Talking Point is Kirby Informer’s column where our staff and readers can respond to trending questions and topics! Be sure to join the discussion in our comment section below or head on over to our social pages and share your thoughts with us there!
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Before you turn into Gooey, brace yourself for a revelation. Kirby: Triple Deluxe for Nintendo 3DS is officially a decade old. To celebrate the occasion, this week our team at Kirby Informer is looking back on the game and some of our favorite memories from its launch.
10 years later though, do you think Kirby: Triple Deluxe still holds up well? Do you like it better now than when it was released? Does it have some of Kirby's best sub-games? Was Taranza really all that memorable? Is the game completely overshadowed by its sequel, Kirby: Planet Robobot?
We want to know what you think! Before you comment below though, come climb our Dreamstalk as we visit some of our staff's thoughts on Kirby: Triple Deluxe a decade later.
Editor, Marc
I picked up Kirby: Triple Deluxe on launch day at GameStop, and while I immensely enjoyed it at the time, it was not something I would learn to really love until way after the game's initial release. While I still do not think Triple Deluxe is close to being the best Kirby game, it certainly competes with the best of the best. Perhaps it was just burnout from too many side-scrolling platformers on the 3DS at the time, but the first time I played Triple Deluxe, I personally felt the game failed to impress me in the same ways that Super Star Ultra and Return to Dream Land had. After being on a Kirby high from the 20th Anniversary Dream Collection, I was left satisfied but famished for something greater.
After replaying the game before Forgotten Land was released though (along with literally every other Kirby game ever made thanks to an abundance of time during the pandemic), I began to realize how much I didn't appreciate Triple Deluxe at the time of its release. The music and usage of its 3D effects had always been a high point for me, but some of the game's superb level design flew over me during my first playthrough, and there were way more memorable bosses than I had remembered--maybe even more quantity-wise than Planet Robobot. Over time, my opinions of Triple Deluxe have definitely swayed more positively. Back when it came out, it was by no means a favorite of mine, but today I would argue in a heartbeat that it's one of the best Kirby games.
Editor, Aurora
I remember when my imported Japanese copy of Triple Deluxe arrived shortly after it was released, and picking up my U.S. copy from Target on launch day.
Triple Deluxe was released during a very stressful time of my life, when I was about to enter the "real world" as a soon-to-be adult. I struggled to find an outlet that truly allowed me to let out my anxieties about all the daunting paths ahead of me. That is until I "made my way" into Floralia. From the world map theme bringing a smile to my face when starting up the game and loving just how absolutely bright and vivid the graphics are to seeing the awesome Sectra versions of enemies and being introduced to two of my all-time favorite characters, I was able to dive in and become entirely engulfed.
The feelings I experienced and the memories I created throughout my time playing are still, to this day, very strong. Due to this and other numerous factors that I could go on and on about, I truly believe it still holds up just as it did a decade ago. I've revisited Floralia numerous times since my first visit, and I can say with certainty that each visit is better than the last, except, of course, the first.
Writer, Crafty
It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since the release of Kirby: Triple Deluxe. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the many reasons why this game has always remained a favorite of mine since it launched in 2014. Triple Deluxe quickly won me over with its stunning visuals, distinct approach to 3D platforming, charming story, and a truly unforgettable climax that stands out as one of the best in the series. I’ll never forget the day I picked it up on release day and hurried home so I could get lost in the colorful and whimsical world of Floralia.
From the main menu to the ending credits, I found myself unable to put it down, eager to chase the mysterious Taranza up the Dreamstalk. It’s a game that I wish I could play for the first time again. I laughed, I cried, and I truly loved every moment of it. I had so much fun with the gyro controls, the background and foreground platforming, hunting down every last keychain hidden throughout the levels, and of course, the ever-addictive Dedede’s Drum Dash sub-game. The Hypernova ability ended up being one of my favorite gimmicks ever and was utilized so cleverly throughout the game. Kirby: Triple Deluxe has truly earned its reputation as one of the most beloved titles in the series, and even ten years later, it still holds a very special place in my heart and always will.
Writer, Gigi
To me, Kirby: Triple Deluxe is still a masterpiece 10 years later. It is one of the best games of the series to me. It has a lot of timeless elements, in particular, its superb level design, incredible music, and spectacular finale. In terms of level design, the background and foreground mechanics really spiced things up, making you explore environments in a way no other Kirby game had before. Moreover, the introduction of Keychains felt fresh. While collecting Sun Stones is fun on its own, it's always great to finish a stage and see which Keychains you got. And hunting down Rare Keychains is a nice optional challenge as well!
For music, (I wrote a whole post about it) Triple Deluxe still has one of my favorite soundtracks of the series. It has an incredible line-up of original tracks and amazing remixes, one more memorable than the other. The music truly enhances the experience. Last but not least, its finale is still my favorite overall of the series, and Queen Sectonia is still my favorite final boss in any Kirby game. Everything from the fight itself to her songs and backstory... It's all just, beautiful. To me, it's an experience unlike any other in the series.
I replayed Triple Deluxe not long ago and enjoyed it from start to finish. I am really hoping to do it again soon. It's always a blast to play, and it's definitely a game that aged well. It's still as amazing as when I first played it way back in May of 2014.
When Kirby: Triple Deluxe first came out, I didn’t get to play it right away—I was a bit late getting to it (I first played it in 2018), but when I finally got to experience it, it left such a profound impact on me that would change the course of my life forever. From its gameplay, level design, collectibles, music, characters, boss fights, and story, there was certainly a lot for me to be submersed in!
That said, there is always a bit of worry regarding how I might feel about a game years later, especially one that I love so deeply. Will it still elicit that same feeling for me? Each time I have replayed Triple Deluxe over the years, it only reinforces the love and admiration that I have for it. I felt exactly the same about it then as I do now, and I find that with time, I only appreciate it more! I literally would not be where I am today if I didn’t play it, and I am eternally grateful for that.
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