Kirby Planet Robobot Review

    Welcome to my review thread for Kirby Planet Robobot! I am currently 90% done with the game and I feel like I have gleaned enough info to properly convey my thoughts on the game. This review will include some spoilers for locations and game modes, but nothing major. I will also cover some of the new abilities and the basic story for those that may not the premise. All right, sit back and get ready to rumble!







    So Kirby is just chilling one day when ALIENS invade! This time it is not Magolor plummeting from the sky, but instead robotic invaders working for a mysterious company. King Dedede and Meta Knight fight back immediately. King Dedede has his castle ruined while Meta Knight’s Halberd is shot down. This leaves Kirby as the sole protector of peaceful Planet Popstar. Kirby’s rival this time is a mysterious invader named Susie, but could somebody else be behind this invasion? I find this story pretty fun. It reminds me of Return to Dreamland with the opening cutscene, but this time the invaders are much more hostile. All I can say is thank goodness no cake was harmed in the opening invasion or Kirby would have gone on a genocidal rampage and doomed the universe, again.




    The gameplay is standard Kirby for the most part, with the game following the same engine as Triple Deluxe. Kirby inhales enemies to gain Copy Abilities (classics like Sword, Cutter, and Beam are all here), but this time around we have a few added twists. The first twist is three new Copy Abilities: Doctor, Poison, and ESP.


 Doctor Kirby is a master physician and chucks pills at everything he sees. No wonder Kirby games are so happy, everyone is medicated!



Poison Kirby is a toxic mess. Kirby splashes waves or purple poison at his enemies and breathes toxic fumes. Kirby promotes pollution and is going to devastate the environment of Planet Popstar.



ESP Kirby, also known as Beast Mode Kirby, uses his mental powers to becomes invisible to dodge attacks in addition to using energy blasts. This is one of the most powerful of Kirby’s abilities in the entire series.

    

    The next twist is the addition Robobot Armor. Many levels include suits of armor that Kirby can pilot throughout the level. These armors can also absorb Copy Abilities and become instant death machines! For instance, if Kirby’s armor absorbs the Sword ability then the armor will transform into a dual-blade wielding suit of destruction capable of tearing through chains, obstacles, and enemies. If the armor absorbs the Bomb ability it gains the ability to launch walking bombs resembling bob-ombs that can move into areas too small for Kirby or the armor. These suits add strategy and mayhem to the classic Kirby formula.




    Kirby’s adventure this time includes collecting items called Code Cubes. These cubes unlock the EX levels in each world if you find them all in the standard stages. They also unlock the bosses in each world. Finding these Code Cubes can be somewhat tricky as the player must utilize the Copy Abilities in addition to the Robobot Armors if they want to find them all. In addition to the Code Cubes, Kirby can collect some awesome Stickers (Stickers + Popstar = STICKER STAR). These stickers come in two varieties, normal and rare. The rare stickers can be the hardest to find, even harder than the Code Cubes. Finding these Stickers is well worth it, however, as these Stickers contain references to past games. I recently found a rare Nightmare Wizard Sticker. All of these Stickers make me nostalgic and it is addicting to find them all. There are 200 Stickers and I am still looking for them. The best part is that these Stickers can be placed on the sides of the Robobot Armor so they have a customizable feeling to them. A Sticker can be placed on each side. Right now my armor has a Mr. Shine Sticker on one side and a Mr. Bright on the other side.



    

    I will not spoil some of the cooler and secret bosses, but I can say that the bosses do not disappoint. I really cannot say much more about Kirby’s normal bosses battles (mini-bosses like Bonkers and Sir Kibble return), but I had to include this section to talk about the Robobot battles. A few battles involve Kirby either fighting a giant Robobot or piloting a small Robobot. The battles where Kirby faces off against a towering Robobot feel grand in scale and are a welcome addition to the boss battle format. These bosses have various stages and it feels like an accomplishment to defeat them. The battles where Kirby pilots a Robobot feel like a side-scrolling shooter as Kirby must fire lasers and missiles in order to defeat his foes. The other bosses are new, but some old faces reappear for some nostalgic battles.
 



    The locations in this game feel like some of the most fresh and innovative worlds found in the series. Each world has a theme, but the stages are varied and feature unique mechanics. There are five main world, and a few that can be unlocked later. The five main world are:

Patched Plains- This world is a grassland, but is not your typical starting area as many mechanical aspects can be found such as pipes and trains. This is a refreshing first world and features more action than the first worlds in the other games.

