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Remembering Kirby Air Ride (Two Decades Later)
The two decade wait is over. Kirby Air Riders dropped last weekend. My wife got it for me for my birthday. I am enjoying it so far. Though I am hoping my wife and I can sneak in some multiplayer rounds soon. This post, however, is not about Air Riders. It is about the original, airing on the Gamecube way back in 2003, this n64 fever dream project found life on the lunch box and, in my opinion, was so ahead of its time for the genre. My brother and I used to do, not exactly tutorials or LPs but videos of us playing this game back in like 2008 or something, long before that style of video was popular. So of course, I have an innate bias towards Kirby saddling the warp star and going to battle in various modes. Let’s take a look at Kirby Air Ride two decades later.
I am not a huge fan racing games. I am not playing the genre too often outside of Mario Kart and Kirby Air Ride. On one hand, maybe that makes me unqualified to talk about subjects like this. On the other hand, maybe I am uniquely qualified to talk about off beat racers. I think it’s easy to forget all the racing modes given how prevalent City Trial is. I don’t know about you guys, but it was the main thing I was playing back in the day. That’s kinda what I wanted to mention first. I love racers with alternative modes. Mario Kart has had the Balloon battle feature in their games for decades now, so I’m not acting like Kirby Air Ride invented that. I’m sure there’s more racing games than just that too. Twisted Metal and a bunch of other car combat games exist too.
But City Trial was just different. My brother and I played this mode to death. We probably knew all the secrets, all the events, the bonus special rides, how to get to anywhere on the map. Really, even though it was more sandbox than say an open world game like Grand Theft Auto, the city felt like a character itself. It had distinct areas like the underground, the shorelines, the forest, the volcano, the interior city zone. It’s crazy how many unique regions they fit into a relatively small map. That’s the thing, the map was kinda small, but it was fleshed out. It was really alive. I will say, I love how theyve added Kirby enemies in the city. I think it would have been cool to have random waddle dees in the underground going to work or getting lunch or something, but that’s beside the point.
And then there’s the matter of events, power ups, and stadiums. There were so many different stadiums like target practice, Destruction Derby, and fighting King Dedede for example. Each required you to have different power ups or air rides to fare better than your rivals. And the new game has added even more stadiums. Events kept things fresh playing over the same map time and time again. The events kept you on your toes and offered a wide arrange of randomness to each playthrough. Some were detrimental like getting a fog over the city or the rails catching fire. Some made things challenging like fake items or bouncy items. Some were scary like Dyna Blade attacking or meteors showering down. It doesn’t sound like much but it was plenty back in the day. Really, with all the random power ups, the multitude of unique riders, skin and character unlockables, different events and stadiums, we never got bored.
Speaking of boards, this game featured the check list. This thing was legendary back in the day. Considering this came out on the Gamecube and achievements didn’t appear on Xbox for a few more years, this really did feel ahead of its time. Again, not saying it was the first game with unlockables, alternative skins, and other forms of achievements, this was just the first time it had been presented to me in such a fun way. Just looking at Super Smash Bros Melee, another Sakurai game, it had plenty of unlockables and was plenty of fun to play. It came out two years before Air Ride. I feel like Sakurai took all the things great about unlocking stuff in Melee and just made the presentation really nice. I know that may sound superficial or maybe even like a weird compliment, but I just thought it was so fun to replay old levels or city trials and try out new combinations of things or different playstyles and get rewarded for it. You were already going to test out getting more charge power ups than glide power ups this round or you were going to test out the Wing Air Ride over the Jet Star. Or you were going to explore every inch of the volcano or the forest and you unlocked achievements for getting creative or playing differently than you already did. Again, I’m not saying Sakurai invented any of these concepts, but it certainly felt like he was perfecting them. This really made Kirby Air Ride feel rogue like in a time just before the rogue like resurgence of the 2010s, despite sharing next to no other elements of the genre.
