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Kirby's Dream Land, also abbreviated as KDL and known in Japan as Hoshi no Kabi (星のカービィ, lit. "Kirby of the Stars"), is a 1992 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.[2] It is both the first video game in the Kirby series and the debut of the Kirby character.[3] 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.[4] 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.
[edit] Gameplay Kirby battling a boss named Whispy Woods. 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.[5] 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.[6] All levels are played on a two dimensional plane, allowing the player to move only left, right, up, and down. Kirby's movements include basic ones such as walking and jumping, but also including the ability to fly indefinitely. Kirby may also inhale enemies to either simply defeat them or to use them as projectiles. [edit] 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 Popopo (ポポポ), and Kirby's Dream Land was titled Twinkle Popo (ティンクル・ポポ). Eventually, he was renamed Kirby and the game was renamed as Hoshi no Kirby (literally Kirby of the Stars). 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.[7] [edit] PresentationThe visuals are presented in two dimensions using pixelated sprites and environments. They are in black and white (there are some versions that will play in color on a Game Boy Color/GBA), 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.[7] 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,[8] and has been a regular composer in the Kirby series. His most recent work was on Kirby Super Star Ultra in 2008.[9] Certain songs were also reused in the Super Smash Bros. series as the background music of the Dream Land stage in Super Smash Bros.[6] and the Green Greens stage in Super Smash Bros. Melee.[10] [edit] Reception[edit] CriticalKirby's Dream Land has an average of 63.8% at Game Rankings with five reviews.[11] 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.[12] 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. [13] [edit] Consumer reactionIn Japan, Kirby's Dream Land has sold more than 1.45 million copies since its release.[14] It was re-released as a Player's Choice title in North America,[15] indicating that it had sold a minimum of one million copies in that region.[16] [edit] LegacyKirby'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 its remake), 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.[17] 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.[6] 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". [edit] References
[edit] See also[edit] External links
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