Kirby's Adventure [Game Concepts]

In the Game Concepts category, I'll be looking back at how I came up with the ideas for each of my games. For this second entry, we'll look at Kirby's Adventure.
Kirby's Adventure is the first game where Kirby had the power to copy enemy abilities. I'll talk about where this and some of the other ideas in the game came from, and touch upon the circumstances that led to its creation.

[@pixelkated1096]

“The art is a little rough” My dude, those are some of the cutest Kirby art I’ve seen

[@MrDHWong1989]

Sakurai being his usual modest self 😊

[@ShinkuJessicaNoGigaRadio]

2:42 Sakurai san would be a mangaka

[@stevenwhuntva]

I'm having deja vu , I think he's said that before and this has been the same sort of response.

[@السراقالمجهول]

no no he is right, its a little rough but its very understandable considering the circumstances besides its still cute

[@DoomRater]

Not the art itself, what the art is conveying. You can barely see concepts that made it into the game and would be more prominent in Kirby Super Star later on. Some of those concepts still didn't make it into Kirby's Adventure!

[@martinduebner]

It's great that he does not only talk about the game design aspect, but also the reality of finances, pressure and marketing strategizing in the background, like game dev is still a job in a company, not a dream land. Money is a always a problem in your back and is an obstacle you'll have to deal with and work around when creating art, and it will influence.

[@theenderkirby]

Well one thing for sure sakurai is the man who saved hal even after he left the company

[@_Just_Another_Guy]

Game dev is (almost) an impossible career back then not just because of early technology limitations (computer processors were almost the size of an entire room) but services that we take for granted nowadays like GoFundMe, Patreon, and a lot of internet web apps for connecting various people (like investors, customers, game testers, etc.) were simply non-existent. Nowadays, indie game development is flourishing because of the ease of access and convenience of getting one's ideas out there and simply creating an online fundraiser to fund it.

[@theenderkirby]

@@_Just_Another_Guy for better and for worse the accessability for indie titles making game really destroyed the mobile game market into quality control disaster that not worth the time at this point

[@CarbonRollerCaco]

Which is why a lot of sequels, even those of older games, are samey to some degree: it's cheaper, faster and less stressful to reuse and update older game components alongside some newer ones than to make all-new ones every time.

[@theenderkirby]

@@CarbonRollerCaco ti an extand I agree some sequels are just feel staled and nocreativity like the first that I?agree for the most part in movie series the first is the best but is really depend on execution than anything else

[@Y4manata]

Company: make a game fast and release it fast! Sakurai & co: *proceeds to completely revolutionize Kirby*

[@theenderkirby]

Yeah it did what mega man 2 and 3 fell more flat for me it have more polish no doubt

[@BlinksAwakening]

Proceeds to release one of the greatest and most technologically advanced NES games of all time.

[@dugoo3405]

@@BlinksAwakening and literally proceeds to save the company

[@Exarian]

People criticize indie devs for doing "retro pixel graphics" because they're "easier and cheaper" but here's Sakurai openly admitting that this is actually a valid move and is the reason Kirby's Adventure was on the NES. It's still a lot of work to make games like that, and sometimes you gotta settle for what you can work with and make the most of it.

[@Amsel_616]

@@Exarian Best part of it is that of the art is good it can survive the test of time and still look awsome, best example from the top of my head are Megaman X4 and The Binding of Isaac Rebirth.

[@kamileon7065]

That part about using the info panel to limit screen height is so clever, and it never occurred to me!

[@السراقالمجهول]

ngl I kinda hated in all of the classic kirby games, it feels like so much screen space was wasted im so glad all of the 2000s games and onward got rid of that

[@anthonybrooks291]

TOTALLY agree! A lot of the best design decisions with any type of media seems to arrive from finding clever and (in hindsight) obvious solutions to problems!

[@UltimateTS64]

Ikr

[@LeafRazorStorm]

It definitely made porting to the GBA for “Nightmare in Dream Land” much easier. No need for screen crunch if you just remove the HUD.

[@السراقالمجهول]

@@LeafRazorStorm I dont even know how did you confused it for a port like every single assets in the remake is brand new with a new art style and the physics were changed drastically its a remake

[@RickachuCXVI]

It's kinda crazy to go from a character with such a simple moveset to being given over 10 different *optional* movesets to learn in the very next game with only the simple act of pressing down Edit: I've been informed that's it's about 25 forms, which still reinforces the point

[@DobygamesGC]

That happens like me

[@ace0135]

@@TheRealBatabii and essentially lays the foundation for one of the greatest games of all time

[@Terranigma23]

and all that in only 1 year after the release of Kirby Dream Land 1.