I know I’ve spent most of this video talking about City Trial because to me it was the most fun and what made it stand out against the other kart racers, racing simulators and car combat games. Air Ride was a lot of fun and I’m glad it was in the game. I mean, heck it’s the namesake of the game but I think that’s only because Kirby City Trial doesn’t have the same ring as Kirby Air Ride. Still, it’s a great mode with awesome tracks and gorgeous and creative visuals. The power ups come from Kirby’s copy ability allowing him to suck up enemies and gain their powers. Admittedly, if memory serves, I didn’t play a lot of Air Ride because I liked getting the races as stadiums in City Trial. My memory is a little fuzzy but if I remember right you would play through City Trial and get your rider and all your power ups and then race through a single lap. I could be misremembering that, but that’s how I recall it.
I’ll be honest, we played Top Ride back in the day, but very sparingly. I’m not sure if we liked it compared to City Trial. It was just different, even from traditional racing. Oddly enough, I avoided this mode as a kid. The more I’ve played over the years, the more I’ve gone back to it. I wouldn’t say I have fully embraced it yet. It’s still hard to get excited for it when I have the two other modes, but I think it’s a mode I’ll continue to explore on the Gamecube and Switch 2 versions as time goes on.
Working on this post highlighted to me just how much more I played City Trial than the other modes. Most of my memories come from the City Trial mode. Again, I still respect and appreciate the other modes because even though I’ve been playing these games for almost two decades, there is still a lot to explore. The next time I fire up the original, I may go explore Top Ride and see what all I’ve missed out on. Its also great to have the race modes for my solo gamers. City Trial is still fun even when playing solo, but its better with friends. You can attack each other, compete for power ups, or even do random challenges like see who can glide the highest or furthest.
Hopefully all that yapping made sense. Its not so much that Sakurai and company were reinventing any wheels. It was all in its presentation. It was a joy to play, explore and experiment. 3 game modes, plenty of tracks, achievements, unlockable skins and characters. There was so much content and so many things to do. I often say the 6th generation of gaming was gaming perfection. Perfection is obviously a strong word because every generation has its strengths and weaknesses, but there’s just something about the games of this era. I think Kirby Air Ride was one of those games that captured the magic of this era.
So let me know how you guys are liking the new Kirby Air Riders and tell me your fondest memories of the original Kirby Air Ride. Thank you guys for reading this. I know I was kinda blabbering, but I’m really nostalgic for this game.
Exploring the Best Nintendo Games: IGN’s Top 100 Analysis
IGN, partnered with Nintendo Life, recently dropped their Top 100 Nintendo Games. Admittedly, I don’t have my top 100 ready to go toe to toe with IGN, but honestly, I don’t have many hot takes here. There were definitely some weird choices and questionable omissions, which we get into later.
Before we get into my post, here’s the article if you haven’t read it yet.
https://www.ign.com/articles/the-100-best-nintendo-games-of-all-time
Their selection criteria felt a little soft or just all over the place. The prime example they used was Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars on DS at #99. Its a game developed and produced by Rockstar games and even ended up on PSP, but was a DS exclusive for 9 months. That makes it qualified for this list. With that in mind, I wouldn’t take any of their comments too seriously and just enjoy the conversation and debate it breeds over getting lost in the weeds.
Some people flamed it for having recency bias and including too many games from a single series. This is exemplified by Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild taking spots 1 and 2. Odyssey scores in the top 5 as well. The top 20 saw 5 Zelda games and 4 Super Mario games (Five if you count Mario Kart Deluxe).
I think if you are going to do Nintendo’s top 100 games, you kinda have to include multiple games from the same franchise. Simply put Mario Odyssey, Ocarina of Time, Mario Galaxy, the Switch Zelda games, a Link to the Past are all classics. I mean these are just some of the best games Nintendo has ever made. They just so happen to spawn from two franchises.
