Publisher: Nintendo
Ages: five and up.
Parental
Advisory:
Arcade violence
This year, Nintendo is full of race games. Just after the speedy F-Zero GX, but before Mario Kart: Double Dash, the second in the company's race trilogy is Kirby Air Ride, a good racer for the younger set.
The game stars the popular Kirby, who can inhale enemies and copy their powers to launch fireballs, grow protective spikes or sprout wings to glide in the air. Most notably, the game features a single-button control for braking, sliding around corners and charging-up acceleration boosts. The control is simple and easy to learn, but may be too limited for some players.
In addition to Air Ride, the game's main race mode, there's Top Ride and City Trial modes. Top Ride offers adequate two-dimensional racing. While City Trial offers a battle mode that occurs in stadiums. Each of the three modes offer some 120 hidden challenges: achieving certain lap times; defeating a given number of enemies and more. The game also offers split-screen support for up to four players.
The game features some 15 vehicles, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Part of the game's challenge is figuring out which is best for a given course. The tracks are varied and challenging and the environments feature lush greenery, fiery lava and slick ice. There are also hidden courses, secret vehicles and special sound tests. The violence occurs at an innocuous, cartoon level.
Kirby Air Ride is definitely meant more for younger kids. The game doesn't have the depth of an F-Zero GX. And before considering, Air Ride, we recommend that you wait until we review Mario Kart: Double Dash, which will probably appeal to the same kids.
11/20/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