[@stickyfingers5189]

That happened to my buddy Eric

[@Yusei255]

there isn't going to be another smash game, smash ultimate was a send-off to the series.

[@FluuuffInari]

It's so cool seeing how much of what was planned for Kirby's Adventure actually ended up in later Kirby games!

[@chomik172]

In Kirby series things never get unused ot forgotten The scrapped sub-game in Kirby Super Star was referenced in Epic Yarn and Mass Attack, for example

[@theenderkirby]

Copy abilities is the thing in my opinion that push kirby as a gaming icon

[@mechashadow]

Like the fuse puzzle always being a fun staple.

[@JinjoJinjoJinjo]

Reminds of how in the last one, Sakurai said kirby was going to have a tongue, and I think they used that for gooey in Dreamland 3

[@VonFirflirch]

Though, sometimes, like Mini-Kirby, it makes you realise why they initially scrapped it ;)

[@svenbtb]

I replayed Kirby's Adventure recently, and what really struck me was how FULL it felt. Like, it wasn't a "Oh this was a pretty good attempt at a Kirby game for the NES", it's was "Oh, wow, everything that makes Kirby great is here!" It really holds it's own right next to Mario 3 as far as being an NES classic that's still immediately playable and fun, even if you didn't grow up playing NES games or aren't usually into retro games.

[@PadensPixels]

Not only did Sakurai not even mention that Kirby’s Adventure is by far one of the best looking NES games, thanks to its cartridge having the largest memory out of any officially released NES cartridge, but he also always makes sure to thank his co-developers whenever talking about his work on any game. This man’s humbleness is commendable. P.S. Those Kirby drawings are adorable!

[@TazTheYellow]

He didn't even mention Kirby's Adventure's plot twist. Most people know it as what led Kirby lore to becoming what it is today, but all its own, it was a milestone for video game storytelling.

[@MegaKirbySuperstar]

@@TazTheYellow Thank you. Yes the current general director (Shinya Kumazaki) is quite influenced by Kirby's Adventure when it comes to the story telling and was impacted by the fight with Nightmare! It's amazing the many influences Sakurai has had on the series even with being away. A testament to the foundation and games he worked on.

[@jasonhill8696]

Actually metal slader glory (also made by HAL) was bigger

[@lukiwei9468]

Very well drawn in comparison to other concepts back then actually. Also, humility

[@bryandeluxe2118]

I knew that this game was Kirby's first and ONLY NES game

[@zekeram129]

This series feels like Sakurai showing us Kirby's baby photos

[@Portersona69420]

Kirby is a Baby though.

[@quadpad_music]

@Elijah Steeby And Kirby is round

[@Rubberman202]

The idea that Sakurai felt he can appeal to beginner and advanced gamers by having it possible to progress through the game just by inhaling and spitting out enemies is an interesting detail, since I've found that, in more modern Kirby games especially, it's honestly a lot harder to beat certain bosses, particularly final bosses, by only relying on the inhale ability. Copy abilities really do make certain boss fights much easier to deal with.

[@Icember1]

I know this game came out towards the end of the NES' cycle, but I always thought this title was so far ahead of it's time. Charming graphics, catchy music, engaging gameplay mechanics, loveable character designs & fun mini-games made this gem more than the sum of it's parts.

[@theenderkirby]

While basically not the best kirby title is still develop kirby to what it is today and heck even his influence on the modern kirby games is no slouch

[@codecoderr7495]

because it was programmed by Satoru Iwata himself

[@MegaKirbySuperstar]

​@@theenderkirby No game is going to ever be the best when newer versions keep coming out but it's definitely one of the most important Kirby games without a doubt. That alone puts it in a "legacy" league. Never mind being best Kirby, being a Legacy title is amazing for the series. It's not just still a very good game but important. Kirby's Adventure and Kirby Super Star are undoubtedly the Kirby franchise's equivalent to a Mario 3 or Super Metroid for the series. Something that effects the rest of the franchise and even other games outside it (In the case of KSS, that would be Smash Brothers) That's the kind of stuff that lives on. It's honestly a testament to how Kirby is a legacy franchise as well with the likes of other Nintendo icons. Like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, etc it's retro titles still stand strong.

[@jameso2290]

Most games developed toward the end of a consoles "lifespan" tend to be some of the most graphically intense and technically advance games for their system. Look at rares Donkey Kong Country 3 and Conker's Bad Fur Day for example. Or Breath of the Wild for Wi U. Regardless what you think of those games, they're very graphically pretty for the systems they're on.

[@theenderkirby]

@@MegaKirbySuperstar yes and no sometimes older titles are better than newer in a franchise I mean when I heard resident evil ppl always saying that 2 and 4 never be topped but yes in kirby case I agree the newer titles overcome the older I mean return to dreamland ,triple deluxe ,planet robobot and star allies did what both super star and adventure did in their concept and took it into the next level and yes I love star allies more than adventure and even some bigger kirby titles

[@TheChckster]

Kirby’s Adventure is so ahead of its time. One of the only NES games that still holds up alongside the Mario games,

[@why3994]

Ngl the original castlevania doesn't hold up that well

[@rifasclub]

@@why3994 nah, it does. That's why so many people still play it.

[@PkmnMT]

I mean, it was made after the snes was already out, that's probably why it's ahead of its time... though I agree it's one of the few NES games that still hold up to this day

[@Rivalseeker]

@@rifasclub I think @why means that Castlevania NES's game feel hasn't aged the most gracefully. Comparing that to Super Castlevania IV on SNES, Simon is a lot more flexible to control in the latter. I'm not saying you can't enjoy the originals, of course.

[@roskiart8750]

@@Rivalseeker The limited control was by design tho. Not only that but the game is built around it. Even later games would scale the control back from Simon's in Castlevania IV because it broke the difficulty curve in half. A game's control should be built around the needs of the game's design. The fact it's stiff doesn't mean it's innappropriate as long as the game is built around it.

[@super_dino341]

I'd definantly say that one of my most favourite things about the games is being able to use the enemies abilities! It just allows you to really feel powerful and its just a great concept overall

[@theenderkirby]

Is aconcept I always wished to have in gaming as a kid and while I am not from this era I started from the PS2 kirby introdouced me to this idea in return to dreamland and this title is the one who start it and I more than happy for the game's existence

[@ShinkuJessicaNoGigaRadio]

Kirby, Megaman, Pokemon,Mario There are so many Sometimes I feel like I was born in Japan in order to make a game like them

[@dugoo3405]

This is why I love the Ghost ability in Kirby Squeak Squad!! It literally let's you possess and play as the enemies!

[@RogersBase]

That concept art was so cool to see!

[@carlosfigueroa8322]

It's my only oportunity to thank Mr. Sakurai for creating this game. For my childhood, this was between my only 7 games on my home. Because of it, Kirby is my favorite character since I remember. The character did shape my life: always putting on a smile when facing obstacles, problems and enemies. Kirby allows me to remember my 10 year old life. Now I'm 22 years old. But I will always have Kirby as the first step shape shifting my personality and lifestyle. Than you Mr. Sakurai

[@AussieGameTrip]

I still go back and play Kirby's Adventure once in a while (most recently on the Nintendo 3DS). Even by modern standards the game holds up extremely well. Thank you Mr. Sakurai.

[@theradman9478]

Well to be fair the 3DS version fixed the frame drops completely

[@eksmad]

@@theradman9478 For me THE definitive version to play!

[@theenderkirby]

@@theradman9478 why the switch and wii versions didn't fix the lag I mean they much more powerfull from the 3DS

[@theenderkirby]

@@eksmad why not the GBA one may I ask don't get me wrong the 3DS version is still incredible by any means

[@eksmad]

@@theenderkirby Because the 3DS one has zero lag, is 100 % faithful and I like the subtle 3D effect a lot :) Nothing wrong with the GBA version!

[@Kosmicd12]

"I think games can only use 1 button" yep, definitely Sakurai

[@MK8MasterJunjie]

Keep up the good work, you might get more subscribers than me one day.

[@Sideprawn]

​@@MK8MasterJunjie Damn lol He did

[@WaterMeLoan64]

I have always been fascinated by how the yarn aesthetic from a TV advertisement of Kirby’s Adventure was eventually used for the design of Kirby’s Epic Yarn years later! 💫 🧶

[@AlfredKamon]

Having Mr. Sakurai explain how he overcame financial issues is so inspiring. Like, knowing that even *HIM* struggled as a game developer at the early stages of his career is mind-blowing. For players it might be entertaining but for fellow devs it also is very encouraging. This is a perfect example of good time/cost management and capitalizing on a single, well-executed idea.

[@EnchantedSmellyWolf]

Not just himself but the whole team to work on the what they were told to make it happen and they succeeded with great determination.

[@ausgod538]

It wasnt him but hal

[@codecoderr7495]

@@ausgod538 he was game designer at hal at that time, then Satoru Iwata came and helped him

[@actuallynotsteve]

I wish it was possible to tell Sakurai how wholesome and amazing we all think he is, we're just not deserving of the dude

[@theenderkirby]

Yeah this legend just one of if not the best person on this world

[@OhKayEl]

SSSSIIIIIMMMPPP! Just kidding, it's not that far off from the truth.

