Kirby’s Dream Land was released for the Nintendo Gameboy on August 1, 1992 in North America. It was the first of many Kirby titles, and established Kirby as a core Nintendo character. Before I explain why, I should tell you a neat little story, starring a young game designer and a lawyer.

Back in 1984, Universal City Studios, the movie studio responsible for King Kong  sued Nintendo, for using what they believed to be a blatant rip off of their character, Donkey Kong, the star of Nintendo’s 1981 arcade hit. Nintendo hires a seasoned lawyer, one that had previously represented companies such as PepsiCo., General Foods, and Warner-Lambert. Nintendo wins the case of course. Cut to 1992, to Hal Laboratory in Japan, a young up and coming game designer, Masahiro Sakurai, is looking for a name for his new game aimed at beginners. Oh, and the lawyers name? Jack Kirby.

Many people have scoffed at the theory that Nintendo’s Kirby is in fact named after Nintendo’s seasoned lawyer, but I’m a firm believer in the story. Who else would Kirby be named after?

Answer, This

Kirby’s Dream Land was part of Nintendo’s Blue Ocean strategy, before Blue Ocean even existed. The game was short, simple, and user friendly. The game was intended for new gamers, who wouldn’t be able to stand the difficulty of a Mario or a Zelda. Perhaps Kirby didn’t have the appeal of a Wii Sports or a Wii Fit, but the storybook kiddy boxart screams “buy me!” to the ever so lucrative 5-12 year old demographic.

The plot, like many Nintendo titles seems pulled out of a Saturday morning cartoon. You are Kirby, a small and unstoppable force, who defeats enemies by eating them. The nasty tyrant, King Dedede has stolen all of Dream Land’s food! It’s up to Kirby to fight for the huddled proletariat masses, and get back the food they so rightly deserve.

Gameplay is simple, perhaps a bit too simple. Dream Land wasn’t my first Kirby, so I was incredibly disappointed to see his copy ability absent. It’s hard to believe that Kirby’s trademark ability wasn’t in his first game. Not being able to copy enemy powers made the game feel cold, and empty: like Bosnia. The only thing you can do is suck, swallow, or spit up. That’s right, the gameplay is not unlike a checkup at the dentist.

Where the game really stands out is the music. Even with the games very limited capabilities, Kirby music has been jumpy, upbeat, and spastic since the beginning. I remember playing through the game, just so I could hear King Dedede’s theme. Thank God we have youtube now.

How does Kirby’s Dream Land shape up to today’s standards? For a classic, not as well as you’d think. Charms aside, playing the game makes you want to pick up another Kirby. A Kirby that’s longer, more colorful, and one that has a copy ability. Still like the levels and characters in Dream Land? Fear not!

Kirby Super Star, and it’s 2009 DS remake Kirby Super Star Ultra, offered a remake of the Gameboy title. Spring Breeze, one of the games offered in Super Star, is a near remake of Dream Land with a copy ability. Playing through this version goes much more smoother than the classic on the Gameboy. There’s just something icky about Kirby not having his copy ability. Kirby is also one of the most “colorful” characters of Nintendo. I just don’t think 8-bits can do him justice.