Kirby arrives on Nintendo GameCube at warp speed in his first-ever racing game. Based on the same principles as games like Super Smash Brothers and past Kirby titles, Kirby Air Ride offers an entirely new approach to the racing genre. The ultra-easy controls give Kirby Air Ride instant playability no matter how skilled the players may be. You control Kirby with the analog stick and the A button -- that's it. The stick steers the character left and right (he accelerates perpetually) and the A button when pressed slows him down and when released delivers a temporary speed boost. The idea is to hold the button down around corners, drift them, and then shoot out with a burst of speed. The game features a four-player split-screen mode and LAN support for link-up play.
Kirby Air Ride is a pretty strange game. At first, the racing mechanics appear mind-bogglingly simple, and the visuals sickeningly cute, but after digging a little deeper, a decent arcade-style racing title is uncovered. KAR marks a larger moment, however, for the GameCube as it is the first U.S. title to support LAN multiplayer gameplay via the use of the until-now unused broadband network adaptor. Does this mean that Nintendo is about to take its games online? Not quite, but this is a definite stride in the right direction. Read More »
If I remember correctly, Nintendo has been trying to put a version of Kirby Air Ride into gamers' hands since the early days of the Nintendo 64. It was delayed, scrapped, and morphed around so much that it finally vanished into thin air. Then, a couple of E3s ago, Nintendo spoke of a new racing title for the GameCube that would feature Kirby and his amorphous mates. Who knew that Kirby Air Ride would actually be the very first GameCube title that supported LAN multiplayer modes? It's a very odd game -- at least initially. But as time passes, Kirby Air Ride pushes past the "kiddy" appearance, and a solid enough racing game comes to light. Read More »
Also known as: Kirby's Air Ride, Kirby no Airride
Release Region: United States
Release Date: October 13, 2003
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Region: Japan
Release Date: Released
Publisher: Nintendo
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Kirby Air Ride at IGN
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