Kirby's Epic Yarn

*Kirby's Epic Yarn* is a 2010 action-platformer that marked a significant and imaginative departure for the long-running *Kirby* series. Developed by Good-Feel and published by Nintendo for the Wii, the game is renowned for its unique and charming art style, innovative gameplay mechanics, and accessible difficulty. It was the first home console platformer in the series since *Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards* for the Nintendo 64. The game's narrative begins in Dream Land, where Kirby, attempting to eat a tomato-like object, is drawn into a magical sock by the evil sorcerer Yin-Yarn. This "Metamato" grants Kirby new yarn-based abilities. Kirby finds himself in Patch Land, a world made entirely of fabric, and his own body has been transformed into yarn. In this new form, Kirby is unable to use his signature inhale and copy abilities, nor can he fly in his usual manner. He soon befriends Prince Fluff, the ruler of Patch Land, and learns that Yin-Yarn has unstitched the world, scattering seven pieces of magic yarn. Together, Kirby and Prince Fluff embark on a quest to retrieve the magic yarn, stitch Patch Land back together, and ultimately stop Yin-Yarn's conquest of both Patch Land and Dream Land. Along the way, they must also confront and free King Dedede and Meta Knight, who have been turned into mind-controlled adversaries by Yin-Yarn. The most striking feature of *Kirby's Epic Yarn* is its visual presentation. The entire game world, including characters and environments, is rendered in a knitted design that mimics yarn, cloth, and other textiles. This aesthetic is not merely cosmetic; it is intricately woven into the gameplay. Kirby can interact with the fabric environment by pulling on threads to reveal hidden areas, unzipping parts of the level, and pulling on buttons. The animation of the yarn characters is fluid and creative, with their movements resembling unraveling and reshaping. In place of his traditional powers, Kirby's moveset is entirely based on his new yarn form. He can use a yarn whip to unravel enemies or roll them into balls of yarn to be thrown. He can also transform into a variety of objects to navigate the levels. These transformations include a parachute to slow his descent, a car to dash forward, a weight to smash blocks, and a submarine for underwater exploration. At certain points in levels, Kirby can undergo more dramatic "Metamortex" transformations, such as becoming a large tank, a UFO, or a steam train, which introduce different gameplay styles like shoot-'em-ups. *Kirby's Epic Yarn* is designed to be an accessible and relaxing experience. Unlike most platformers, it is not possible for the player to lose a life or get a game over. When Kirby is damaged, he loses beads, which are the game's collectible currency. These beads can be used to purchase furniture and wallpaper to decorate Kirby's apartment in Patch Land. The primary challenge for experienced players comes from trying to collect a sufficient number of beads in each stage to earn a gold medal and find all the hidden collectibles, which in turn unlock bonus levels. The game also features a cooperative two-player mode where the second player can control Prince Fluff, who has the same abilities as Kirby. The development of *Kirby's Epic Yarn* is noteworthy as it did not begin as a *Kirby* title. The project was initially conceived by Madoka Yamauchi of Good-Feel with the idea of a "world of yarn" and was originally titled *Fluff's Epic Yarn*, starring Prince Fluff as the main character. After seeing the prototype, Nintendo proposed making it a *Kirby* game, and HAL Laboratory, the original developers of the *Kirby* series, assisted Good-Feel in incorporating Kirby into the game's world. Upon its release, *Kirby's Epic Yarn* received critical acclaim, with many praising its unique visual style, charming presentation, and creative gameplay. While some critics noted the game's low difficulty, it was generally seen as a positive aspect that contributed to its relaxing and joyful tone. The game's soundtrack, featuring whimsical and upbeat tunes, was also lauded for complementing the game's aesthetic. An enhanced port for the Nintendo 3DS, titled *Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn*, was released in 2019. This version added new abilities, a more challenging "Devilish Mode," and new sub-games.