Creative freedom has become an essential element of game design. Without it players are left following the path developer have set, and where is the fun in that? Worry not however; Kirby: Canvas Curse allows players to express themselves in ways you probably wouldn't expect. Forget roads and pathways - this time you'll be drawing your own routes of Technicolor paint with use of your stylus, with the help of a little creative thinking, of course.
In a strange turn of events, Kirby has been transformed into a ball and whisked into a new realm controlled by the villainess Drawcia. To gain control over matters, you can tap Kirby to give him some momentum. To unbind him from the earth, you can create paths of rainbow paint, which Kirby will roll along. Want to send Kirby flying? Draw a loop-de-loop and send the pink puff off in a rush of speed. Want to protect him from enemy projectiles? Draw a barrier and increase your life expectancy. There are a number of different drawing techniques you will need to master before it's all said and done, so don't expect this outing to be an easy one.
As usual, Kirby has the unique ability to steal his adversary's powers. This time it is accomplished by stunning your enemy by tapping it with your stylus, and simply sending Kirby on a collision course. Once a power is in tow, you can activate it by tapping Kirby. In addition to the usual fare there are some new abilities to be found, not to mention that returning powers will often have new twists. In previous games, these powers were often just for variance in defeating enemies, but in Canvas Curse they seem to be useful more so when navigating levels. A welcome change which adds a heavier emphasis on strategy rather than button mashing.
The main quest of Canvas Curse is split into several worlds, each containing three levels. Hidden within each level is a set of red coins, which can be spent on unlockable content. If you get bored of the main game you can turn to Rainbow Run mode, which sends you back to previously traveled ground in a new light, challenging you to finish with limited time or restricted paint consumption. The better your score, the more red coins you acquire. Once you have a decent cache of cash, you can empty your wallet on new levels, characters, music, and more. Bottom line: you won't have much opportunity to get bored here, Canvas Curse is packed to the gills with value.
The game is presented extremely well with a stylish look. Level backgrounds are varied, and often have a 'pencil and crayon' hand-drawn appearance. Character sprites are plump, colorful, and animate well. It's a big improvement over previous games and seems to take full advantage of the power of the DS platform. Some might argue that it aught to have been created on a 3D engine, running on a '2.5D' plain. However, considering the method of play and the amount of detail they were able to put into it as is, it's hard to imagine it any other way.
Another plus for this game is a superb soundtrack. As with most Kirby games, Canvas Curse borrows tunes from the library of tracks found from earlier games. Still, the remixes are excellent and have a unique and recognizable sound to them. Very seldom does a remake beat out the original, but most of these rethought tracks sound superior to their original iterations. The quality of the audio is also great, so feel free to grab your headphones. Canvas Curse is a treat for the ears as well as the eyes.
It's difficult to complain about a game this good. Everything is laid out in a near perfect package. If one was to nitpick, it could be argued that the touch screen exclusive controls can be frustrating at times. You don't get direct control over Kirby, so there's definitely a learning curve to navigating the environments. There is also a limit to your paint, and refilling will require you contacting solid ground. At times this can create tense situations. Added difficulty will be hit and miss depending on who you are. If you want a more challenging Kirby adventure, this is most certainly the one for you. Otherwise, you might be overwhelmed by some of the situations you find yourself in.
Conclusion
Kirby Canvas Curse is a game you will not want to miss. It was built from the ground up for the DS, and it shows. Everything takes full advantage of the hardware, and you will never feel like you've been short-changed. It is unconventional for a Kirby title but it's presented in such a fantastic way that even the most cold hearted gamers will be forced to smile as they watch Kirby cruise along rainbow colored paint trails. If you want to express your creativity, look no further.
Comments 18
I'd give it an 86% or even 9/10, mainly because of the gameplay. Its called "power paintbrush" in the UK.
I remember getting this not long as the DS Phat launch. Great little game, it had me hooked for ages. Nice review Brody.
I loved this game initially but the game play became repetitive and tedious eventually and I stopped caring... shame really as it looks so nice and plays in a unique way. I'm very much on my own with this opinion though!
I enjoyed the game when it was first released, but I haven't touched it in ages. Maybe I need to drag it out and give it another play sometime. I wonder why there hasn't been a sequel?
There is a hacked version of Super Mario Bros. 3 using this same style
This and Meteos made for me turning from 'One day this system might be good I guess' to 'Oh good god I love my DS', and they came out right near eachother, it was fantastic.
The only thing I didn't like was the lack of boss battles. There's only one. Aside from that I really like this game.
@flatspikes: you're not alone... i played this game for a little while and then decided i couldn't stand it. it was boring.
this game is a 9.5 for me. Perfectly uses new DS gameplay possibilities, level design is spectacular and varied, soundtrack kicks ass, main quest is quite challenging, and replay value is amazing because the extra challenge modes focusing on paint usage and time are even more fun than the standard adventure mode. The minimal ink usgae one was my favorite; lots of strategy. Then there are the minigames which are fun too. I loved going back and forth between line drawing and tapping to stun enemies or make kirby hop or use his current power. The thing I would've added was a "download play" 2 player mode in which you could compete in the minimal ink or fastest time challenge stages (but not be able to tap eachother to stun, that would be too annoying and break it). The game took Yoshi Touch n Go, and one upped it in every way
Great game. I miss it a lot. I plan to re-buy it when I see it at a more reasonable price here in Canada.
I thought it was okay. I found it interesting that a friend of mine who is a huge Kirby series fan did not care for it.
BUY THIS GAME!!!! Don't even think about it! Just go and get it!
I cannot think of a single other game that uses the touch screen so brilliantly and . . .
. . . could ONLY--absolutely only--happen on the DS. There is NOTHING remotely like it. Canvas Curse is such a work of seamless genius that the unique, innovative design becomes a thing of second nature quickly yet the novelty never wears off. And to anyone with a few hundred games under his belt, CC is both familiar in every good way with a completely legitimate freshness; button-free platforming.
And the only reason there aren't more developers getting this creative and entirely successful with the touch screen in a game with classic gameplay and level design values is because CC did not remotely sell as it deserved. As mentioned, it's a must for the DS, and especially the jaded gamers.
I was truly upset that after all these years nobody has really made such an awesome game--impossible to transplant--of this caliber on the DS. And I know why: people mostly just wanted more of the same, even on a console with as much creative potential on the DS. So now it's me, my DS . . . Canvas Curse . . . in the mountains. PTHHHH!
9.5/10
I will have to pick this one up soon!
Ya U WILL IT RULEs
Awesome game, but I sold it long ago..
completely agree with outrunner.
....and indigo and violet!
I will play this game someday!
Tap here to load 18 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...