Kirby: Planet Robobot (Nintendo 3DS) Review

The short answer is: yes. It really is amazing how fresh everything feels, despite so many Kirby games being released over the years. The core element of being able to absorb enemy powers to use against them or manipulate the surroundings is ever-present, complete with a few new abilities for good measure (Dr. Kirby throwing tablets around is quite a novel inclusion, for instance). This time, though, the reach has been extended to mech-like robot suits, with Kirby able to leap into a large mechanical shell and take a selection of foe's strengths to the extreme.

That is not all, either, since there are all sorts of other intriguing elements mixed in to ramp up the quality levels higher than ever before. There are multiple planes of view, with Kirby switching from the foreground to background via warp stars, plenty of cleverly hidden objects around the various stages, some automatically scrolling levels, areas where a mini-robot needs to be controlled in a different plane to that of Kirby (with it mimicking whatever Kirby does), and even a brilliant shmup effort where Kirby can be piloted around, blasting away at oncoming beasties.

Everything is so bright, colourful, wonderfully scored, and extremely inventive. The formula for Kirby titles has been tweaked and polished over the years and Kirby: Planet Robobot benefits considerably from this expertise in development. Even the difficulty level has been upped - not to the point where it will alienate its usually younger audience, but enough to mean that there is far more of a challenge for veterans this time round. On top of this, to add to the longevity stakes, there are lots of special stickers to discover, which can be placed on the mech suits, as well as Code Cubes that must be sought out in order to progress deeper into the world. Throw in some in-depth extras that unlock later on, as well as a skirmish option available from the start for those wanting a break from the standard action, and even a local multiplayer quest-based mode for added spice, and this little bad boy will be draining 3DS batteries for months to come.