[@Lugbzurg]

Japanese lessons! Just tell him "どうもありがとうございます桜井先生。" (Meaning "Thank you so much, Instructor Sakurai!")

[@ceresgc]

So THAT'S where the copy ability came from. As far as I know, that's completely new info that we always wondered, since it's a pretty huge addition.

[@richie404]

Those art designs of Kirby looks so great and adorable.

[@t.h.mcelroy6597]

Getting to see the legend himself discuss the best Nintendo character of all time is a treat that I never even dreamed I'd be a part of. So glad he started this series 💛

[@Cri_Jackal]

I need that self destruct ability to be made real, it's just too funny of a concept.

[@AsianRailgun]

It kind of sounds like what would later on become the Crash ability.

[@gamebitz7397]

Kazikame Crash

[@Gemini476]

@@AsianRailgun Given that it's labelled "(trap)", I think it probably became the Sleep ability? Still a trap, just much less harsh in consequences.

[@C_Arson]

@@AsianRailgun Crash already was in Kirby's Adventure, unless you mean that it actually looked like an explosion in later entries.

[@EmeraldMan25]

I think that like others have said, it's supposed to be crash ability

[@SirGary]

Masahiro Sakurai? Yeah, he is my favorite KZbinr.

[@keynanmartinez]

Correct

[@zachrodan7543]

2:43 that fuse comic is perfect. I love the touch of comedy in that

[@monster25man]

the first game I ever beat I was like 5 or 6 years old when I played this so the concept of beating a game wasn't on me yet and while Kirby games are considered easy for a lot of gamers today when your younger, your reflexes aren't as sharp and your hand eye coordination isn't the strongest yet so when I was able to beat the final boss and be rewarded with a beautiful credits sequence I felt accomplished for that and that's why Kirby will forever be my favorite franchise he guarantees having a good time

[@tailgrowth]

"I think the end product holds its own against the many other titles in the NES library." It's one of the greatest platform games of all time, my man. Stay humble though.

[@theenderkirby]

Is a must have top ten best NES game entries hands down

[@السراقالمجهول]

oh cmon everyone, this game is even in the top 5 best kirby games let alone the whole platforming genre I feel like you guys forgot how many masterpieces we got after kirby adventure stuff like dkc 2, sonic 3&k, super mario world, rayman origins and legends, dkc tropical freeze, kirby superstar ultra, kirby planet robobot, and so many more this game is great no doubt, and defiantly the best platforming game on the nes, but the genre simply evolved to the point where it just cant compete anymore and thats fine

[@theenderkirby]

@@السراقالمجهول again this game is lower for me I think is one of the best NES titles but not one of the best games of all time like my top 50 or the top 10 best kirby games for me though I won't deny this game is still important to kirby

[@codecoderr7495]

thanks nobody, I will note that in my imaginary notebook

[@MegaKirbySuperstar]

@@السراقالمجهول Polishing what was already good will never be as impressive as innovation

[@Poyostar]

Now, I was already well aware of Kirby's Adventure starting out as a direct port of Kirby's Dream Land for the NES, but the fact that you and your team decided to make something so much more is nothing short of incredible. Between the introduction of the Copy Ability and this game setting the overall tone of the Kirby series, it's safe to say that this game is the cornerstone game of the franchise, even moreso than the first game! Plus, it certainly helps that your successor as general director of the Kirby series, Shinya Kumazaki, was heavily influenced by the story of Kirby's Adventure, which in turn helped inspire the plots for the more recent entries in the series. To this day, Kirby's Adventure remains a true classic, and to me, it is easily the best game on the NES! Give yourself a pat on the back for helping bring this wonderful game to life, Mr. Sakurai! Great stuff as always, and I look forward to hearing you talk about Kirby Super Star! Oh, and one more thing... those concept sketches for potential Copy Abilities and environmental set pieces are so charming!

[@bigduke5902]

Think about that everytime you see people demanding remakes of old games instead of new ones

[@Poyostar]

@@bigduke5902 Personally, I don't mind seeing video games get remade, as it gives older titles a chance to be played by a newer generation that hadn't experienced them before. Sure, not all remakes surpass the originals, but there are definitely a couple that do outclass them in my eyes. Kirby Super Star Ultra is a pretty great example of this, as while there is no denying the impact and legacy of the original Kirby Super Star, there's a reason why I go back to the remake more often. Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen and Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver are also good examples for me, personally.

[@MozillaVulpix]

It's so interesting seeing game developers that are also talented artists. It's probably not a necessity, but it probably really helped communicate their ideas back when game development was a new thing.

