Starfy’s latest adventure is filled with cool Kirby-style characters, and they all have their function, in addition to the roles they play in the story. For example, Moe the clam gives you info about nearby hidden doors and lets you know when there’s treasure around, the pink-haired mermaid saves your progress, the ancient lobster keeps track of your stats (number of spins, distance traveled, play time), Bunston keeps count of the shards you’ve found and gems you’ve collected, etc. They are all extremely cute and friendly-looking, and while this may not be appealing for everyone, their charm is unquestionable.

The different environments all have a common underwater theme, but the adventure takes place in different locations such us the GluGlug Lagoon, the Hotcha Springs, the ice levels, etc. The level design changes in each of those worlds, with new challenges and enemies throughout. This makes the quest more varied, so even though the gameplay is on the easy side, players will still find enjoyment in the game. Each of those worlds contains a few stages, kind of like they did with Super Mario World and so many other adventure games these days. In addition, as you explore the levels, you’ll find hidden doors that open up extra secret levels within each world. There are also hidden treasure chests throughout; in them, you’ll find special trinkets – mostly clothing and accessories – that you can use to dress up the Starfy 3D model that appears on the pause screen. You can also buy items with the pearls you collect in the game, which also help to restore your health.

In case you didn’t know, Starfy has a sister whose name is Starly. She’s pink and she’s as brave as he is. She’s the other playable character that can be used when playing co-op, which is available in certain areas of the game. Being able to play it with someone else brings up its value even more. I can imagine a dad would be happy to play The Legendary Starfy with his kid, but siblings and friends can also take advantage of this feature and play together. Plus, Starly has special moves like bouncing off walls, crawling into small places, a low spin, and more. These are things that only she can do, so it’s fun to team up with someone else to fully get through the story. You don’t even need to have another cartridge to play co-op, which is appreciated. Mini-games can also be played against up to three other players.

All in all, The Legendary Starfy is a solid offering that will be especially appealing for younger players due to its somewhat low level of difficulty. Even the boss battles aren’t too challenging, so it should be a breeze to get through the game. However, it’s so charming and complete, with mini-games and all, that Nintendo fans should be able to really enjoy it. The Legendary Starfy sports cool graphics, great character design, fun yet easy gameplay, and a cute soundtrack with a tropical vibe that you can listen to at any time once you unlock it. It’s definitely a great addition to the DS line-up of first-party games.

By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director