Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

The Good
There are 7 copy abilities that can be mixed to create a 28 different combinations; 35 abilities total.

The music is upbeat and fits the theme of each stage very well.

The Bad
For a platformer, Kirby 64 is a little short.

The Bottom Line
Dark Matter, one of Kirby's arch enemies, has attacked Dreamland again. This time, he has destroyed a precious crystal and has taken control of Ripple Star. As Kirby, it's your job to collect the shards of the crystal and defeat Dark Matter.

Kirby 64 is like other games in the Kirby series. Basically, you explore various stages while acquiring new abilities by eating your enemies. What sets Kirby 64 apart from the rest is the ability to mix copy powers. Previous installments of the series gave you a random power if you inhaled two or more enemies at the same time. However, if you inhale two enemies in Kirby 64, their powers will mix to become something unique.

While the graphics may seem a bit dated at first glance, remember that this is an emulation of a Nintendo 64 game. When compared to other Nintendo 64 games, Kirby 64's graphics are very high-quality.

Kirby 64 offers a set of three multiplayer mini-games. These games consist of a race to a finish line, a race to collect fruit, and a battle. While these games may not hold the attention of most gamers if they are played alone, they can add some fun to the game if you play with friends.

Overall, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a great game. When it was released for Nintendo 64, it retailed for about fifty American dollars. Now, thanks to the Wii's Virtual Console, you can download it for the small price of 1000 Wii points or ten American dollars.