Kirby: Canvas Curse - Level 4 - 1st Play

A pink ball rolls its way through a platforming dreamland guided by the rainbow lines drawn by your magic paintbrush. Drawing, poking, transforming and swirling are what are required to defeat the evil witch. Only on Nintendo … Only on the DS.

While on a “nice little stroll” in dreamland, an evil witch appears and turns dreamland into a painting. Kirby gives chase and the witch turns our hero into a ball. The witch’s magic paintbrush comes loose and is somehow transported to me (or you if you so choose). With the brush I can draw rainbow lines that guide Kirby through the transformed dreamland in a quest to reverse the witch’s curse.

Consistent with a lot of the DS offerings, Kirby: Canvas Curse is not a title one plays for its story. Kirby is all about gameplay. Using only your stylus, you guide the kirball through two-dimensional platform, star, and obstacle infested worlds by drawing lines (similar to drawing clouds in Yoshi Touch & Go) that Kirby “sticks” to and follows. If you see a platform up ahead that you want Kirby to roll up to, draw a ramp in his path for him to follow. If you want Kirby to collect a circle of stars to try and get a 1up, draw a circle path for Kirby to follow and watch the loop da loop kirbcoaster go. Oh no, Kirby is rolling the wrong way! Quick, draw a wall and watch him bounce and change direction. As you try to complete each level, you navigate an ever-changing landscape collecting stars and other treasures along the way in a fun, creative, and entirely unique way.

In addition to navigating each level in all their platforming glory, you will face numerous “living” obstacles as well. When there’s a critter in Kirby’s way, touch it to stun it and then guide Kirby to roll it over and take it out. Sometimes you’ll see creatures with special abilities that in classic Kirby fashion you can absorb and use. These abilities are really excellent and add some very fun twists to exploring and completing levels.

Regarding levels, there are 7 different levels each consisting of three different stages in the main game. After completing the first two stages of a level there is long jump mini-game where you work to build up as much Kirby speed as possible and draw a ramp to launch Kirby as far as possible. After completing the third stage of a level you face off against one of three bosses. The boss battles are unique in that they employ different gameplay mechanics in a mini-game like way. One shortcoming of the title is that there are only three different bosses so far. After defeating a boss once, their difficulty increases a level if you choose to fight that boss again.

The sound and visuals of the game are equally impressive. Visually the game utilizes the painting theme of the story brilliantly. Each level has a unique painting-like quality presented with highly stylized and unique designs. My favorite level visually is Level 3 Stage 3 Silver Submarine. It is the most unique and strange level I have seen so far. The sounds are some of the best on the DS yet, with bright and appropriate music and effects that though not exactly memorable or defining, complement the gameplay well. Turn on the surround sound option in the options and put on some headphones to add to the sensory experience of the game.

Up to this point Kirby: Canvas Curse has been a great gaming experience. Though I am moving through the game pretty quickly so far, it seems to pack a fair amount of replayability that I look forward to exploring further in a future Play Rating. This game oozes a style that is experientially fun and engaging. One thing I find incredibly impressive is how well the designers took a simple concept and story and crafted so many complex and intriguing ways to be immersed in it through gameplay. The theme of simple vs. complex in games has been a hot topic on The Game Chair and in the gaming community as a whole. Kirby: Canvas Curse is a fantastic example of a game that on the surface is simple and cute; however is hardcore in the creative abilities and challenges it offers to the gamer. This game, next to Electroplankton, is one of the most exciting titles yet for me on the DS. I look forward to elaborating on my future play experiences in the Play Ratings to follow.