Now, two major franchises I would have found room for in the top 20 would have been Kirby and Donkey Kong. DK64 and Donkey Kong Bananza are two of my favorite platformers of all time. Kirby 64, Kirby Air Ride and Kirby and the Forgotten Lands are three 10/10 games for me. Bananza was the highest scored DK game at #22 and Kirby and the Forgotten Lands scored the highest of the Kirby games at #39.
Most titles here come from two generations: The Super Nintendo and The Switch. These are often considered the greatest consoles Nintendo has put out, so I’m not surprised at all. Nintendo really was on a heater with their first party and third party support. The Super Nintendo gave us Super Mario World which was #3, A Link to the Past at #9 , Final Fantasy 6, Earthbound, Super Metroid at #8, Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger at #6. Again, surprised to see Donkey Kong Country 2 all the way down at #78. The Switch owned the day leading to people to questioning the recency bias. The Switch took spots 1, 2, 4 and 10. It was a strong showing for these two consoles racking up 8 of the top 10 spots.
The only non Switch non Super Nintendo games to crack the top 10 were Ocarina of Time at #6 and Tetris at #5.
I think if you remove nostalgia and revolutionary aspects of some games like Mario 64 and Pokémon Red and Blue, then I get their top 10 omissions. Those games still scored highly, Mario 64 clocked in at 25 and Red and Blue came in at 27. Respectable. I understand if you want them in top 10 because of how important they were to the industry. Though, I don’t think either are the best games in their respective franchises.
So what are some games that I would have moved up or down?
Resident Evil #4 came in at #20 and I certainly feel like that game is closer to a top 10 game. You may not immediately think of Nintendo when you see Resident Evil 4, but the Resident Evil series was a big deal to Nintendo on the Gamecube. It was massive on the Cube and Resident Evil 4 was at the forefront of that conversation. One of the best games of all time.
Pokémon Soul Silver and Heart Gold is the highest ranked Pokémon game at #15. Again. I probably would have found a way to get this closer to top 10 as well. Pokémon, despite what the modern games would have you think, is a very important franchise to Nintendo and should be represented in the top 10 somewhere. Pokémon Silver and Gold are perfect sequels, advancing and bettering the Pokémon franchise in every way and Soul Silver and Heart Gold helped modernize near perfect RPGs.
For some games with some really low rankings, I would have loved to have seen Kirby Planet Robobot and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker moved up higher instead of barely making the list. Kirby Planet Robobot is considered one of the best 3DS games of all time. While Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is one of the best Wii U hidden gems that got a little more attention thanks to its switch port.
Now for games that didn’t make the list at all.
I love Megaman 64. It is definitely a guilty pleasure of mine. The music, the city, the atmosphere are all so pleasant. I wish we had got Megaman Legends 2 on N64, still kinda salty to this day.
There’s no reason Yoshi’s Woolly World didn’t make this list. Of course the Wii U is underrepresented. If you give it credit for the Switch ports (which I’m sure you don’t), it would have had Xenoblade Chronicles X, Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze, Mario 3D World and Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. All of which I think are the Switch versions, but still not bad for Nintendo’s most recent flop of a console. All that to say, Woolly World is probably the best game stuck on the Wii U and should have absolutely made the list.
I would have liked to have seen another GameCube platformer on this list because they are some of the most fun I have had on a Nintendo console. Sunshine made the list at #77. Wario World, Ty the Tasmanian Tiger, Vexx, Billy Hatcher and SpongeBob Battle For Bikini Bottom are all fantastic and enjoyable experiences.
And I dont know if this is biased, but Kirby Air Ride should have totally made the list. That game is a gem.
So do you guys have any complaints with IGNs list? I know its IGN and a lot of people don’t take their opinions too seriously. And neither do I really. But its always a fun a discussion with you guys if nothing else. So what’s your top 10 Nintendo games and how do you feel about the list?
Games That Are TRAPPED on the Wii U!
With the last major Nintendo Switch Direct behind us, it’s getting safer to say these games will not be coming to the Switch. And yes, I’m using the phrase “stuck on Wii U” or something to that effect. But sure, the Switch’s successor could always port these games, but that’s no fun. So we’re suspending that for this video. A lot of these games were already unlikely to come over due to the game pad, even though we’ve seen companies rework their games before. So let’s look at some games that are stuck on the Wii U.
