In single player mode, as in past games, you control Kirby. However, this time you're not playing alone. 3 other AI Kirbys (who can at times range from bafflingly stupid to downright essential) will be adventuring along with you. They won’t always be in the same area – they’re off on their own escapades. However, a small display on the top of the screen will show you their status and power-ups – handy if you need to call them in for backup or to bypass a power-specific obstacle. It can make tackling the bosses less painful, too. The mobile phone usage is limited to how much battery is left charged so you can't use this whenever you want. Instead of being a linear progression through levels like previous titles, Kirby: The Magic Mirror plays like a humongous maze. When you start the game you'll be in a room that has a mirror. When you complete levels more mirrors will appear in the first room, making it a level selector. You can go to the room of mirrors at any time by pressing L to call a shooting star to fly you there. These levels are all intertwined like say a Metroid game and revisiting areas with different abilities can open up whole new worlds.
Kirby stays true to his roots, using and abusing his ability to suck up, swallow and steal his enemy’s powers. Kirby is able to steal a large variety of powers, including; sword Kirby, fighter Kirby, missile Kirby, cupid Kirby, smash Kirby, and magic Kirby. Kirby controls perfectly, no matter what mode you’re in, even with the more unwieldy ones like Wheel and Fireball. In fact, Kirby’s range of power-ups (besides the still-cool-after-all-these-years ability to suck in your enemy and eat them) is what really makes the game. Of course, if you need a certain power-up and you don’t have it, you can always call your buddies via the Kirby mobile phone and steal theirs. These are just some of the many unique fighting styles you can master and use throughout the entirety of the game. The different styles are crucial to the development of the game and are needed in different time throughout, adding obstacles that can only be passed by the careful use of the powers. There are also three sub-games that you can turn your hand to if you ever need a break from the general play:
Speed Eaters – The running theme of this and all the subsequent mini-games is ‘Test Your Reflexes’. This one will drive you crazy as you must either beat the computer or your friends to the punch. The four Kirbies are sat around a table with some food hidden under a metal lid. Once the lid rises and two large exclamation marks appear on the screen you must hastily bash that ‘A’ button to be the first to suck in the delicious goods. Simple, yet surprisingly fun against friends.
Crackity Hack – In this game the four coloured Kirbies are all lined up next to their large boulders and then the challenge begins. A meter will appear in the corner, which upon filling completely you must press ‘A’, at which time another meter will appear for you to do the same thing over again. Once done a couple of times, your power will have been built up enough and a special white target appears on-screen. It quickly moves down and you have to time your button press so that you stop it as it goes over another white target on the boulder itself. Whoever creates the largest crack is the winner.
Kirby Wave Ride – The four Kirbies ride along the water automatically and you must time your jumps so that you launch yourself off the top of waves, giving you a nice little boost. Timing a jump perfectly and landing straight onto another wave is rewarded with a combination boost, which obviously gives you a huge advantage over your competitors. Again, it's only simple, but it's great fun.
People might be used to the usual final section of Kirby reviews where it simply states that whilst the game is extremely enjoyable, it is a great shame that it all ends far too promptly. Well, time for a shock as Kirby & The Amazing Mirror goes on and on, longer than that annoying Duracell Bunny. HAL has incorporated such a massive, intricate and diverse world into this new Kirby game that you will never want to go back to the linear level selection system again. With many formidable bosses to overcome, a multitude of major and minor items to collect, various routes to be traversed, plus the option of playing through with three of your friends, you are looking at a lifespan far longer than your average platform game. Maybe even in the region of 15+ hours if you are desperate to reach the ultimate level of 100% completion. However, let us not forget the engaging sub-games that are not only addictive fun with your friends, but certainly worthy of passing some time alone against the computer AI. Whilst the music isn't quite up there with past Kirby game tunes the graphics are well drawn and animated. With well-designed and varied worlds Kirby and the Magical Mirror is a visual treat. Those in search of a new platformer really need look no further than Kirby's latest adventure.
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