Publisher/Developer: Nintendo/ TOSE
Genre: Platformer
Price: $29.99
Verdict: All cuteness aside, this new hero shines bright.
Pros: A true Nintendo “Marine Platformer” with a great story, brilliant mechanics, stunning visuals and plenty of extras.
Cons: Hardcore gamers might be bored at first glance.
Too Cute for Words
“Pufftop. Skydye Heights. Chillydip Cove. Planet Bunnera.” The minute you utter the locations aloud from The Legendary Starfy, you realize this game wants to be loved. To be frank, its almost too damn cute at first for a “real man” to play; but after a few hours in, you will be smiling ear to ear because it makes you so damn happy. What begins as a slow-paced and laid back platformer (that is seemingly built for Japanese audiences) ends with such depth and challenge that it demands to be purchased immediately. The game is a perfect amalgamation of unique level design, fluid gameplay, vibrant visuals and whimsical storytelling. Nintendo has another hit franchise on its already money-soaked hands.
"Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit."
Fresh off the Boat
Starfy might be new to our shores, but he has made some significant cameos in the Wii’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl (with a mistaken misnomer of “Stafy”), Super Princess Peach for the DS and even in Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga for GBA. He has also been the leading man in three Gameboy Advance incarnations found exclusively the Land of the Rising Sun. Finally, North American and European audiences get to control the popular hero who is, as far as we can tell, both a starfish and a supernova star. Starfy is practically mute, a narcoleptic and increasingly forgetful but he has a heart of pure gold- in short, he’s the kind of hero that earns your respect more and more as the game progresses. He moseys his way through quick, simple and lofty levels, taking in the sights and giving the occasional ass kick to anything that stands in his way.
In short, Starfy is one bad muthascratcher.
Once upon a star…
Developed by Nintendo’s silent partner Studio TOSE, The Legendary Starfy applies the same hand-drawn designs that made their previous DS game, Super Princess Peach, so darn adorable and turns it up a notch with breathtakingly subtle 3D backgrounds, resulting in one of the more vivid and beautiful DS games released this year. The Legendary Starfy pops off the screen with every pixel and each new world; Starfy travels from the depths of the ocean to the very reaches of space in his effort to solve the mystery of a strange (and fellow amnesiac) bunny named Bunston, who has crash landed in his palace, while being pursued by a shadowy and menacing trio of villains. En route, the pointy fella visits unique locations that unlock new abilities, keeping gameplay invigorating while showing off clever level mechanics that prove Nintendo is still king of the platform genre.
"Starfy could never forget the horrors of the Hot Springs Turtle's underside"
Under the Sea
For a guy that lives in the clouds, Starfy has quite a few friends in the big blue: His translator and best friend is a mouthy clam named Moe (who has his own talk show in the menu), the frequent save points are marked by a happy mermaid (even in space!), and nearly all the supporting cast is fishy in some way. So imagine the surprise when a bunny from space enters the fold. Fortunately, the fuzzy brained Bunston holds the power of transformation that results in Starfy taking on four different animal forms that play an integral part into the story and level completion. You occasionally get to play as a dinosaur, a narwhal, a ghost and a giant chicken. How’s that for entertaining?
Nearly 70 percent of the game is spent engaged in some type of water based mechanic, whether it be huge raindrops falling from trees, rainbows between clouds or the ocean itself. The time spent on land can move frustratingly slow, but the developers throw in some speedy levels where Starfy becomes a careening snowball or the heroes race in a mine car. The game stresses collaboration and co-operation, offering the opportunity for two players with the game to co-op on many boss and more difficult levels as well as secret mini-games you can unlock along the way. This theme carries into the story, with the moral of the story proclaiming the importance of friends. In a medium that is so obsessed with destruction and death, this theme felt not only original, but poignant and sincere.
Universal Appeal
The Legendary Starfy is more of a rudimentary course in platforming than his big name counterparts with a few twists. If you have a child who cries foul on Super Mario Bros., then this is the game for them. For the more seasoned gamers, The Legendary Starfy can be painfully slow and vapid at first, (In world 1-1, there are zero enemies!) but a little perseverance goes a long way. As Starfy begins to “remember” his skill set and the exceptionally well written and often zany story unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to put the game down.
"Just Chillin' "
I was so compelled behind the mystery of Bunston’s predicament and the shadowy organization responsible for his plight I couldn’t help but want to finish as fast as possible. After 8 hours, the game reached a fantastic, albeit relatively easy finish. And that’s when the hardcore fun begins- Upon completion, a toy store, a jukebox, a Boss attack mode and 2 more complete levels open up. World 9 – which chronicles the misadventures of Starly, Starfy’s more verbose pink sister, and World 10 – a timed speed run through a gauntlet of unimaginable suffering, pushing even the most talented platform champions into a realm of insanity and bloody thumbs. The steep ramp of difficulty found late in the game’s extras and the plethora of secret levels is reason alone for everyone to explore each little corner for unlock-able outfits, accessories and story details found in strewn diary pages from every all the NPCs. This attention to detail and depth pushes The Legendary Starfy beyond being just a simple platformer. It suddenly becomes a completionist’s dream, urging a constant return trip for both casual and hardcore gamers alike. Its as if the developers at the end said “Hey hardcore gamer, thanks for sticking with us! Here’s your reward.”
The Legendary Starfy is one of Nintendo’s best offerings for the DS this year and deserves a look from anyone who wants to add a great game to their library. With universal appeal, an offbeat story, lush visuals, clever gameplay, and suprisingly amazing depth, its safe to say that Starfy has found a new home here in the Western Hemisphere.
Popularity: unranked [?]
