Nintendo’s True Star
Everyone knows Mario, Kirby, or Donkey Kong, but few people realize that Nintendo has a few more hidden gems that only Japanese gamers have been able to experience so far. One of them is the Starfy franchise, which has seen a total of five releases since 2000, and only the last one has made it to America. Since we love action/adventure games, we’re happy to welcome it to our DS line-up, and hopefully it’ll be the first of many exciting portable journeys.
The Legendary Starfy adventure brings us to the world of Pufftop, where we meet their renowned prince. Starfy is not just any prince; he’s actually a busy one, and he’s also known for his unconditional courage. Granted, his bravery wouldn’t be such without the help of his best friend Moe, a chatty clam that gives him advice. It’s not long before we meet Bunston, an odd space bunny who lands right into the middle of things, wondering where he’s coming from and what he’s doing there; all he knows is that he needs to run away. After Starfy and his friends earn his trust, they decide to go away and help him out in the search of some interesting crystal shards scattered about the lands. These conventional events are just the beginning of the main quest, which leads the characters to a quite unique adventure full of interesting bosses and mini-bosses, side challenges, mini-games, and lots of action and underwater platforming.
The graphics have an old-school vibe, though with great quality. The cutscenes are simple, hand-drawn animations with little more than funny character expressions like their eyes popping and their tongues hanging out. There’s admittedly a very Japanese sense of humor and art style, but that’s what makes this game so cool and fun, and ultimately so Nintendo. Like most handheld adventures, it’s a sprite-based, two-dimensional side-scroller, and the only 3D element in it is the custom Starfy avatar shown on the top screen when you pause the game.
There are many different ways of playing The Legendary Starfy. There is, of course, the main story mode, and then there are five mini-games you’ll unlock while playing the main mode. These mini-games are reasonably fun, though you’ll get the sense of “been there, done that” when you play them. Still, they can get you hooked, and that’s what matters the most, as it extends the play value of this cartridge. My favorite mini-game has you cooking octopus dumplings, Cooking Mama style – oil the pan, pour the dough mix, chop the octopus, stir the mix and turn it into a dumpling, then flip it a couple of times, and finally, add the dressings. For some reason, I found this frenzied virtual cooking to be very addictive, even though I’ve never been into Cooking Mama .
As for the main mode, it’s certainly not as addictive, but it’s engaging enough that if you get the game, you’ll most likely finish it. Starfy has a few special moves. Y makes him spin or dash when he’s not in the water. B makes him sprint in the water (turbo swim), as well as jump or glide when in the surface. You can use the special Y spin to knock down enemies, break blocks, push boulders around, etc. Just keep in mind if you use it too many times in a row, Starfy will get dizzy and become vulnerable in front of enemies, so use it properly. As you advance through the story and meet other characters, you’ll also acquire new moves and abilities that will help you proceed more efficiently. Bunston also participates in certain areas of the game by transforming into a fire-breathing dragon (Monstar), a manatee that can break through ice, a ghost, etc.
Starfy’s latest adventure is filled with cool Kirby-style characters, and they all have their function, in addition to the roles they play in the story. For example, Moe the clam gives you info about nearby hidden doors and lets you know when there’s treasure around, the pink-haired mermaid saves your progress, the ancient lobster keeps track of your stats (number of spins, distance traveled, play time), Bunston keeps count of the shards you’ve found and gems you’ve collected, etc. They are all extremely cute and friendly-looking, and while this may not be appealing for everyone, their charm is unquestionable.
The different environments all have a common underwater theme, but the adventure takes place in different locations such us the GluGlug Lagoon, the Hotcha Springs, the ice levels, etc. The level design changes in each of those worlds, with new challenges and enemies throughout. This makes the quest more varied, so even though the gameplay is on the easy side, players will still find enjoyment in the game. Each of those worlds contains a few stages, kind of like they did with Super Mario World and so many other adventure games these days. In addition, as you explore the levels, you’ll find hidden doors that open up extra secret levels within each world. There are also hidden treasure chests throughout; in them, you’ll find special trinkets – mostly clothing and accessories – that you can use to dress up the Starfy 3D model that appears on the pause screen. You can also buy items with the pearls you collect in the game, which also help to restore your health.
In case you didn’t know, Starfy has a sister whose name is Starly. She’s pink and she’s as brave as he is. She’s the other playable character that can be used when playing co-op, which is available in certain areas of the game. Being able to play it with someone else brings up its value even more. I can imagine a dad would be happy to play The Legendary Starfy with his kid, but siblings and friends can also take advantage of this feature and play together. Plus, Starly has special moves like bouncing off walls, crawling into small places, a low spin, and more. These are things that only she can do, so it’s fun to team up with someone else to fully get through the story. You don’t even need to have another cartridge to play co-op, which is appreciated. Mini-games can also be played against up to three other players.
All in all, The Legendary Starfy is a solid offering that will be especially appealing for younger players due to its somewhat low level of difficulty. Even the boss battles aren’t too challenging, so it should be a breeze to get through the game. However, it’s so charming and complete, with mini-games and all, that Nintendo fans should be able to really enjoy it. The Legendary Starfy sports cool graphics, great character design, fun yet easy gameplay, and a cute soundtrack with a tropical vibe that you can listen to at any time once you unlock it. It’s definitely a great addition to the DS line-up of first-party games.
RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.0 Graphics
The game’s level design will remind you of Super Mario’s underwater levels, while the characters resemble those found in Kirby adventures. The presentation is great overall, even if a little kid-oriented. 3.9 Control
The game is very easy to control. The main adventure is controlled with the buttons, while the mini-games make use of the touch screen. 3.6 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The music is forgettable, but it’s also cute and cheerful, with a nice tropical vibe to it. Sound effects are simple and barely noticeable. 4.0
Play Value
There’s a lot to do in The Legendary Starfy, starting with the main adventure and the five somewhat addictive mini-games. You can also listen to the game’s soundtrack, check out your stats, play special levels in co-op mode with other friends, or even compete in mini-game battles. Even though the game is easy, it’s also pretty fun.
3.9 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Game Features: