Kirby Tilt ‘n' Tumble
Release Date: 2000
Date: review started 10/24/2001; continued and finished on 5/17/2002
System: Game Boy Color Only
Developed by HAL
Published by Nintendo
Game Overview: Kirby Tilt ‘n' Tumble
(Yes, that's how its spelled in the game... I think it should be
"Kirby's Tilt
n' Tumble", but it isn't) is a unique game. It is the only Game
Boy
game that uses "Tilt" technology -- you move the game boy to move Kirby
on
the screen. This unique gameplay does have some problems, but
overall
it's good. Everyone should try it, if just to try the interesting
tilt
technology.
Gameplay: Kirby Tilt ‘n' Tumble is,
as mentioned, unique. The tilt sensor in the cartridge means that
to move Kirby, you tilt the system. To have him jump up on the
screen, you flip up the system. This is a interesting and
definitely unique control scheme. While the game wouldn't be
nearly as good with normal controls, with the added interest of tilt
control it is a lot of fun. As for the gameplay itsself, it is
viewed from a top down perspective and you tilt to roll Kirby around on
the maps to avoid obstacles, solve puzzles, and kill
enemies. While there is no swallowing enemies or other
forms of Kirby like the main sidescrolling games in the series, as it
is top
down and Kirby essentially is playing the role of a ball that can
inflate, it doesn't seem like a missing feature because that kind of
thing would not work as well in the topdown game style that it
is. Even so, it is
too bad that Kirby is missing his trademark ability. The game is
still
a lot of fun to play so those small issues are not enough to bring the
score down much.
There is one important issue here: this game cannot be used like other
Game Boy games. Because it tilts, using it in a car can be
problematic-- if the car shakes, takes a turn too sharply, etc, the
game will shake and Kirby will move. Because of this, it is best
to be stationary. Also, because you must constantly tilt the system,
lighting can be bad.
Even when under direct light that normally is fine for most Game Boy
games,
this one can at times be dark because of some positions you must have
it
in sometimes to move to some places. If you can live with, or
look
past, those issues, though, there really aren't many other problems
with
the game except its short length.
Score:9 /10
Single Player: There are eight levels, each with a
boss, and then a mode where you play the levels again and try to get
all possible points in each level. After that, you play it again
in hard mode. Even so with all that, it is not a very hard
game. While not super
short, it will probably seem a little short, but since it is a lot of
fun
along the way, it is a good game. It could stand to have a higher
difficulty level though. Once you get good at the game and beat
the levels, there is little reason to play again because it is not very
hard and has no more rewards. There are no hidden modes or games
beyond the hard mode,
unfortunately, unlike previous games in the Kirby series (Kirby 2 had
several
minigames at 100%, for example). Even so, the fun factor cannot
be
denied so the game gets a good score for the single player game.
Score: 8/10
Multi Player: None.
Graphics: For a Game Boy Color game, Kirby Tilt ‘n'
Tumble has good graphics. While they certainly can't compare to
Game Boy
Advance graphics, they are good for the system it is on. Every
level
has its own look and its own hazards and environments, and it all looks
good. It is about as good as a topdown Game Boy Color game can
look.
Some people will not like them as much, though. They are
definitely
cartoonish and ‘cute', as all the rest of the Kirby games are.
For
some that style may not be appealing, but I liked it and have no
complaints
about the graphics.
Score: 9/10
Sound: Like the graphics, they are pretty much what you
would expect for a somewhat cute Game Boy Color game from Nintendo, and
a Kirby game in specific. The music is OK if you like the style of
Kirby game music, you will like this. Some may find it too ‘nice'
or something', but
I think it fits the game perfectly.
Score: 8/10 (this is comparing it to other original Game Boy games, not
any other platforms...
otherwise a GB game would never get more than a 4 or 5 except for very
rare occasions)
Other Info: This is the only Game Boy game that has tilt technology int
it, so if you want other games similar to it, you will have to wait for
the Game Boy Advance / Gamecube sequel coming sometime this year,
hopefully. The Kirby series, though, has many games in it in many
genres-- sidescrolling platformer, pinball, breakout, golf,
tetris-style puzzle game, etc, and
is generally very good. This game is no exception. I
recommend
that it should be at least rented to see if you think the game is long
enough
to justify owning. That depends on how much you like it and how
good
you are at the game.
Scores:
Gameplay: 9 /10
Single Player: 8 /10
Multi Player:
N/A
Graphics: 9/10
Sound: 8/10
Total: 34/40 or % (not the final score--
this is just the total of the parts)
Final Score: 88 %
(not an average)