 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Kirby's Epic Yarn
- Nintendo Wii
- Price: $49.99
- Genre: Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Original and beautiful platformer is one of the year's best.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Kirby’s Epic Yarn is a creative and original platformer safe for anyone old enough to be able to understand how to play. The youngest players might become a little afraid while facing off against some of the game’s larger monsters, but it’s not exactly the stuff of nightmares -- all of the game’s enemies are made of yarn. Plus, they cannot kill the game’s little pink hero, only make him lose some of the beads he’s collected. Note, though, that some parts of the game are quite challenging, and that younger children will likely require the help of an older sibling or parent to complete them.
What's it about?
In KIRBY’S EPIC YARN, the first Wii adventure for Nintendo’s pink puffball, our titular hero has been transformed into a string of yarn by an evil magician and transported to a world made almost entirely of colorful textiles. He immediately meets a new pal, Prince Fluff (who can be controlled by a second player in cooperative play), and the two head off to save the land. But the story plays second fiddle to the game’s fascinating cloth world. Virtually everything the player sees -- buildings, characters, trees, water -- is made of sheets of fabric or strings of yarn. In fact, the cloth aesthetic actually takes on a key role in how the game plays. Kirby can use his yarn whip to snag a button and pull back an entire sheet of the background, revealing new platforms or beads to collect. He can also lasso zippers, pull down little pockets to access the collectibles they hide, and step inside sheets of fabric and move behind them, with players tracking his progress via the little bulge he makes. Plus, Kirby can transform his yarn body into useful shapes, such as a parachute to fall slowly or a weight to drop more quickly.
Is it any good?
Kirby's Epic Yarn is not like any other Kirby game that has come before. This is a full-on, Nintendo’s-game-design-genius-working-overtime masterpiece of a platformer that players young and old -- we played through the whole thing with a kindergartner as a playing partner -- will remember for years to come. Whether you’re tightening a drawstring to cleverly close the mouth of a volcano or tugging the yarn tongue of a dragon and then letting it spring back at him, it’s an extraordinarily imaginative adventure from start to finish.
It’s not quite perfect -- there are some extremely challenging moments that may frustrate younger players, and when playing cooperatively there’s a chance that one player may find him or herself locked into an area because the screen’s edges have become artificial environmental borders (something that could have been fixed had the developers simply allowed the camera to pull back a bit)--but it’s still one of the most original, memorable, and just plain beautiful platformers in years.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the connection between art and games. Art is integral in game design, but can a game in its entirety be considered a work of art? Can you think of a game the aesthetic of which functions as an integral part of the way it plays?
Families can also discuss scariness in games. Does the interactive nature of games make scary scenes more or less frightening than, say, those in movies and books? Do you feel less scared because you have control over what happens, or more scared because it feels as though what happens is happening to you?
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Kid, 3 years old
June 3, 2011
AGE
dude game
many pepole that show not break laws or do not hurt a learn safe or watch under pg 13
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AGE
Epic beyond belief; perfect for anyone who can pick up a controller
How long has it been since a new Kirby game? I don't know...maybe 3 years if you count any game in the series, 7 for console installments, and 10 for console installments that stick to Kirby's true roots of Mario-gone-epically-cute. Any way you slice it, it seemed like forever. Now, we finally have one of the best games in the history of this Nintendo mascot's life. Kirby's Epic Yarn is not only one of the best Nintendo Wii games ever made, it is also one of the best GAMES ever made. There's always been an argument that games aren't art. There's also been an argument that Wii games have horrible graphics. A play through Kirby's Epic Yarn would make a MOMA staff member fall in love with gaming and will also make even the most HD-addicted cretin smile and say "LOOK AT THOSE GRAPHICS! ON THE WII!" The handmade yarn look to the game is ingenious and creative in a world where every HD FPS looks the same. Kirby is as cute as always, but the yarn look makes everything look impossibly cute. Even the usually frightening King Dedede and Meta Knight will make you smile. No need to explain the story, though all of the cutscenes that tell it are done with high production values and have (gasp) GOOD VOICE ACTING! Shocking, I know. The gameplay itself is terrific. In lieu of the (sorely missed) copy abilities are equally intriguing transformations. Kirby can become a car, a submarine, a fire truck, a tanklike thing, a surfing penguin, and so forth. Although the game is simply collecting beads and finding hidden treasures, there's just so much else to do that this isn't really the whole point of Kirby's Epic Yarn. Yeah, you don't die, but that only makes the level of challenge you actually do have to put into it harder. While the average inexperienced gamer could zip through a level without a hitch, the more hardcore types (like me) can search through levels, unlocking every secret passageway and scoring gold medals (representative of how many beads you collected) on every stage. That takes quite a bit of time. Also, co-op mode is quite fun. Whereas in NSMBWii (which Epic Yarn is compared to quite often), your teammates can jump on you like crazy for no apparent reason and worse, in Kirby's Epic Yarn, Prince Fluff (your sidekick/Player 2) is more, in a word, princely. In other words, Player 2 can still kick Player 1 around, and vice versa, but it's more for a good cause than anything. In short, Kirby's Epic Yarn is an excellent game for gamers of any age. The only thing worth mentioning is that there's some minor violence throughout the game. Your method of attack is a whip/extendable arm of sorts that can be used to turn your enemies into balls of yarn. It's not graphic at all, really. Again, you don't die in this game, but boss fights can be a wee bit too intense for the youngest. Overall, though, if you own a Wii, you MUST BUY THIS GAME. Enough said. <(^"^)>
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AGE
good side-scroller
the cute pink ball at his best
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AGE
One of the best games for the Wii!
I adore Kirby's Epic Yarn! The game design is very unique and it's the controls are easy to use. This is a MUST have game if you own a Wii! Rush out and get it now!
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Kid, 11 years old
December 31, 2010
AGE
i love this game
this game is very oringnal and un-kirby like i beat it in 6 days
(i got it for my birthday) this game has some flaws in it
1-the levals are to short
2-too easy
3-
the good things-
1-you cant die(if you could you would be doing it offten)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
great game *WARNING* DO *NOT* BUY USED*
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Kid, 8 years old
November 6, 2010
AGE
Not for ages 2 and under!
I kind of like it.
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AGE
Kirby's Baby-ish Yarn
This seems like a baby game, so I think its perfect for all ages. Rated G. (E.)
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AGE
one of the best games ever
even people who cannot stop dying in other video games can't die
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AGE
Buy it for your kid, as this game is fantastic.
This game is perfect for any child. Common Sense Media makes me laugh, labeling this game with Violence and Scariness. You pull apart string monsters. Scooby-Doo is more violent. Just because it's Kid_Friendly though, doesn't mean anybody can't enjoy it. The game also offers co-op, so if you have multiple children, they can play together. Or you and your child could play. This game is fantastic, cute, and good for any age person.
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AGE
This game has good graphics especially for the wii. The main antagonist of this game can be a bit scary for younger kids and also this game can be a bit boring for the older kids. I would recommend this game for kids around 9 who like the mario style games and just want to have fun time playing a Kirby game.
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
| Release date: | October 17, 2010 |
| Price: | $49.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for Mild Cartoon Violence |
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