Kirby: Squeak Squad

Kirby: Squeak Squad is a 2D platform gam developed by HAL Laboratory and Flagship, with Nintendo acting as the publisher, for the Nintendo DS. It is the final Kirby game to be developed by Flagship before it was folded back into Capcom, as well as the last one without the series' current creative director Shinya Kumazaki involved.

Kirby: Squeak Squad
Inhale and conquer!
Protagonist(s): Kirby Genre(s): 2D Platformer Platform(s): Nintendo DS Developer(s): HAL Laboratory Flagship Publisher(s): Nintendo Country: Japan Series: Kirby Predecessor: Kirby: Canvas Curse Successor: Kirby Super Star Ultra (by release date) Kirby's Epic Yarn (chronologically)

Why It's a Treasure Hunt

1. The gameplay returns to the familiar linear platformer style that the series is known for while also incorporating new elements to give this game its own identity:
   • The Touch Screen acts as the game's inventory (represented as the pocket dimension inside Kirby's stomach), where you store Treasure Chests, Copy Bubbles, Item Bubbles, etc. You can even combine Bubbles together to make new items or Copy Abilities (some of which can combine to make Ability Combinations).
   • Most levels contain Treasure Chests that are opened at the end of each level, which gives you incentive to explore around for them. Their contents include Bubbles, Music, Spray Paint, etc.
2. Colorful, vibrant graphics for Nintendo DS standards, despite being made on the same engine as the other Flagship-developed Kirby games.
   • The locations are also well-designed, such as Nature Notch's flowered fields, Jam Jungle's tropical rainforest/temples, and Gamble Galaxy taking place in outer space.
3. As always, the controls are tight and responsive, both when controlling Kirby himself with the buttons and using the stylus to combine Bubbles.
4. The Copy Abilities, both new and returning, are just as fun to use as always, despite their limited movesets in this game. Each one can also learn new moves via Technique Scrolls, which gives players even more incentive to find Treasure Chests in levels.
   • Three of the four newly-introduced Copy Abilities (Animal, Bubble, and Ghost Kirby) have creative and cute designs, and their powers are fun to use (such as Animal Kirby's digging, Bubble Kirby trapping enemies inside bubbles, and Ghost Kirby possessing his foes).
   • Fan-favorite Copy Abilities from past games (such as Throw, Ninja, and UFO Kirby) return here, and their upgrades make them more versatile than they already were.
5. Good soundtrack composed by Hirokazu Ando, Jun Ishikawa, Tadashi Ikegami, and Shogo Saki, despite reusing some music from Amazing Mirror.
6. The Squeak Squad, who are introduced in this game, are entertaining secondary antagonists who each have their own gimmick to obtain a Big Chest.
   • Spinni, the fastest member, challenges Kirby to a race for the chest when he is in a level. He also carries the Ninja and Animal abilities, provided you inhale his claws or shuriken.
   • Storo, the strongest member, fights Kirby mano-a-mano whenever he appears.
   • Doc, the smartest member, rides in a UFO and gives Kirby a puzzle to solve before reaching the chest.
   • Daroach, the leader of the Squeak Squad, is fought as the boss of Ice Island (as his normal self) and later as Dark Daroach while possessed by Dark Nebula in Gamble Galaxy. He also becomes a playable character in Star Allies' "Guest Star ???" Mode, along with other characters who are or have been villains (e.g. Marx, Dark Meta Knight, Magolor, Taranza, and Susie).
7. The bosses are as fun to fight as always, especially both Daroach fights, Mrs. Moley, Meta Knight, and of course, Dark Nebula (the final boss).

Bad Qualities

1. The story is one of the weaker ones in the series thus far: Kirby's main motive is to track down his shortcake that was stolen by the Squeak Squad, making him the only reason the plot even happened.
   • Similarly, Kirby himself is very poorly-portrayed in this game (to say nothing of his portrayal in Kirby's Avalanche), going from a friendly, mostly peaceful protagonist to a borderline psychopath who will stop at nothing to retrieve his shortcake.
2. Unlike most of the new Copy Abilities introduced here, Metal Kirby is not very useful: while you do become invincible, you are also very heavy and very slow due to being made of solid metal. Not even the Technique Scroll that allows Metal Kirby to transform into a ball can save the ability as a whole.
3. The Ability Mixing mechanic is severely underutilized in this game compared to Kirby 64 and Star Allies, with only five elemental combinations that are possible to create, while any others just give a random Copy Ability.
4. While still moderately challenging without it, the final boss against Dark Nebula can be trivialized with the Triple Star cane (which can solve any puzzle in the game).

Reception

Kirby: Squeak Squad received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics (scoring a 71/100 on Metacritic) and generally favorable reviews from users (scoring 7.9/10). While the level design, graphics and gameplay were praised, the story, lack of originality and removal of the map from Amazing Mirror were criticized.

Trivia

• Two of the main Squeak Squad members' names start with the letter D (Daroach and Doc) while the other two's names start with the letter S (Spinni and Storo). This is a possible reference to the Nintendo DS itself.

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