Let’s get the elephant of the room immediately, Zelda Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. I’ve been saying all along not to believe these rumors. And now 4 years later I feel vindicated. I don’t really like being negative. But let’s call a spade a spade. These games were rumored originally during the early days of Covid. The theology kinda makes sense. It was Covid. Nintendo was really relying on ports and remakes during the shutdown. Around a similar time, Zelda was celebrating its 35th anniversary. Mario had it’s 3D All Star Collection and some other goodies. Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Wind Wakers name started getting tossed around like a modern take on the Gamecube’s Zelda Collection. But there was never any real traction from Nintendo. Just fans shouting prayers into the dark hyrule sky. With every Direct, the rumors and mumbling for this collection would ebb and flow. Sometimes, you’d forget these rumors exist. Other times, you couldn’t escape it. I’ve long believed every Zelda game should be playable on the Switch. But I doubt we’re getting a gamecube feature added to NSO or these games getting physical releases on the Switch at this point. So I think it’s safe to say the HD versions of these games are stuck on the Wii U forever.
That brings us to Xenoblade Chronicles X. Personally, I did really want this ported over to the Switch. If I’m going to play a lengthy JRPG, I’d just prefer to play them on the Switch. I’m not giving up hope that this could be announced as a final shot in the arm for Switch on the way out the door, but I also don’t think it’d hurt sales to just be a Switch Successor title. Still I like the idea of all the Xenoblade Chronicle games being on the same console.
Next is Kirby. This is one of the few Kirby games that just didn’t click with me immediately. I was excited for the amiibo capabilities and I did like the first few levels. I’m just more of a Kirby on the ground kinda guy. I’m always down for a Kirby port don’t get me wrong. I was really hoping for one of the DS/3DS games personally. Still this was always a long shot. It doesn’t have the same mainstream appeal of Forgotten Lands. The playstyle with the stylus and Gamepad would have to had a major overhaul. I guess none of that was in the cards for our pink puff.
Staying on the “jaded entry of a beloved franchise” brings us to Star Fox Zero. The Gamepad gave this game a unique cockpit view that many people wondered how it would translate over. Overall, Star Fox Zero was not held with any esteem. So it was always more likely that we would get a new Star Fox more than a remake. And with how low the sun has gotten on the Switch, it’s looking like a lock that Star Fox will just be passed over for the Switch’s life span. At least Star Fox 64 is playable on the NSO N64 expansion.
Nintendoland is another misunderstood Wii U title that was always doomed to stay on the Wii U. And honestly, this belongs on the Wii U. As one of the best examples of why the gamepad is the most underrated controller of all time. The mini games are awesome. Is this truly a 60 title? No. But imagine if they remade it and added Splatoon, Pokemon, and Bayonetta to the list of attractions. It would have been awesome. Which is why I would have loved to see a sequel on the Switch.
With the announcement of Mario and Luigi Brothership, the ship has officially set sail on Paper Mario Color Splash. This post has probably outed me as a Wii U apologist. If it hasn’t, then the segment probably will. Color Splash is another misunderstood Wii U title. I know, I know. I sound like a broken record. Hard-core Paper Mario fans hated this game, but it really isn’t that bad. But again, I never expected to see this ported over. Until this year, I don’t think any Paper Mario games had been remade. I never thought they would remake TTYD, let alone Color Splash. And it’s also true. The original three Paper Mario games are just peak Paper Mario. So I think if they were ever going to remake a Paper Mario game, Color Splash was always going to be low on their list. One thing I’m happy about with Paper Mario is that we got a new title in Origami King and a Remake in Thousand Year Door. Color Splash is just an unfortunate victim of being the 4th or 5th best game in such a beloved franchise.
