(01-14-2018, 05:36 PM)Kritter Wrote: Looks lovely but it's still just a 2D Kirby game. I wish they'd experiment with depth a bit more, like they did in Kirby 64 with going around "bends" and so on, or the Klonoa series.

(01-14-2018, 05:36 PM)Kritter Wrote: Looks lovely but it's still just a 2D Kirby game. I wish they'd experiment with depth a bit more, like they did in Kirby 64 with going around "bends" and so on, or the Klonoa series.

• Being in 30fps is really jarring. It seems that the game runs at 60fps when it comes to the camera, but Kirby and co animate at 30fps, which makes the game feel a bit chuggy when the scrolling is smooth but the animation is not. You get used to it mind you, but I see no reason it couldn't have been 60fps with a bit of optimisation. I mean if Mario Odyssey can do it, surely a 2D platformer isn't as demanding? Donkey Kong Country Returns had no problems with this?
  
• The game can be a bit too chaotic. Especially when you're doing a boss battle or something. With 4 players on screen at once, it's REALLY easy to lose yourself in the chaos. This is made worse by the aformentioned 30fps.
  
• It looks quite nice and it plays as you'd expect. If you've played Planet Robobot or Triple Deluxe you know what you're in for, because it feels exactly the same as those games do, for better or worse. It's still just a Kirby game.
  
• Ability mixing is fun but confusing, because not every ability can mix with another ability, and when you CAN do it, it's usually because a puzzle requires it. See a lot of fire enemies and sword enemies around, you'll probably need a fire sword to solve a puzzle and usually the game provides you with the enemies you need right next to the puzzle anyway.
  
• There are two levels in the demo, one labelled as "easy" and the other labelled as "hard". Honestly I never lost more than half my health on the hard one, and that was only because of the boss at the end of the level, I don't remember getting hit at all in the level itself. The game seems quite easy at the moment, especially with AI players being easy to obtain and soak up hits on enemies.
  

Spoiler

Star Allies is a fun game. The rampant chaos and excellent movesets lend well to the Kirby franchise as usual, but the levels feel too short and they don't do anything nearly as spectacular as the Hypernova or Robobot Armor sections from the past two games.

There also appears to be a problem with the bosses -- they have an incredible lack of health. I estimate they probably have half the amount as Return to Dream Land's do. That's... not good. Even the True Final Boss suffers from this problem, and that really shouldn't be a thing.

The sub-games are kind of meh, too. They feel more on the scale of Super Star than they do even Return to Dream Land. I'm kind of disappointed, honestly -- after Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot, I was hoping for some big substantial games.

Finally, there's the obligatory Extra and Arena modes unlocked at the end of the game. I was surprised when this game's Extra Mode was a Time Attack, but damn if it wasn't fun. I was disappointed, however, when I learned there weren't EX versions of the bosses -- it kind of made them unsubstantial thanks to all the Power boosts you get.

Overall, Star Allies is alright. I'd rate it slightly above Return to Dream Land, but below Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot. It's really fun though, and that's enough to give it a recommendation.

Also Marx is the greatest Helper in the history of the planet. Play him. Now.

Spoiler

I just got lucky and beat Soul Melter in just ONLY ONE ATTEMPT. Here's my tip: use Stone ability + two NESPs and a Zap Dedede. Well, I won't tell you how to unlock it (because spoilers), go ahead and figure it out for yourself.

Also, I feel the same FieryExplosion. The sub-games kinda sucked, they would be better for a Kirby's Minigame Collection type of game. I was hoping for a Kirby Fighters-styled game or even a kart racing game in a top view perspective ala Kirby's Blowout Blast, but no. But hey, I think it's for the file size of the ROM itself.

I also 100% the game faster than I did on Triple Deluxe and Planet Robobot. Just only 7 days after I bought it. But don't worry, replayability comes in the Dream Friends, as new waves of updates come. You'll encounter new levels with each new Dream Friend if you play Guest Star. Can you also challenge yourself to Soul Melter difficulty on Ultimate Choice without using any friends or Copy ABilities? This is a challenge I want all MFGGers to do!