Kirby Star Allies

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Kirby Star Allies is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game. It was developed by HAL Laboratory and was released on March 16, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Kirby Star Allies" is a hack and slash game available on Nintendo Switch, featuring HD graphics and single-player or multi-player/co-op options for up to 4 players. In this title, Kirby recruits enemies as helpers and uses copy abilities like sword, fire, and water for a unique team-up experience. Perfect gameplay and awesome graphics make this a must-play for Kirby fans.

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

graphics23 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features stunning graphics and charming visuals that enhance the overall experience.
The mixed copy abilities and the introduction of Dream Friends add depth and variety to gameplay, making it fun to experiment with different combinations.
The couch co-op mode is highly enjoyable, allowing players of all ages to team up and play together, making it a great family-friendly game.

The game is criticized for being too easy, with many players finding the difficulty level lacking, especially for seasoned gamers.
The main story mode is relatively short, often completed in just a few hours, leading to disappointment regarding content for the price.
Some players feel that the level design is generic and lacks the exploration and challenge found in previous Kirby titles.

graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
33%
8%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and beautiful design, with many reviewers noting that they represent the best visuals seen in a Kirby title to date. The animation details and character models are particularly highlighted, contributing to an enjoyable and immersive experience, especially in co-op mode. While some players emphasize that gameplay is more important than graphics, the overall consensus is that the visuals enhance the game's charm and appeal.
- “The graphics are the best I've honestly seen for a Kirby game.”
- “I always love the graphics for Kirby games, but I think they've definitely perfected the graphics with this game.”
- “The game looks great; I cannot understand why people would complain about the visuals here - my wife and I were both enjoying the animation details in the environment and especially the character models.”
- “Just don't expect next-gen graphics because Kirby games are never about that.”
- “Graphic and replay value are just okay.”
- “The graphics and Kirby are cute as usual, but the game is a little disjointed with such a wide variety of allies that you can control.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The story in the game is generally described as fun and charming, with visually stunning levels and well-rendered characters, though it tends to be simple and short, typical of the Kirby franchise. While the main story mode is easily approachable and can be completed in about 5 to 12 hours, it lacks depth and may require prior knowledge of the Kirby universe for some moments to resonate. Post-game content, including challenging modes and unique boss fights, significantly enhances replayability, making it appealing for both casual players and dedicated fans.
- “The story is fun and interesting, with the bosses being unique and fun to figure out how to play against.”
- “The main story is easily approachable but does ramp up in difficulty towards the end.”
- “It's a bit on the short side as far as the story goes (standard for a Kirby title) but it has numerous extras that make replay a worthwhile adventure.”
- “However, I do think that the story of this game tends to require prior knowledge of the Kirby universe in order for some of the major moments to actually feel significant.”
- “Unfortunately, after a disappointing story mode, I did not feel inclined to play much of the other modes and mini-games offered.”
- “I love Kirby, so I was super excited to get this game, but I was a little disappointed with the story mode.”
gameplay
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
43%
11%
The gameplay of Kirby Star Allies is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, making it ideal for casual play, especially with young children. While it maintains the classic Kirby charm with enjoyable mechanics and cooperative play, some players find the allies system to be a mixed bag, occasionally detracting from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a nostalgic and visually appealing platforming experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more challenging gameplay.
- “Great game with simple gameplay you can pick up and play with young kids.”
- “The gameplay is fun, especially playing with my 5-year-old son.”
- “It pays fantastic homage to its roots while adding in new mechanics that work well.”
- “Sometimes it seems like Nintendo does not know who is really playing their games, definitely not children, and they make stylistic and gameplay choices that revolve around a nonexistent demographic for their game.”
- “Some Kirby fans will undoubtedly have hours of fun with Kirby Star Allies, while many others will be put off by what they might perceive as fairly bland gameplay.”
- “However, the allies mechanic rarely feels like it’s enhancing the gameplay, and at times, drags it down.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
15%
21%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and varied soundtrack, featuring both new and classic tunes that enhance the overall experience. While some players find it infectious and enjoyable, others feel it lacks depth and can be overly simplistic. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's fun and vibrant atmosphere, making it a highlight for many players.
