Kirby Canvas Curse- Review

(Nintendo DS; $34.99; Rated E; www.nintendo.com)

(four stars)

Kirby, the androgynous pink ball, has always been a little too pre-school for me. Good for the younger crowd, not so much for the hard-core gamers. So it was with great reservation that I reviewed “Canvas Curse.” With more stars, rainbows, and pink than the Barbie aisle at Toys R Us, I was preparing for the worst.

Much to my thanks, I was very, very wrong- this is a great game.

“Canvas Curse” is probably the first game for the Nintendo DS that actually shows us the true possibility in the DS’s quirky design for making a unique playing experience. Players control Kirby by using only the stylus- guiding him through a traditional 2-D platform adventure which involves fighting enemies, collecting coins, and challenging end-level bosses.

Though a platformer for Kirby is nothing new, it’s the interaction that makes this game fresh and fun. Players have “ink” with which to draw pathways to lead Kirby over enemies and up to hidden levels. The ink is limited, but recharges over time- meaning that a skilled player can guide Kirby over all danger, collect all extras, and get to the exit without ever touching the ground. The ink is also used to change Kirby’s direction, as well as provide shields and other barriers in between him and enemy projectiles.

If you’re more of an aggressive type of pink blob, you can face enemies head on by striking them with the stylus, and then running over them with Kirby. Some enemies have powers which Kirby can absorb, which become especially useful in the boss battles.

The action is fast and smooth, the soundtrack is good, and the stylus control is fun to play around with. Unlike so many of the games that have been released on the DS which feel like (or are) direct ports of older games, or ideas that feel rushed to production, “Canvas Curse” is the first game that shows audiences, both young and old, the uniqueness and originality of the DS hardware.