Kirby: Planet Robobot

Kirby: Planet Robobot ranks among the very best that HAL Laboratory delivered on the Nintendo 3DS — it is a sharp, inventive and surprisingly polished 2D platforming gem that takes the proven formula of the pink glutton and gives it an entirely new dimension. This time the planet Popstar is invaded by the mechanized Haltmann Works Company, and Kirby confronts it at the wheel of a robotic suit.

The heart of the game is the Robobot Armor — a mech Kirby hops into and through which he copies the abilities not only of enemies but also of the machines around him. Scan mode turns the mech into, say, a power plant, a drill or a cannon, opening paths that an on-foot Kirby could not manage. The classic swallowing and copying of abilities remains, but the mech plays out combat and puzzle situations on a larger scale, including flashy camera rotations into 2.5D. The console's stereoscopic 3D effect is also put to use, lending the levels depth. Retro fans prize Planet Robobot for its perfectly tuned pacing, witty industrial style, catchy music and bonus modes like Meta Knightmare Returns. It is one of those Kirbys that even seasoned players put down with a smile and an appetite for another run.