Here’s one you probably weren’t expecting, Devil’s Third. This game is technically published by Nintendo so I figured we would count it today. If you don’t follow Wii U collecting, this is the most infamous Wii U ever. Arguably the rarest, most expensive and dumbest game on the console. I say in half jest. It is one of two Wii U Games I don’t own. Did part of me hope it would get a Switch release and maybe that would lower the price? Maybe. Since it has escaped me to this day, I don’t have a lot to say about it. But again, it was published by Nintendo. They seem content to leave it stranded on the Wii U.
Lastly, today was the game I thought had the best shot. Probably the best Wii U exclusive left. Yoshi’s Woolly World. I’m super nostalgic for this game. It was an instant classic the day it came out. It’s one of the better modern day side scrollers and couch co-op games. This is the game I wanted brought over more than any other title mentioned today. If you own a Wii U and don’t own this one, I recommend grabbing now because I think it’s safe to say this title is trapped on the Wii U.
So there you go guys. These are the major games published by Nintendo left to rot on the Wii U. Of course, unless you’re a Wii U collector, fan and enthusiast like myself. Then you can play these games any time you wish. Almost makes me feel bad for all the filthy Switch owners. Again, I’m partly kidding. I own both consoles and love both. But keep this guide in mind while you’re out game hunting, because unless you grab a Wii U you’re missing out on some real bangers like Wind Waker HD, Twilight Princess HD, Nintendoland and Yoshi’s Woolly World. So did I miss any other Wii U exclusives? What’s your favorite game mentioned today? Let us know down below. Don’t forget to subscribe. We will see you in the next one.
Video Game Compilations!
Video Game Compilations
Compilations are super neat and some of my favorite items in my collection. There is a convenience to compilations. Having so many games in a single package has always fascinated me. I think my earliest experience with compilations was the Legend of Zelda Collector’s Edition on Gamecube. Boy, is this thing awesome! It combines 4 Zelda titles into one tiny disc. It’s got the two from the original NES as well as Majora’s Mask on N64. But far and away the prize jewel here is the demo of Wind Waker. I don’t think this collection could get any better. Oh, my gosh this thing even has Ocarina of Time on it!
This compilation is truly insane with the game choices.
I mentioned Zelda being one of my first experiences with gaming compilations. However, these video game collections predate even that. While I couldn’t find any concrete resource for what the oldest compilation is, I’m sure we all think of the same game when we think about compilations, Super Mario All-Stars.
All Star Collection came out in 1993. I came out in 1994. So I wasn’t around when it came out. But I can only imagine the hype of having the first 3 Mario games plus the Lost Levels thrown in for good measure on one cart. Mario was a gaming force that swept the entire world. It revitalized the gaming industry and put Nintendo on the map. Nintendo found a way to repackage the same games and create an unbeatable value proposition for its consumers. They didn’t want the end of the NES to be the end of classic Mario. So they ported over all the original Mario games in one collection. However, Nintendo went the extra mile and gave the fans a real treat. The Lost Levels.
For those of you who don’t know, this was the original sequel for Mario 1. However, it was deemed too difficult for Western audiences. Thus, our Mario 2 looks a lot different. This Super Nintendo compilation was the first time we here in the states got to play this previously Japanese exclusive.
I love when compilations have bonuses like unreleased games, unlockables, or any new ways to play old games. Look at the SNES Mini. It gave us Star Fox 2. Star Fox was revolutionary with its mode 7 graphics. Nintendo was quick to get Star Fox 2 in development. Well, around this time, the 5th generation of gaming had launched. Real 3D graphics were officially here. Plans for Star Fox 2 were scrapped and never seen again. Fast forward over 20 years, and the SNES Classic releases with all your favorite Super Nintendo titles: A Link to the Past, Earthbound, Super Mario World, Super Metroid. The gang was almost all here. Wait a second. What is that? Star Fox 2 gets an official release on the SNES classic!? Those are the kinda announcements that make compilations something special!
That gets us back to the Super Mario 3D All Stars. What a controversial collection. Let’s break it down some.
