Kirby Air Ride
- October 14, 2003 00:00 AM PST
Kirby is disturbingly cute, but his GameCube racing title shows some sophisticated innovation.
Kirby has always been one of Nintendo�s best-loved and strangest mascots, and now he�s on GameCube in his own twist on Mario Kart. It�s no killer app, but HAL�s pink puffer has a few racing tricks up his, erm, complete lack of sleeves.
He�s a Circle With Feet
Kirby Air Ride is based on a simple premise: Provide a straightforward racing game that requires new skills so that everyone starts out on the same page. Air Ride not only compresses the control list all onto a single button, but it also introduces new concepts like gliding, boost-charging, and slurping enemies for power-ups. If the game�s Kirbyness doesn�t charm you, the new gameplay probably will, with its huge list of things to unlock and its array of �machines�, each with vastly different rules for handling and speed. A disturbingly GTA-inspired �City Trial� mode, in which you drive around a city powering up your machine before being drawn into a randomly arranged showdown against three rivals, makes for a fun departure from the typical race-around-the-track doldrums.
While the innovation in the title is refreshing, Kirby�s look and sound aren�t as impressive. The music is the same kiddy set of fanfares you�d expect after Super Smash Bros., and the visuals resemble some of the N64�s finest work in that system�s prime. The simple and colorful look works for Kirby in particular, but a little more detail couldn�t have hurt overall.
Just a Big Cream Puff
Kirby has always twisted genre expectations a bit, and Air Ride is no exception, but you won�t want to buy it unless you�re looking for a harmless marshmallow fluff of a racing game with a few endearing quirks.
Like this story? You may also enjoy these articles.
Comments [1]
-
- 1
-
- Aug 09 2008 at 07:31:25:PM PST
-
This is the greatest racing game ever made. You gave it a good rating, though, and that's good enough for me. I loved copying the powers and riding all the different stars and wheelies. I was so happy when the legendary machine Dragoon was made an item in Brawl. It seems that Mario Kart Wii evolved from this game.
- Vote:
- Down
- Up
- +0
- report user
-
- 1
