Kirby's Dream Land

Infobox VG| title = Kirby's Dream Land


developer = HAL Laboratory, Inc.
publisher = Nintendo
designer = Masahiro Sakurai
composer = Jun Ishikawa
engine =
released = vgrelease|JP=April 27, 1992|NA=August 3, 1992|PAL=1992
genre = Platform game
modes = Single-player
ratings = ESRB: K-A (Kids to Adults)
platforms = Game Boy
media = 2-megabit cartridge
requirements =

"Kirby's Dream Land", known in Japan as nihongo|"Hoshi no Kabi"|星のカービィ|Hoshi no Kābī|lit. "Kirby of the Stars", is a platforming video game developed by HAL Laboratory, Inc. and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America.cite web |url=http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/005/005964.html |title=IGN: Kirby's Dream Land |accessdate=2007-03-06 |publisher=IGN.com] It is both the first video game in the "Kirby" series and the debut of the Kirby character.cite web |url=http://www.aussie-nintendo.com/?v=news&p=11304 |title=3 more comps at Nintendo Australia |accessdate=2007-03-08 |publisher=Aussie-Nintendo.com]

"Kirby's Dream Land" was designed by Masahiro Sakurai, then an employee of HAL Laboratory. Sakurai intended for "Kirby's Dream Land" to be a simple game that could be played by beginning gamers.cite web |url=http://www.n-sider.com/articleview.php?articleid=489&page=5 |title=Conceiving Sickeningly Cute Puffballs |accessdate=2006-11-29 |last=Bayer |first=Glen |publisher=N-Sider |pages=p5] As the inaugural "Kirby" title, "Kirby's Dream Land" created many conventions that would appear in later games in the series, including Kirby's basic moves. However, Kirby's trademark "copy" ability would not appear until "Kirby's Adventure", released less than one year later.

Gameplay

The gluttonous King Dedede has stolen all of the food from the inhabitants of Dream Land for a midnight feast, so Kirby, a resident of Dream Land, goes to retrieve the food and stop Dedede.cite web |url=http://kirby.classicgaming.gamespy.com/games/dreamland/ |title=Welcome to Kirby's Rainbow Resort! |accessdate=2007-03-09 |publisher=Gamespy.com] "Kirby's Dream Land" operates similarly to other platformers during the 8-bit and 16-bit era of video games: Kirby must use various natural abilities and occasionally external abilities or items while heading toward the goal at the end of each level. Like many 1980s-era platformers, the player can accumulate points, with an extra life granted once the player has enough points. However, because Kirby lacks a save function, scores are not recorded.cite news|title='Kirby's Dream Land'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/dmg-ky.shtml|accessdate=2008-01-09|date|work= [http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database] |author] All levels are played on a two dimensional plane, allowing the player to move only left, right, up, and down."Kirby's Dream Land" is filled with obstacles, and the most common of these obstacles are basic enemies. The enemy that Kirby encounters most often is Waddle Dee, which became the staple enemy of the series. Some enemies such as Sir Kibble have projectiles with which to attack Kirby. In addition to these basic enemies, there are also bosses and mini-bosses. Most levels feature a mini-boss halfway through the level and a boss at the end. If Kirby touches an enemy, boss, or projectile, Kirby will lose one of his health points. The only way for Kirby to regain health is to touch certain food items. When all six health points are gone, Kirby will lose one life, and will have to start over from the beginning of the area. If all of his lives are lost, the game will end.

Kirby is able to walk, swim, jump, fly, and inhale a variety of enemies and objects. Kirby is able to fly for an indefinite amount of time by inhaling air and inflating himself, which allows him to reach any height not blocked or restricted by an object or obstacle. At any time when Kirby has inhaled air, he can exhale by either landing on the ground or releasing it himself. When the air is released, Kirby will exhale a puff of air, which can be used to damage enemies or destroy blocks. Kirby is also able to swim for an indefinite amount of time, and while underwater, Kirby can attack enemies by spitting water at them. Kirby is unable to inflate himself while underwater.

Kirby's main offensive technique is his ability to inhale enemies, objects, or food. Kirby can indefinitely inhale, and if an enemy, object, or food is in range, Kirby will eat it. When food is inhaled, it is automatically swallowed and will heal Kirby if he has any damage. When Kirby inhales an enemy or object, it remains in his mouth. At this point, Kirby can either shoot it out as a star that causes damage to anything in its path, or simply swallow it and destroy it altogether.

Development

The character of Kirby was not always planned to star in this game. Originally, he was merely a dummy character that the developers used until they could fill the character graphics in with a better image. However, the designers grew to like Kirby so much that they decided to keep him instead of using a more advanced character. He was originally named nihongo|Popopo|ポポポ, and "Kirby's Dream Land" was titled nihongo|"Twinkle Popo"|ティンクル・ポポ|Tinkuru Popo. Eventually, he was renamed Kirby and the game was renamed as "Hoshi no Kirby" (literally "Kirby of the Stars").cite web |url=http://kirby.classicgaming.gamespy.com/info/kirby101/index2.htm |title=Welcome to Kirby's Rainbow Resort! - Creation |accessdate=2007-03-06 |publisher=Gamespy.com]

During the development of what was then referred to as "Twinkle Popopo", Popopo/Kirby's colour had not been decided upon. Masahiro Sakurai wanted him to be pink, while Shigeru Miyamoto felt that he should be yellow. Eventually, Nintendo decided to make him pink. Although pink is still Kirby's main colour, later games have shown Kirby in a wide variety of colours, including yellow. When "Hoshi no Kirby" was first released in Japan, it featured Kirby in pinkscale. However, Nintendo of America designed the North American box art and advertisements with a white Kirby based on the game's grey-scale visuals.