[@Fernando17892]

I can't express how excited I am for when he finally talks about _Melee._ " _Melee was a mistake..._ "

[@ImRubyRose350]

If He says that everyone is just gonna laugh cuz its true It was a Mistake...a Gloriuos Mistake

[@ImRubyRose350]

@@ZeroJinKui wdym?

[@the-NightStar]

Melee is vastly, massively overrated.

[@Teknanam]

@@the-NightStar overrated is a meaningless word nowaday beyond showing you don't like a thing.

[@ImRubyRose350]

@@the-NightStar and Tell me...what is Not Overrated? But if you ask me its a good game...Try it yourself if ya asking why its so "Overrated"

[@luminach]

There's a lot more to appreciate about Kirby's Adventure that's not mentioned by Sakurai. The balance between flying and running/jumping is a "Risk/Reward" factor too as mentioned in his prior video. When you fly, you can skip all of the dangers, making your playthrough safer. However: your movement speed is slower too. If you stick to a more grounded approach you're actually MUCH more mobile, which makes clearing stages a lot less time consuming. It also lets you react to vulnerabilities in boss patterns much faster and get more damage in during those openings. The copy abilities let you deal damage a lot more quickly, which is the plus. The Negative is that once hit you ALWAYS lose your powerup. Meaning playing defensively and dodging attacks became a lot more important as well. Overall, Kirby's Adventure can be played at a leisurely pace with no copy abilities, or can be a lot more fast paced and hectic if you relied on copy abilities and played a more grounded and traditional approach. Very flexible game all without using difficulty sliders!🥰

[@laggalot1012]

It's funny, because soon enough, I think Kirby has become more iconic for his copy ability than his core inhale and spit out technique that originally formed the basis for Kirby's Dreamland. Nowadays it's treated much like just another ability itself, and pretty much just the backup at that, since that is what you revert to whenever you lose your ability. You could say the company's immediate dire needs forced Kirby to shift in identity, another reminder and lesson that you can't always make exactly what you want and that business and circumstance will inevitably influence your work. Not that it's a bad thing in the end, however. Everyone loves Kirby's copy abilities! Even if it was initially out of necessity, the direction was smartly chosen, and it's fortunate that Kirby is ever so malleable, making it a natural fit. It's yet another strength of the games and the character both.

[@lonestarrarchived9987]

The consistency, I knew he had a surprise for us but wow. Really grateful for the daily pictures & this channel is icing on the perfect cake!

[@DominoPivot]

This was one of my favorite games growing up, which was gifted to me by a neighbor. The copy I owned had text in French (my first language), which also made it a lot more accessible (even if the game doesn't have much text). It's the first video game I ever finished, and it took me ages to do so, but what a formative experience that was. Thanks for all the fun :)

[@alexread6767]

4:02 I never realized how adding that bar helps make the levels look wider! That's a very smart trick. And even when I was a little kid years after this game released, I loved watching the copy ability pictures change.

[@nahnah390]

as great as this video is, I kinda wish I had the story of where meta knight came from, because he put in a subtle story in a game this simplistic by having him show up, give you candy, having you fight his minions and fighting him one on one as a sword fight just to reveal he looked like another kirby in the end... it was fascinating.

[@ToxicPea]

Who knows? Maybe Mr. Sakurai's old team will give us a concrete backstory for him in the future, but for now we can at least relish in the fact that we know Meta Knight is an incarnation of Kirby-God!

[@Dodger77]

This game, more than any other, is the reason why I still play games today. And also why I main Kirby in Melee. So from the bottom of my heart, Thank You, and also, Thank you?

[@chaoticcranium]

Wow, to think, one of the greatest NES games ever made was made on such a tight schedule and budget. Inspirational seeing how ingenious design, hard work, and sheer talent can overcome such obstacles.

[@SchoolofRockNRoll]

i really like to see this more sentimental side of the narrative in terms of game development. i love seeing him smile talking about the subjects hes talking about

[@Limit02]

It’s amazing how much is covered in these relatively short videos, they feel so much longer than they actually are in a good way

[@coltonk.3086]

I can’t tell you how much I adore the concept drawings. I eat that up like a glutton at a golden coral.

[@someguy4324]

Kirby's Dream Land and Kirby's Adventure were two of the first games I ever beat as a kid. Thank you so much Mr. Sakurai, for then and for now!

[@kamonskye240]

Weird question, is your avatar from anything? It's really cute!

[@astuffedpotato9256]

This is definitely my favorite series on the channel. I love the history of Sakurai's games.

