The Legendary Starfy, a lesser-known Nintendo DS platformer, was one of my favorite DS games from 2009. It's actually the fifth game in Japan, but the first and only one to be released in the U.S. and Europe. Statistically, the game has an unimpressive 78% on Metacritic and sold somewhat poorly. I thought it was incredibly charming and fun, even if it didn't get much attention. Of course, the game was overly easy and not terribly original, but I think the pros outweigh the cons.
Starting with the gameplay, it's sort of difficult to accurately describe. It's a mixture of underwater and on-land platforming, but for once, the swimming is actually fun. Like Kirby, Starfy can transform into a variety of other forms with unique powers, ranging from a rooster to a dragon. Most of the levels have secret collectables, but a few also contain side quests that lead to secret levels. It's not original by any means, but it's still a very enjoyable.
The plot is similarly basic. Starfy sets out on an adventure to help out a mysterious amnesiac rabbit named Bunston by keeping him safe and finding the pieces of his ship. Over the course of the game, Bunston's past is revealed, but the twist is nothing special. Like the gameplay, I think the story and characters are charming enough to make up for their simplicity.
The graphics and sounds are clean and pleasant, but again, aren't spectacular. The 2D graphics are also lend it a Kirby-like vibe, and the music generally enhances the more low-key atmosphere of the game. The one complaint I do have for the audio is that Starfy's voice can get annoying after hearing it over and over.
Honestly, I agree with the 78% average, yet I still adored this game for what it is. It doesn't necessarily try to shake up the genre, but it's still a nice, pleasant platformer that more people should try. While the comparisons to Kirby were inevitable, I think The Legendary Starfy does enough to differentiate itself from Kirby, and even though it's not as challenging or memorable as games like Donkey Kong Country or Rayman Origins, I think there should be a place in the industry for laid-back platformers. For fans of more relaxed platformers, I highly recommend giving The Legendary Starfy another chance.
from Game Informer Magazine http://ift.tt/1DBdW71
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