There is no need to hop from the N64 to Gamecube to Wii. Another awesome aspect is that the console these compilations are being released on are more than likely going to be the latest and most up to date consoles. This means you get all the benefits of modern consoles. Online leaderboards, HD graphics, achievements and trophies, and in the case of the Switch, portability. This means you can start your day playing Super Mario 64 in bed and stroll down to the local park and play Super Mario Sunshine without ever changing consoles. A lot of people dunked on the Super Mario 3D collection for Nintendo putting in the bare minimum effort, and well, yeah, they’re technically right. There’s not a lot in the way of extras. I would have liked for Mario 64 to have had the mini games from the DS version as unlockables. Or maybe an HD version you could switch between for new fans and purest. And I guess asking for Mario Galaxy 2 was asking for too much. Still, the ability to freely switch between 2 of the best games ever made and Sunshine with added mobility is still a strong case for why this is one of my favorite compilations of all time.
Okay, how about we look at another compilation on Switch. The Spyro Reignited Trilogy. This is what I wanted Mario 64 to look like. Spyro looks and feels amazing here on the Switch. The Spyro Trilogy was a special treat for classic and new 3D platformer fans alike. With the awesome iconic levels of the past with a fresh coat of paint, this was a match made in Heaven. They even went back and added skill points to Spyro 1. These serve as achievements and add some fun side quests to do while revisiting a favorite you know super well. The only bad thing to complain about here is that they only put the original Spyro on the cart. Spyro 2 and 3 are digitally downloaded.
We’ve talked about how these collections are perfect for replaying old favorites. But what about the opposite side of things – franchises you missed completely. For me, that’s the Klonoa collection. Klonoa on PS1 and PS2 are expensive! For the pair , you’re looking at about $400. Not to mention, they’re some of the harder titles to find on their respective consoles. The Switch rerelease helped allow thousands of players to discover the wondrous world of Klonoa for the first time. It’s a blast. This version added a new difficulty mode, the Easy mode. This is a welcomed addition for people who aren’t crazy about difficulty in video games and just wants to enjoy the game. Plus, some of the platforming alone is difficult enough without even mentioning the damage aspect of the game.
We’ve been talking a lot about Nintendo compilations , but Sony has had some bangers, too. The one that comes to my mind is the Ratch and Clank Trilogy collection. This is, without a doubt, maybe my favorite compilation of all time.
It’s just so good. You get one of the best trilogies in all of gaming. The Ratchet and Clank series on PS2 now moved to the PS3. Trophies are here. Graphics are updated. And all 3 masterpieces in one collection. To me, this perfectly embodies what makes these collections must own for fans.
The last compilation to talk about today is the Kirby’s Dream Collection. I wanted this compilation so bad as a kid and never got it.
So it was one of the first games I grabbed as an adult. Having 6 Kirby games on one disc was enough. But this game killed it with the extras. I’m going to quote the most trusted source in all the internet land for this, Wikipedia. So shout out Wikipedia! Kirby’s Dream Collection also features 13 new challenge stages based on those found in 2011’s Kirby’s Return to Dream Land.[3] An additional museum section features box art and video spotlights for every game in the Kirby series released through 2012, along with three viewable episodes from the anime television series Kirby: Right Back at Ya! (“Kirby Comes to Cappy Town”, “Crusade for the Blade”, and “Waddle While You Work”).[2] In addition to the game disc, the package includes a booklet that highlights Kirby’s history and provides behind-the-scenes trivia about the series, as well as a soundtrack CD containing 42 music tracks from past Kirby games and three new arrangements by the HAL Laboratory sound team. – per Wikipedia.
What’s not to love about that? And compilations in general, really. Every time the Switch gets a new collection, I get excited. I think about how the Baten Kaitos and Etrian Odyssey just got collections released semi recently. I’d love to add them to the collection eventually. Let me know if you guys have the same fondness about these collections as I do. And tell me, what’s your favorite video game compilation. Let me know down below!
Da_Hubbz 