Kirby's Epic Yarn unravels all that.
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Nintendo Wii
Price: $95
Rating: Everyone
Transported from Dream Land into the alternate world of Patch Land, Kirby discovers air passes through his body, now made up of a few strands of yarn.
But the powers he's lost are replaced by new ones - he can re-form his body into a variety of objects, and lash out with a whiplike strand to damage foes or snag them to roll up into a ball.
A second player can join in as Prince Fluff of Patch Land, who has similar powers.
Despite its differences, the game is still similar to other Kirby titles.
The game-play is in two dimensions, with the backgrounds made up of a patchwork of fabrics, stitches and other materials, similar to the Little Big Planet games on PS3.
New levels are opened up as current ones are completed, and a boss lies at the end of each string of levels.
Obstacles and enemies abound in each stage - some can be defeated with the whip (which can also latch on to and pull many objects, or allow Kirby to swing), while others require a transformation on Kirby's part.
At certain points, Kirby can change his shape to something special - like a UFO that can suck up enemies and use them to charge an obstacle-destroying energy blast, or a tank that can roll over anything it its path.
Even in his native state, however, Kirby can't die - he only loses some of his collected beads when hit.
Beads and treasures found in a level count toward the score at the end, and can also be used to purchase new items for Kirby's apartment in Patch Land, and to spruce up other suites where his new friends live - or might live in the future.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is light stuff, not too challenging, but quite entertaining and very attractive.