[@dicenter3932]

Sakurai really did a good job when he transfer his concept art to final product. It really capture his style

[@raleo7466]

It made me giggle seeing the concept art for the rope and platform puzzles. It's a puzzle so iconic of Kirby games that seeing it being thought from the near beginning makes me happy

[@TriPabloski]

I've played the game on switch online and still today is a delight to play, thx Mr. Sakurai both you and your team

[@greatspaceadventure]

One of the most finely crafted NES games, and without a doubt my favorite. This is the first video I wish went on for longer!! It really is true that limitations breed creativity. Your pedigree is well deserved, Mr Sakurai. May you continue to make things that you love!

[@BrazileoTotalBrazil]

I loved this game so much as a kid. It was very advanced for an Nes game and it looked absolutely amazing. Thank you Mr Sakurai and your team for this gem of a game.q

[@theenderkirby]

Well this game is the textbook of the game push his console to his limit no doubt and fun fact this game have the biggest amount of memory of any other NES cartridge being 6MB which is twice from super mario bros 3

[@Jollofmuncher2000]

Now every kirby fan will appreciate Sakurai and Hal's works even more. They are nothing short of genius game designers and Kirby is the purest form of the 2 companies work

[@artemis1993]

This man is truly a genius on so many levels. If i was in his shoes back in 1992, i'd have crumbled from all that pressure, but not this guy, he pushed through and came out a winner ❤

[@kanchi21]

really awesome to go back and see where the copy abilities all started so much fun

[@natlyrays]

You are a treasure amongst game developers

[@retrospect]

This is awesome

[@RandomBoo256]

I had no idea that Kirby's Adventure had such a stressful development. I'm glad everything worked out in the end. Also, I'm really looking forward to the episode on Kirby Super Star! That's one of my favourite games!

[@tsurunoyui549]

It's amazing how much struggle Sakurai and his team went through, while making Kirby's Adventure; It's my top notch favorite game ever.

[@KayFiOS]

I still remember getting this game on my 5th birthday at Discovery Zone, and it's still one of my favorite games. It's probably my most replayed game next to Ocarina of Time, although nowadays I play the 3DS version, because as much as I love this game, I love it even more without slowdown!

[@SpinyPuffs]

I feel like this is definitely the video category people are gonna get the most out of. Not just by explaining the core ideas behind a game but also details on the development of said game as well. I can't wait until he gets to Smash Bros. but his entire history as a game designer/director is very valuable and this is a great way to document it.

[@UmbreonMessiah]

I'm super glad Kirby's Adventure ended up being developed for the NES. If it hadn't been, I probably wouldn't be as massive a Kirby fan today as I am. I was that kid that didn't have an SNES, but *DID* have an NES.

[@Gilbot9000]

Kirby's Adventure was the first video game I was able to complete without relying on codes to get through, so thank you for maintaining your original design philosophy!

[@SCoreReMake]

i really want to see sakurai's opinion on super star ultra, especially since we don't hear a lot of him talking about kirby games he didn't develop, so it would be interesting to see what he thinks about what the community sees as one of the best games/remakes in the entire series

[@grambam36]

Super Star Ultra is one of my favorite games of all time, along side the original Chibi-Robo. Those are both masterpieces I don't think that could ever be recaptured again. Super Star Ultra has this charm, this feeling, that is insanely hard to recreate

[@Rivalseeker]

I argue Kirby Super Star Ultra is one of those rare remakes that effectively replaces the original. It was extremely faithful to the original while adding just the right amount of new content.

[@theenderkirby]

While I am one of the person who agree super star ultra is better than OG super star is still was great times and my time to see how copy abilities and kirby as a whole in characters and story start to really evolve and is in my opinion one of the best improved sequels of the 90's of all time alongside street fighter 2, sonic 2 and metal gear solid

[@theenderkirby]

@@Rivalseeker it did what the original did and nearly perfected it and heck is still super star at his core is like a pokemon evolution of this game

[@francjirachi]

@@Rivalseeker true, the only thing I heard about people to enjoy the original more is nostalgia for the graphics and music, it is just a perfect remake

[@memeboi69-k3v]

It's nice to see Sakurai even show us cut concepts for the games he made. I personally appreciate it when game devs tell us this kind of stuff because it makes you think about what could've been, thus making you think about the game more. Yet another reason as to why Sakurai is a great human being.

[@noidea5597]

Kirby and the forgotten land is not made by Mr Sakurai, but because of the design documents, it still got this Kirby feeling!

[@ToxicPea]

Definitely combines the best of Mr. Sakurai's good game philosophy, and all the new storytelling and 3d platforming elements that his old team are beginning to master. Oh and the music is still great!

