewels you collect there are medals awarded.

The replay value of this game relies on the idea that you did not take the time to collect everything. The further into the game you get the harder this actually is. On top of this there are five types of mini-games to play through that count toward the 100%. This ranges from 13 to like 20 levels per type. The racing mini-game was my favourite but by far the easiest. The other opportunity for replay value is in the two player mode. It is far more likely you went through this in one player so playing again with a friend might be some fun. I say might because it may be frustrating for some people.

The more mature gamer is probably going to be put off by the childish graphics. If the case is that the graphics keep you from playing a game then you either are probably not good at platformers or you’re not secure with yourself. Just get over that attitude though because this game is divine and one that you can come back to just for a good time.

– Jasmine, founder of Super Happy Sparkle Onigiri Brigade.

During the last two generations of consoles there have been many articles that made a big deal out of Nintendo’s focus on family friendly games. The main claim was that Nintendo was alienating hardcore gamers by pandering to casual gamers. Now when these articles were written I took immediate offense as a fangirl, but then I thought about it and I’m not sure they are wrong but at the same time not right.

Instead of saying that Nintendo panders to casual gamers, I’d instead like to point out that Nintendo never really focused on hardcore gamers. Thinking about the original Nintendo Entertainment System, the games were so simple you really had nothing more than casual games. Very few games could save and others simply implemented a password system. These games were rare to Nintendo and therefore really only left room for games that could be picked up and just as easily put down.

Next was the Game Boy. I’ll basically say that the portable systems are just that. They are made to go with you and not really meant for the hardcore games. Yes, some of the games, such as the RPGs can be time consuming and somewhat addictive, but I still wouldn’t consider them hardcore.

Now I could go on through every Nintendo console but instead let’s just look at their franchises. We have Pokémon and Mario which are clearly cartoony from day one and geared toward younger audiences. Now it’s not to say that there aren’t any hardcore franchises because of course they have Metroid. This especially became “hardcore” on the GameCube when it went from side-scroller to first- person shooter. There is also Legend of Zelda but they seem to bounce between being for children and more recently teenagers. These games are of course not for the casual gamer but at the same time they aren’t impossible for an average gamer.

Now where I think most hardcore games are coming from are actually third parties. Think GoldenEye, which was Rare, or Resident Evil, from Capcom. Yet since the other systems have become more and more prevalent, third-party support seems to have fallen at the wayside. Well, maybe not fallen at the wayside, but taken a cue from the current interests and also focused on family friendly casual games. Now there have been recent attempts to port some hardcore games to the Wii from the other consoles but this is difficult. The Wii’s control scheme is completely different from other systems. So this makes it expensive for companies to port hardcore games and instead they focus on the safe games such as the gimmicky mini-game filled ones that currently make up much of the Wii’s library.

I don’t actually mind casual games. The idea of having time for long games and work and social life seems a bit much. However if you want to complain about Nintendo’s lack of hardcore games maybe we should direct it at the third party companies that seem to have abandoned the company.

– Jasmine, founder of Super Happy Sparkle Onigiri Brigade.