Kirby's Dream Land 2
Reviewed by Diane Cote
Kirby's games have gotten better and better over the years. This latest Game
Boy diversion is among the most solid platform adventures ever released for
the portable. It features crisp graphics, melodic tunes and a "can't stop" playability
that's just perfect for traveling. The cart also comes packed with a built-in
storage battery, so picking up where you last left off isn't an issue. Filled
with busy little enemy critters, special power-ups and bonus levels galore
Kirby's Dream Land 2 is a heck of a solid investment.
Cute N' Cuddly
In case you needed to be refreshed on video games basics #253: Kirby is a fat,
pink marshmallow shaped protagonist who can eat more than your football
playing teen aged brother. Needless to say, the dude is cute.
Kirby's environments are also cute. Everything looks soft and kid-friendly. Never
mind that stinking bad guys into his big gaping hole might be one of the most
frightening images an adult could ever conceive of. For kids, and adult game
players who know better, this animation is profoundly effective no muss, no fuss.
Well, in Kirby's Dream Land 2, the Kirbster gets to suck it back on a number of
different and relatively complex levels. Of all the Kirby games I've played, this one
definitely offered up the most challenges and the most diverse locations.
Each of the seven islands that Kirby visits is loaded with separate and distinct
stages. You'll travel in the air, under water, in the snow , over canyons and into an
evil castle. You'll encounter all kinds of baddies. Some of them will be easily
dispatched by a quick swallow, others will make you stand and fight like a macho
pillow, and still others will cough up a special ability.
The power-ups in this game are something to get excited about. With the right
weapons, Kirby becomes a true menace to bad guy society. He can gain the use of
a boomerang cutter, or have the ability to shoot fireballs, or my favorite, turn bad
guys into ice cubes - perfect for throwing into your mid afternoon Kool-Aid, eh,
Kirb? Thirsty, guy?
Lullabies
The tunes in Kirby's Dream Land 2 are sweet enough to make Mother Goose gag. Bouncy,
light and tamer than a kitten at milk time is how I'd describe these little melodies.
The sound effects tag right along on the cute ride. The only thing that might bug you
is the tinny speaker on the Game Boy, which makes all of the higher pitched effects
sound even more irritating than they already are. I wouldn't worry though, as long
as you don't play your Game Boy with headphones plugged in (are you a masochist?),
you should have no problems with the audioscape of
Dreamland 2.
Like You Couldn't Figure That Out
Guess what? Kirby's Dreamland 2 is exceedingly easy to play. But, it's also quite
long and it gets progressively more difficult as you work your way through.
The controls are simple. You have one button to jump, one to consume and by
pressing up on the direction pad, you puff up like a balloon and float for a while.
The controls change a little bit if you scoop a power-up or if you hitch a ride with
one of your three animal buddies (Rick the Hamster, Kine the Fish and Coo the Owl -
I swear I'm not making this up) but for the most part this game handles as smooth
as melted butter.
Get The Card Out
Kirby's Dream Land 2 is a must buy Game Boy title. It's got plenty of stuff to do and
see and the game continually surprises you with its inventiveness. The coders and
artists behind this game have been working on the Kirb for years, and of all the good
Kirby games I've played, this one takes second place right behind Kirby's Pinball Land.
I even enjoyed it more than Kirby's Super Star for the Super NES. What can I say?
Some of that Miyamoto magic has rubbed off on this cart.
I'm giving Kirby's Dream Land 2 9.5 out of 10