[@ayo.2022]

Glad to see that Kirby games are their own sub-series on this channel, especially since Sakurai can now discuss Super Star, which a lot of the music and mechanics of Smash were largely based upon. Maybe in the next video we'll also be able to know if Sakurai wanted to make Marx a bit less family-friendly specifically in Smash, or in the Kirby series as a whole.

[@joserenteria4604]

I hope we can get your thoughts on the newer Kirby titles!

[@Rivalseeker]

I say he should be proud of them! The people at HAL Labs have done a fantastic job since Sakurai left his position of director of the games. There may have been a misstep or two, but nothing to ruin Kirby's ever-growing legacy!

[@theenderkirby]

Yeah while I think the newer title are better still like to see sakurai's POV aboit his OC's legacy

[@VonFirflirch]

Gven the channel's theme, I don't think it woud make much sense for him to do that, unfortunately

[@PinClockFuntime]

Sakurai brings up the history to explain the development of game he developed, not to review games. He has 0 reason to talk about the new Kirby games or even the Shimomura ones sadly.

[@RonCorwin]

Kirby's Adventure was the first game I ever beat and set the bar for what I expect for games in terms of pacing, creativity, and epic scope. Thank you for all your hard work 👾

[@Dreadnautilus]

Its kind of weird to see Sakurai talking about copy abilities being something for more advanced players with beginners just being able to relying on spitting when I always fought the bosses without copy abilities as a kind of self-imposed challenge after beating the game.

[@MegaKirbySuperstar]

It's more advanced in that your average non-gamer might pick up the controller and be overwhelmed by the concept of grabbing the power and using it for a platform puzzle or maneuver. If I handed my controller to my mother and asked her to use umbrella ability, just having her walk over and grab an enemy is it's own challenge for her lol. When you add to a game, things for your avatar to do, you inherently make it more complicated. To the average intermediate gamer this is no problem at all tho. I think when he designs he was really thinking about people picking up a controller for the first time. Also powers did also add challenge for players doing weird fun stuff in the arena and speed running etc but you are right, for boss battles in games no power runs are also a thing as you have to be patient and grab a star.

[@Dodger77]

I've always felt that fighting the boss without an ability was easier than the other way around because you don't have to sweat getting hit as much.

[@SkeletonSSBM]

I always wanted to be a game developer, I really like programming and the act of deciding game balance and characters and gameplay and whatnot. It's a lot of freedom to make what you want to. It's really cool that I get to learn more about it from the guy who made one of my favorite series (Smash) ever! Thank you Sakurai if you're reading this

[@VonFirflirch]

I don't know if you intend to go profesional, but doing it alone, as a hobby, it's insanely fun... you're basically playing god x)

[@Brods11]

Man, I didn’t know Kirby’s Adventure was stressful for you and your team to develop for the NES. Great history about it though. Keep up the good work.😊👍

[@theenderkirby]

Sakurai always push himself to his limits like the consoles he work on them

[@TheHylianBatman]

This is one of the best KZbin channels to come in a long while. If there was ONE gaming guy that I wanted to be on KZbin, besides Miyamoto, it would be Sakurai. I love that he's not only talking about making games, but also talking about games he's made, just to provide context on his place as a developer. This channel is a gift, as is Sakurai, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

[@espio87]

I always say this about Kirby games: "Easy to beat. Hard to master." A fair amount of challenge can be expected by the end of the story, but the real challenge comes after that. Arena mode, extra game or remixed stages, all of that make a good game even better.

[@HelloDusty]

Mr. Sakurai, thank you for talking about the details behind the development of this game. It's a lot of very interesting video game history that may not have been preserved otherwise.

[@Trimint123]

Crazy to think that originally Kirby's Adventure are supposed to be a direct port of Dream Land. It's an interesting development story here and there.

[@theenderkirby]

Well it did what what it should a sequel that can let sakurai to push limits again but even more and this show in his later titles kirby ones or not

[@CarbonRollerCaco]

Well, that was Sakurai's assumption, at least. His boss could've meant "make _some_ NES Kirby game".

[@theenderkirby]

@@CarbonRollerCaco regardless we got a masterpiece this way or another

[@angac.6974]

It’s always cool to have an analysis video of a game by the director’s itself. 🙌🏼 It gives you a different perspective of why the game is as it is.

[@JanbluTheDerg]

Company: We need you to develop a straight port to the NES so we can make more money and avoid going bankrupt Sakurai: Will do! *wink*

[@banditkade]

Wow, copying an enemy's ability and being able to use it to get past parts of the stage was such a new and innovative concept! Mega Man: "Am I a joke to you?"