- “The visuals are beautiful, the soundtrack is gorgeous, and the game is just a ton of fun to play.”
- “And as I mentioned before, the soundtrack to this game is easily one of the best in the series, especially when it comes to the boss themes.”
- “Gorgeous visuals and animations, a wonderfully varied and catchy soundtrack, steady flow of new gimmicks keeps platforming fresh, bonus content adds significant variety and challenge, chill co-op gameplay that encourages experimentation.”
- “Kirby music can be quite a jam sometimes, but this one's just lacking.”
- “Bosses are not crazy hard; however, the music is a con, mostly 8-bit cheesy.”
- “That soundtrack is maddeningly catchy, but it's way too easy and straightforward to have any nuance for more sophisticated players.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game offers significant replayability due to its varied movesets, numerous abilities, and the challenge of collecting all puzzle pieces across different worlds. Players can enjoy cooperative gameplay with friends and strive for 100% completion after finishing the main campaign, making it more replayable than many other titles in the Kirby series. Overall, the combination of experimentation and cooperative elements enhances the game's longevity and enjoyment.
- “It's a lot of fun, and the fact that the movesets are all so varied makes it highly enjoyable and offers a good amount of replayability and difficulty.”
- “The game does provide replay value as you can play with your friends and challenge yourself to collect all the puzzle pieces throughout the different worlds in Kirby.”
- “Trust me, you will be getting a lot of replay value out of this game after you finish the standard campaign story because after you finish that, you will be busy trying to achieve 100% on everything that the game has to offer.”
- “I think it is more replayable than most other Kirby games and definitely lasts longer than most Kirby games (even if it is not that long compared to other Switch-exclusive games).”
- “They have a lot of replayability due to his different abilities and using different techniques for each playthrough.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and vibrant graphics, providing a visually appealing experience. However, some users note that the performance can suffer in certain environments, indicating a trade-off between aesthetics and optimization.
- “The game runs smoothly and without any hiccups, showcasing colourful and crisp graphics.”
- “The gorgeous visuals and nostalgic sound design really tickle the nostalgia bone.”
- “Great implementation of pick-up-and-play local multiplayer with a large roster of recruitable classic enemies.”
- “The environments, models, and overall design are very pretty, though performance takes a hit.”
- “This is one of the easiest games I've ever played.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight "Kirby Star Allies" as a deeply wholesome experience that evokes strong positive emotions, likening it to the joyful movement of candy on screen. However, some express concerns about the game's length, questioning its overall value despite its emotional appeal.
- “It's like watching candy move frantically across your screen; you can't help but feel the wholesomeness.”
- “Kirby Star Allies is one of the most wholesome Switch games you can try right now.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report a high level of stability in the game, noting that character controls are intuitive and smooth, with no glitches encountered during regular gameplay.
- “Controlling the characters is very easy, and I came across no glitches in regular play.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the online multiplayer is; I haven't experienced any lag or disconnections.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be logistically tedious, particularly because certain areas necessitate teamwork, making the process more cumbersome.
- “It's logistically very tedious to play the game this way, as some areas require a team-up.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which really drains the fun out of the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is amplified by its four-player element, leading to hilarious interactions and chaotic scenarios, especially when augmented powers are involved.
- “Mixing in the four-player element makes for some hilarious antics, and the augmented powers that can be utilized create some extremely exciting scenarios.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
- “The humor is spot-on, with clever puns and unexpected twists that keep the gameplay fresh and entertaining.”

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72%Critics’ scoreBased on 40 critic reviews

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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6h Main story

16h Completionist

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Kirby Star Allies is a hack and slash game.

Kirby Star Allies is available on Nintendo Switch.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 16 hours to finish. On average players spend around 6 hours playing Kirby Star Allies.

Kirby Star Allies was released on March 16, 2018.

Kirby Star Allies was developed by HAL Laboratory.

Kirby Star Allies has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its replayability.

Kirby Star Allies is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Kirby Triple Deluxe, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Kirby: Planet Robobot, Super Lucky's Tale and others.

Kirby Star Allies

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