Kirby Star Allies

Kirby Star Allies is a 2018 action-platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the twelfth mainline installment in the Kirby series; the player controls Kirby in his quest to prevent a priest named Hyness from reviving a dark force to destroy the universe. Kirby must complete each level by jumping, inhaling enemies, and using his array of abilities to progress. Development of the game began during the 25th anniversary of the Kirby series. The developers later added additional content for the game for the sake of adding more references from past games in the franchise.

The game also features more emphasis on higher definition graphics by making the screen more spread out. On the Jambandra space station far away from Kirby’s home Planet Popstar, a dark crystal heart explodes due to an imperfection in a mysterious ritual, sending its numerous fragments, Jamba Hearts, hurtling into deep space. Many characters, including King Dedede and Meta Knight, are possessed while investigating the dark hearts that land on Popstar. A pink heart hits Kirby, but it instead gives him the ability to befriend enemies by throwing hearts.

Kirby notices many Waddle Dees bringing food to Castle Dedede and decides to investigate. After Kirby defeats Meta Knight and King Dedede and frees them from the Jamba Heart’s influence, a large fortress known as the Jambastion lands on Popstar. After defeating the Three Mage-Sisters, a trio composed of Francisca, Flamberge, and Zan Partizanne, Kirby and his friends fly to the far reaches of space. Kirby Star Allies is a 2.5D platform game played from a side-on perspective. Players control the series’ titular protagonist Kirby, who can be accompanied by up to three companions. 

Kirby can throw hearts at enemies to turn them into allies. The game can be played alone with the game’s AI controlling companions or cooperatively with other players controlling companions. When Kirby has companions, new special attacks become available which allow Kirby to combine his abilities with those of his allies’, a feature not seen since Kirby: Squeak Squad. The elemental fusions last for as long as the power is held or until a new element is introduced over it, while some of the combinations are single-use moves that bear more of a resemblance to the combinations found in Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

When Kirby has three allies, they can perform “Friend Actions” on specific stages, like “Friend Train” and “Friend Star.” Scattered throughout each level are stars which can grant Kirby an extra life if 100 are collected. Doors act as checkpoints where Kirby can respawn if he loses a life. The game also introduces the “Dream Friend” system, which allows the player to call upon characters from past Kirby games as special allies with expanded movesets. Bandana Waddle Dee, King Dedede, and Meta Knight can all be unlocked as Dream Friends through progression in Story Mode. Additional Dream Friends have been added via software updates.