[@GreyWolfLeaderTW]

As they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention." People thinking under pressure can come up with some pretty cool ideas, so being required to come up with a good veteran-attracting option for Kirby on the NES when it was the only place a big successor to the first Kirby game could go because it was cheaper to develop for while HAL Labs were near bankruptcy is certainly an excellent demonstration of that principle.

[@someguy4040]

Kirby's adventure is the very first game I ever got. To this day, it remains one of my favorite games of all time. Thank you, Mr. Sakurai.

[@porygonL]

Sakurai is my Hero

[@narc8835]

While we are on the subject of Kirby - I highly recommend reading Ask Iwata right now as it gives great insight into Kirby’s origin and how it saved Nintendo

[@HeceduHM]

First

[@DobygamesGC]

Good

[@KalphazzoForde]

Good for you

[@arock9529]

oo

[@asoivel]

What do you gain with such behavior? Is your pride dependent on these?

[@DarkVeemon4586]

Bravo it was so offensive to the eye of this man who created Kirby and smash bros

[@yupazestru5189]

Love hearing talking about Sakurai making Kirby not overly easy. Too many Kirby games have come out where it really is incredibly easy to steamroll over enemies and fly above everything. I love Kirby being a tiny bit frustrating, and that's why Kirby's Adventure is among my favorites.

[@NOBLE60000]

Kirby is such a good character to learn about game design. Nice video.

[@DoomPickle490]

Something I’ve always loved in a lot of Sakurai’s games that he talks about here is how often his games are built around being fun for both beginners and veterans. It obviously applies first with Kirby and copy abilities but even his other games like Smash Bros and Kid Icarus uprising also had some development that allowed for newcomers to play and for pros to also get their own cool experiences that let them have fun. It not only makes it fun for everyone but it also makes it fun for those who practice and improve

[@Brutetank]

Kirby's Adventure is easily my favourite NES title on the console. I've played that game so much throughout the years! Sometimes I even would find safe areas and just listen to the music from time to time. :)

[@pablozorro6532]

Master Sakurai, thanks you for sharing your knowledge and experiences

[@Sarah-Caito]

You will be remembered for making everyone's life better.

[@Hysteria98]

I cannot WAIT to hear Sakurai talk about Kirby Super Deluxe!! Thank you for Kirby's Adventure as well, the game is a shining example of what the NES was capable of, and still holds up VERY well. The remake on GBA and the 3D version on 3DS is absolutely spectacular- a shame Nintendo is axing it all...

[@chomik172]

Love Nintendo games and people behind them, hate Nintendo itself

[@stalkholm5227]

Kirby's Adventure was one of the most fun games I played on the NES or ever, for that matter, it's also one of the few games that's just as fun today as it was the day it released. I'm 38 and once in a while I still boot up Kirby's Adventure and play it all the way through, thank you so much for the wonderful game, I can't tell you how much fun I've had with it!

[@jnub]

i had no idea that kirby's adventure was designed to be a rushed product. it was also interesting to hear that the gigantic information panel was there to take up screen space so that kirby's vertical movement wasnt too powerful. great video!

[@Greenomb]

I played kirby’s adventure for the first time on the 3ds and for a game that was almost two decades old by that time it was still a blast to play. A genuine timeless classic that stood the rest of time.

[@edwardota1991]

I love this man. Everything he does and says resonates with me. Thank you, Sakurai. You are truly an inspiration!!

[@MagodoCaos1]

Kirby's Adventure is one of the best looking games on the NES! Glad you got to make this game.

[@Xsyven]

Kirby's Adventure is the first game I ever started and completed all by myself. Thank you, Sakurai, for making me a gamer for life!

[@keysignal79]

Kirby's Adventure was the first game I beat and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

[@adamholt5395]

I remember going to the video store and renting this game all the time when I was a kid. I loved this game and it is what caused me to fall in love with the Kirby games. Thank you so much!

[@Tahldon-kun]

I really like the way that Sakurai-san explains the hidden strokes of ingenuity during development. That info panel idea is really insightful!

[@tootsie_]

Kirby's Adventure is still one of my favorites in the series. It's a mix of nostalgia, rock solid design, and cute art that really makes me attached to this game like no other. Any time it releases on a nintendo platform, I end up playing it all the way through again.

[@allegedlyfalse6779]

I look forward to all of your videos, but this series is probably the one I'm most interested in. It's great to hear the backstory and design decisions behind such classic games from the man who made it all possible!

[@killaknight12]

Kirby's Adventure is probably one of the reasons I got into gaming. I used to play on my bros NES, but other games were way to rough for my newbie self and Kirby's Adventure ist to this day one of my favourit games!