This week a demo for Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn released on the 3DS e-shop. It is an enhanced port of the 2011 Wii game Kirby’s Epic Yarn. Featuring a new difficulty, mini games and abilities. It will release on March 8th.
Patch Land
In Patch Land, Kirby cannot utilize his signature ability of inhaling, as the air will go right through him! Something he’s had since the first game is given a drastic change. Instead he has a kind of whip that can be used to hit and pull things. It also means Kirby cannot float, giving him only a single jump and the ability to parachute down. He can turn into a car to go faster, and still has a down attack. Like the Yoshi games this particular Kirby game is about collecting things as well, such as the special furniture, music and beads. Entering rooms and trees will leave Kirby under the felt and you can only see him by the outline, and the platforms by their stitching.
The demo has two levels from the first world Fountain Gardens and Rainbow Falls. One of the new power ups is knitting needles so that you can create a yarn ball at any time, or wrap up an enemy to make a large ball. For these earlier levels I found it a bit annoying. I prefer controlling the game with the D-pad rather than the circle pad.
Delightfully Devilish Kirby
In the original version of the game you actually couldn’t die as hits would only cause you to lose beads. In Devilish mode you can only survive five hits before the devil picks up your scraps. Not only that but a devil will pop up and try to hurt you, as in my case by throwing a drill or dropping objects. In certain stages this can be even more of a hindrance such as in Rainbow Falls where water is pushing you. This adds the element of actual challenge to the game that some people might want. Also he can grab you if you touch him.
Another power up I encountered was the button, allowing me to throw bombs with which I could kill the devil. Shortly afterwards he reappeared again, although it seems they go away when you’re doing a transformation sequence. Regular yarn balls will also dissipate the little jerk. The music does change every time the devil is about which I don’t like given how frequent he is.
Fully Stuffed
In the full version of the game you will help decorate new apartments with the furniture you collect throughout the game. Beads earned will also be spent expanding the complex and buying more furniture or upholstery. There will also be streetpass so that others can see your room. Extra Epic Yarn will also have some kind of amiibo support. Depending on whether it’ll be a support item or not it might not be usable in Devilish mode.
I own the original on Wii and popped it in for a comparison. The Wii version looks a bit nicer due to the larger screen. A visual comparison lends to the 3DS having a bit nicer colour to it. While I didn’t play it in co-op I prefer that option. Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn is single player only.
I enjoy the mellow relaxing tone of the original version so I will pass on the port for now. Perhaps if you’ve never had the original or want the challenging option this will interest you.