Kirby: Triple Deluxe

Kirby: Triple Deluxe takes the pink hero into a world that, for the first time, fully utilizes the depth of the 3DS display as a gameplay mechanic - Kirby isn't limited to moving just left and right, but also between the foreground and background of the scene, which gave level designers room for hidden paths, tricky traps, and visually striking moments where enemies or projectiles unexpectedly appear from the depth of the image. The classic ability-copying mechanic remains the core of the gameplay, with several new abilities added, including the powerful Hypernova form, which allows Kirby to suck in oversized objects and parts of the environment, and the game juggles them with the usual lightness and sense of humor that has accompanied the series since its beginnings.

The story revolves around a mysterious giant plant that at night carries off Kirby's castle, along with King Dedede, high into the clouds, and the player gradually works their way up to an impressive final battle against Queen Sectonia, one of the most visually striking bosses in the entire series. Besides the main campaign, the cartridge also offers two standalone minigames - the fighting game Kirby Fighters, where players can compete against others locally or online, and the rhythm game Dedede's Drum Dash - which extend the title's lifespan beyond its fairly short main storyline. The graphics are colorful, full of detail, and technically very solid, while the music is typically cheerful, melodic, and catchy, as is customary for the series.

Contemporary critics received the game very positively and ranked it among the best platformers on the 3DS, praising in particular the creative use of the 3D effect and the variety of abilities. Even with the passing of years, Triple Deluxe stands out as one of the peaks of Kirby's work on handhelds, a title that, thanks to its inventive use of image depth and careful level design, retains its freshness to this day and is often recommended even to players who are only just discovering the series. The main campaign's short playtime is thus offset by the appeal of replaying the game for hidden collectibles and alternate paths that are easily missed on the first playthrough, making it a title with a surprisingly long lifespan despite its compact scope.