Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse is a video game released for the Wii U console. The game is a follow-up to the Nintendo DS game Kirby: Canvas Curse. Similar to its predecessor, the game is played using the touch screen on the Wii U GamePad controller. In Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse, players control Kirby as he navigates through various levels to rescue the Rainbow Curse placed upon Dream Land by an evil witch. The game utilizes a unique gameplay mechanic where players draw rainbow lines on the touch screen to guide Kirby through the levels. The vibrant and colorful visuals of Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse come to life on the Wii U, showcasing the console's graphical capabilities.
A version of the goal game appears, featuring eight rotating circles with which Kirby may collide. Each circle is labeled with a prize.
Tapping Kirby will cause him to perform a Tap Dash; however, dashing into an enemy in this game will not grant him a Copy Ability when hit, instead causing Kirby to rebound. The touch-only controls and the forced gamepad gameplay would have felt right at home with a 3DS title, and as such the game feels completely underwhelming and awkward as a console game.
The vibrant and colorful visuals of Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse come to life on the Wii U, showcasing the console's graphical capabilities. The game features beautifully rendered clay-like graphics, bringing a unique art style to the Kirby franchise. One of the standout features of the game is its cooperative multiplayer mode.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Nintendo Wii U)
Official GBAtemp Review
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is Nintendo's newest iteration of the Kirby series. Featuring touch controls and a clay-mation art style, it acts as a follow-up title to the Nintendo DS title Kirby: Canvas Curse.
Don't judge a book by it's cover.
I'd like to start out on a positive note, because I know by the end it'll seem like I'm the prime example of a Negative Nancy. This game's clay art style is gorgeous to a point. I really enjoyed the visuals of each level, the nice clay design of the returning Kirby enemies, Kirby's vehicle transformations and everything in between. Unfortunately, there's a rather large drawback.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is practically a game pad exclusive game; the entire control scheme is touch based, there are no other control options available. As such, you are required to play the entirety of the game while staring at the 480p gamepad screen, effectively taking what should be a "next generation" game that could have been enjoyed at it's 1080p glory and turning it into a disappointing last gen experience. Simply put, this game shouldn't have been a Wii U game. The best way I can compile my complaints in a single statement would be this: Kirby and the Rainbow Curse should not have been a Wii U game, period. The touch-only controls and the forced gamepad gameplay would have felt right at home with a 3DS title, and as such the game feels completely underwhelming and awkward as a console game.
There are a few things I must mention here as well that I can't vouch for, such as the multiplayer options or the Amiibo support, but I'll do my best to sum these up. Multiplayer mode supports up to 4 players who go through the game in local co-op, the gamepad player controlling Kirby and 3 Wiimote players who control Waddle Dees with weapons. The Amiibo support is rather limited, supporting only Meta Knight, who increases your dash speed and gives Kirby a Meta Knight mask to wear, the Kirby Amiibo that allows Kirby to use the super charge ability without collecting 100 stars, and the King Dedede Amiibo, offering Kirby increased health. These Amiibo power ups can only be used once a day, and on only one stage.
But at least it's fun, right?
Nope, not unless you're a part of the younger audience Nintendo has been consistently targeting with their recent games. The game itself was very easy and offered little in terms of difficulty, exploration, and even satisfaction in finishing a level. As with typical Kirby games, you're tasked with going through platformer-style levels while avoiding enemies and collecting stars that activate a super charge ability that allows Kirby to bash through metal blocks and large enemies. You'll find plenty of collectibles in each level, including treasure chests that contain figurines and occasionally unlockable music, puzzle pieces that will in turn unlock chests, and of course a Kirby game wouldn't be a Kirby game without various foods! Unfortunately, these collectibles are overwhelmingly easy to obtain and offer little in terms of substance to the game.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse also offers challenge levels, both that appear during each level and that are available in the main menu of the game. These challenge levels are, unfortunately, rather difficult to complete. Not because they're inherently hard or challenging as they should be, but because the imprecise nature of the controls turns simple "jump over the bumper!" obstacles into "Draw a line over the bumper, but oh if you don't angle the line correctly you're going to mess up and have to start over! Ha! Fun!". It appears each challenge room is simply a "complete the stage in 15 seconds", which after a while becomes repetitive and frustrating.