Presentation

The visuals are presented in two dimensions using pixelated sprites and environments. They are in black and white, similar to all other Game Boy video games. The grey-scale visuals caused confusion with the North American box art, resulting in Nintendo of America presenting Kirby as being white. As it was released prior to the Super Game Boy, it does not gain any enhancements when played on it.

The music was composed by Jun Ishikawa. He was the only composer for this game,cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/kirbys-dream-land |title=Kirby's Dream Land for Game Boy - MobyGames |accessdate=2007-06-24 |publisher=MobyGames.com] and has been a regular composer in the "Kirby" series. His most recent work was on "" in 2006.cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,50676 |title=MobyGames - Jun Ishikawa |accessdate=2007-03-06 |publisher=MobyGames.com] Certain songs were also reused in the "Super Smash Bros." series as the background music of the Dream Land stage in "Super Smash Bros."cite news|title='Super Smash Bros. Melee Cameos'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/nus-nal_cam.shtml|accessdate=2008-01-09|date|work= [http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database] |author] and the Green Greens stage in "Super Smash Bros. Melee".cite web |url=http://www.phdream.com/dl/ssbmorch.php |title=Super Smash Bros. Melee Orchestra OST |accessdate=2007-03-17 |publisher=phdreams.com]

Reception

;Critical reaction"Kirby's Dream Land" has an average of 69.2% at Game Rankings with three reviews.cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/563275.asp |title=Kirby's Dream Land Reviews |accessdate=2007-03-07 |publisher=Gamerankings.com] "Nintendo Power" reviewed "Kirby's Dream Land" on a scale of 1.0 to 4.0, giving it a 3.0 in graphics and sound, a 3.7 in play control, a 3.6 in challenge, and a 4.0 in theme and fun. It was reviewed by George and Bob, regular reviewers at the time. George and Bob shared roughly similar opinions of the game. George stated that it is a really fun game, owing its quality to its excellent play control and well thought out concept, while Bob stated that it is deceptively simple looking, when it in fact features a decent challenge for more experienced gamers.cite web |url=http://kirby.classicgaming.gamespy.com/info/np/ |title=Nintendo Power |accessdate=2007-03-26 |publisher=Gamespy.com] In an article detailing various "Kirby" series video games, IGN stated that it was a decent platformer, but also very basic compared to later titles. cite web |title=Kirby Compared |url=http://ds.ign.com/articles/913/913846p1.html |date=2008-09-26 |publisher=IGN.com |accessdate=2008-10-01]

;Consumer reactionIn Japan, "Kirby's Dream Land" has sold more than 1.45 million copies since its release.cite web |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/topten2.htm |title=The Magic Box: Platinum Game Charts, Japanese Console Games Sold Over One Million |accessdate=2007-03-06 |publisher=The-Magicbox.com] It was re-released as a Player's Choice title in North America,Fact|date=June 2008 indicating that it had sold a minimum of one million copies in that region.cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,25409/ |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Player's Choice Cover Art |accessdate=2007-03-17 |publisher=MobyGames.com] Specific North American and Australian sales figures have not been released.

Legacy

"Kirby's Dream Land" has since spawned dozens of sequels across more than a half-dozen video game consoles. The first sequel was "Kirby's Adventure", and was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System console. It introduced the ability to steal powers from enemies, an ability which has been used in the majority of games following it. Two titles were released afterwards sharing a similar title. The first was "Kirby's Dream Land 2", also for the Game Boy. It takes the ability to steal powers from enemies introduced in "Kirby's Adventure", and adds the ability to ride on animals. The next and final similarly titled video game in the series was "Kirby's Dream Land 3" for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

"Kirby's Dream Land" has also appeared on several other consoles in some shape or form. In "Kirby's Adventure" (as well as ), Stage 7-6 is a heavily condensed version of this game, including black and white backgrounds, the Green Greens theme music, and similar enemies as well.cite web |url=http://kirby.classicgaming.gamespy.com/games/adventure/levels/7_6.html |title=Level 7 Stage 6 Game Guide |accessdate=2007-03-18 |publisher=Kirby's Rainbow Resort]

"Kirby's Dream Land" later made a more significant appearance in "Kirby Super Star" for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which is advertised as having "eight games in one" on the cover. The first of these games is "Spring Breeze", which is based on "Kirby's Dream Land". Notable features not found in "Kirby's Dream Land" include the ability to steal powers from enemies and the ability to summon an enemy as a helper to aide Kirby in battle (a feature introduced in "Kirby Super Star"). However, some content from Kirby's Dream Land is missing. It was later re-released in Japan through Nintendo Power.cite news|title='Kirby's Dream Land'|url=http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com/dmg-ky.shtml|accessdate=2008-01-09|date|work= [http://nindb.classicgaming.gamespy.com Nintendo Database] |author] The remake of "Super Star", "Kirby Super Star Ultra", features the same Spring Breeze game, as well as a harder version of it titled "Revenge of the King".

References

ee also

*List of Kirby games

External links

*moby game|id=/kirbys-dream-land|name="Kirby's Dream Land"
*gamefaqs|id=563275|name="Kirby's Dream Land"
* [http://gameboy.ign.com/objects/005/005964.html "Kirby's Dream Land" at IGN]
* [http://www.gamespot.com/gameboy/action/hoshinokirby/index.html "Kirby's Dream Land" at GameSpot]