Resolution Road- This is a very unique world set in a city. This world has traffic lights, buildings, and streets complete with Waddle Dees speeding in various cars. I failed to read the crossing signs and was promptly run over in my first visit to this world. I am now paranoid of Waddle Dee hit and runs. This world also includes an awesome segment inside of a casino! Kirby also promotes gambling, by the way. Pollution, gambling, home invasion, forest fires, and hit and runs. Goodness, Kirby is a monster.

Overload Ocean- This area is a port filled with boats and freight containers. This water world features underwater segments and mechanical sharks! As if we did not have enough to be horrified by in Kirby games. This world has one of my favorite stages set inside of an ice cream factory where giant cones of ice cream can fall on Kirby. An underwater city can also be found here and I think it is one of the most beautiful sights in the game.

Gigabyte Grounds- Oh no, a desert world! Some of you know I hate desert worlds, but somehow Kirby always makes them fun! This desert world has a GIANT BLENDER in the background. Sand-filled pits and giant pyramids fill this world along with a factory. This world is heavily mechanical with pipes protruding from the sand.

Rhythm Route- This is the final standard world and is set in a city at night. Neon lights adorn the streets and those drunken Waddle Dee drivers return for more mayhem. The casino also returns along with the train seen previously. This world is a mix of previous elements and blends them perfectly. One stage involves Kirby getting into a Robobot Armor with the Wheel ability. This allows him to mow down all the other drivers in the level as the player can speed along the whole level. It is one of the most exciting levels and is very fast-paced. The whole world is one of my favorites as each stage has personality and is brightly lit.



    

    The music is what you would expect from a Kirby game. Remixes of old favorites, such as Factory Investigation, appear. I love the remix of Dedede’s theme which plays during some portions of various stages. A jukebox can be unlocked at the end that allows you to jam out with Kirby to your leisure. Not much more to say here, Kirby is always rocking and the music is exactly what you want from a Kirby game. I will say that the music is catchy and actually matched the stage themes and sets a good mood.



    

    This is always my favorite part of Kirby games. I always look forward to the various modes that come along with the main story. Here we have returning modes such as Arena and True Arena. These modes always appear and involve facing a gauntlet of bosses. ESP Kirby now makes this easier. True Arena features the harder bosses and can be unlocked by beating Arena mode once. The unique modes include:

Meta Knightmare Returns- This is a shortened version of the main story mode but you control Meta Knight. The bosses are harder and some unique bosses appear in this mode. One thing I love is that after each world you get your final time so you can always try to improve. Also, during the breaks between each of the worlds the ending theme from Revenge of Meta Knight plays. Remember, that theme that plays in Superstar when Kirby takes down the Halberd as brave Sailor Dee stays on the ship with his captain as the sun sets over Orange Ocean while the Halberd plunges into the waves? This theme is one of my absolute favorites and I felt so nostalgic while listening to it in this mode.

Kirby 3D Rumble- Honestly, this mode is the most underwhelming of them all. You get three stages to rack up a high score by defeating your enemies. You can chain together some combos for an even larger score. It is basically waves of enemies attacking and you run around a 3D environment and defeat them all. The stages could have used some more variety and the bosses are nice, but nothing special. I think HAL is experimenting with this mode and we may get something great from it later on, but for now it is my least favorite.

Team Kirby Clash- Now this is an awesome mode! RPG fans rejoice as Kirby gains some RPG elements to tackle his foes. This mode consists of five quests and an EX quest. Each quest consist of a boss that the team must defeat. You can play with friends or have NPC partners. Medals are earned based on your performance. A team can consist of four classes: Sword Hero, Hammer Lord, Dr. Healmore, and Beam Mage. Mages have range, Sword and Hammer focus on strength and the Dr. can heal the team. Building a balanced team is key to a high score. I love experimenting with teams and the bosses in each quest are very nostalgic. Kirby can level up and his stats increase each time. The max level is 10. The mode is short, but addicting.




    If you loves Triple Deluxe, then you will adore this game. In fact, I would go as far to say that this is the best Kirby game since the SNES and Gameboy games. This is already one of my favorite Kirby games and is an absolute must have for fans of the series. I would put it in my top 3 easily. It has everything I look for in a Kirby game; style, humor, cuteness, addicting gameplay, catchy music. If you have a 3DS and are looking for a game to pass the time, I cannot suggest this game enough. This makes a perfect game for new fans and hardcore fans of the series.