Speaking of repetitive, oh dear the boss battles. I'll have to admit, I haven't played too many Kirby games so at first I was simply appalled that the game rehashed boss battles. Chapter 1-3 had some standard Kirby bosses; Whispy, the trademark tree boss, the "Claykken", a kraken-styled boss that attacks with tentacles, and "Hooplagoon", a strange circular boss that shoots lasers and electric fields. All in all, the bosses were fairly easy, standard and offered no real difficulty. Chapter 4-6 also had some pretty standard Kirby bosses as well; Whispy, the trademark tree boss, the "Claykken", a kraken-styled boss that attacks with tentacles, and "Hooplagoon", a strange circular boss that shoots lasers and electric fields. Well gosh, that all sounds familiar doesn't it?
At least it's not all the same gameplay.
One thing I can say about Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is the gameplay is at least kind of varied sometimes. Without the old style classic Kirby Copy ability, Nintendo needed to think up of some new mechanics that go along with the touch gameplay. They borrowed a few of these mechanics from earlier Kirby games, such as Kirby vehicle transformations, and (as far as I know anyways, as I mentioned earlier I'm not too familiar with Kirby games) some new ones, such as a basket-scrolling levels that follow tracks, requiring you to draw new tracks to avoid enemies and acquire chests and stars.
The game isn't all bad. The first few chapters are. nice enough I guess, and the tank vehicle sequences are my absolute favorite part of the game, even if that only took up 3-4 minutes of the 6 hours of gameplay. Oh yeah, did I mention this game took me 6 hours to beat? Yeah, that's not very long. Granted, this is simply going through the story mode and trying out 4 or 5 of the optional challenges, but regardless that's still a pretty bad deal for $40 in my opinion. If this were a 3DS game, I might have forgiven some of it's glaring issues. If it were a 3DS game, the touch controls might have even been a plus instead of a minus. Hell, the game even feels like it was supposed to be a 3DS game in the first place, so why isn't it? I guess that's up to Nintendo to answer.
02 October 2020
Up to three additional players can join in the fun, controlling Waddle Dees who assist Kirby in his quest. This adds a new layer to the gameplay, allowing friends to collaborate and strategize to overcome challenges. Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse also offers a variety of collectibles and secret treasures to discover throughout the levels. These provide an incentive for players to explore every nook and cranny, adding replay value to the game. Critics praised Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse for its charming art style, creative gameplay mechanics, and multiplayer component. Many felt that the game offered a fresh take on the Kirby series and utilized the Wii U's capabilities effectively. In conclusion, Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse on the Wii U is a visually stunning and enjoyable platformer that offers a unique gameplay experience. With its cooperative multiplayer mode and vibrant art style, the game stands out among other titles on the console..
Reviews for "Kirb6 and the Rainbow Curse: A Charming Wii U Experience"
1. Jennifer - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed with "Kirb6 and the rainbkw curtse wii u". The gameplay was clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to control the character. The graphics were also lacking, with pixelated images and dull colors. Furthermore, the storyline was confusing and poorly developed, leaving me feeling unsatisfied. Overall, I would not recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a quality gaming experience.
2. John - 2/5 stars - "Kirb6 and the rainbkw curtse wii u" fell short of my expectations. The levels were repetitive and lacked creativity, making the game feel monotonous after a short while. Additionally, the character design was uninspiring and the special abilities felt generic. The difficulty level was also unbalanced, with certain sections being too easy and others seemingly impossible to beat. Overall, this game failed to deliver an enjoyable and immersive gaming experience.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - Although I had high hopes for "Kirb6 and the rainbkw curtse wii u", I found it to be underwhelming. The controls were clunky and frustrating, often leading to unnecessary deaths. The levels were also poorly designed, with confusing layouts and lackluster puzzles. Furthermore, the game lacked variety, with repetitive enemies and limited power-ups. Overall, "Kirb6 and the rainbkw curtse wii u" failed to captivate me and I would not recommend it to fans of the genre.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - I regret purchasing "Kirb6 and the rainbkw curtse wii u". The game felt outdated and unpolished, with numerous glitches and technical issues. The gameplay mechanics were poorly explained, leaving me feeling lost and frustrated. Additionally, the graphics were lackluster and the sound effects were repetitive and annoying. Overall, this game was a letdown and I would advise others to avoid it.