Software:Kirby: Canvas Curse

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Short description: 2005 video game
Kirby: Canvas Curse
North American box art
Developer(s)HAL Laboratory
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Motomi Katayama
Producer(s)Hiroaki Suga
Masayoshi Tanimura
Kensuke Tanabe
Designer(s)Tomomi Minami
Programmer(s)Teruyuki Gunji
Composer(s)Jun Ishikawa
Tadashi Ikegami
SeriesKirby
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: March 24, 2005
  • NA: June 13, 2005
  • AU: October 6, 2005[1]
  • EU: November 25, 2005
Genre(s)Action, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Kirby: Canvas Curse,[lower-alpha 1] known in Europe as Kirby: Power Paintbrush, is a 2005 action-platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. While Kirby: Canvas Curse is a platformer, it does not play like a traditional Kirby video game, as it solely requires the use of the stylus. A Wii U sequel, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, was released in 2015. The game was later re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console in Europe and Australia in December 2015 (as Power Paintbrush in both regions), in Japan in February 2016, and in North America in October 2016.

Gameplay

Screenshot depicting the gameplay in Kirby: Canvas Curse

Unlike with most previous Kirby games, the player does not directly control Kirby with a directional pad or any buttons. Instead, the player only uses the stylus and touch screen to control Kirby, who rolls around in ball form. The player can draw rainbow lines, which Kirby will roll on.[2] These rainbow paths can form ramps or bridges for Kirby to cross, or walls to protect him from enemy projectiles. Drawing paths depletes the player's rainbow ink supplies, which recharges slowly while Kirby is in the air or on a path, but quickly when Kirby is on the ground.

The player can use the stylus to stun enemies by tapping on them. Afterwards, the player can either allow Kirby to roll into the enemy with his own momentum or by dashing to defeat the enemy. Defeating certain kinds of enemies by either dashing into them or touching them while stunned causes Kirby to gain one of several special abilities, which may be used at any time by tapping Kirby himself.

Kirby: Canvas Curse spans eight worlds, with all but one having three levels. A variety of themes are used throughout the game. These themes range from a volcanic area to a frozen area. The objective of every level in the game is to reach a rainbow-colored doorway. As the player makes progress in the game, the environmental hazards become far more plentiful. In one level, the player must maneuver Kirby quickly enough to avoid getting defeated by an ever-rising body of lava. Occasionally, Kirby will come across a barrier, which prevents the paint lines from being created inside of them, forcing Kirby to do nothing, but roll, dash, and use a power (if applicable). Portions of these levels can be played in Rainbow Run mode, where speed and amount of paint used are key factors in the player's success.

At the end of each world except for world seven, Kirby must face a boss. In worlds one through six, the first time he completes them, he must face one of each boss: Paint Roller, Kracko, or King Dedede (all of whom must be battled twice). With the exception of the final boss, all bosses are mini-game based. The boss of world eight is the main villain of Kirby: Canvas Curse, Drawcia Sorceress. Drawcia starts out in her standard form. Upon defeat, she will transform into a large ball of paint with five eyes and a mouth called Drawcia Soul.

Kirby: Canvas Curse features special collectibles called Medals, which can be used to unlock secret features in the game, such as characters, sound tests, and alternate paint colors. These medals may be obtained through the main levels, through defeating bosses, or through the Rainbow Run challenge mode, where Kirby must complete a portion of one of the main levels, with the objective being either getting through it as fast as possible, or getting through it while trying to use as little paint as possible.

Plot

One day, a strange portal appears in the sky, and out of it comes the witch Drawcia. Drawcia casts a spell over Dream Land, turning it into a world of paint. Upon fleeing back into the portal she came through, Kirby gives chase, finding himself in Drawcia's paint-themed world. The witch curses Kirby, turning him into a limbless ball. After Drawcia escapes, the Magical Paintbrush (Power Paintbrush in the European version) turns to the player to help Kirby. Kirby sets off to find and defeat Drawcia to restore Dream Land to its normal state. Along the way, Drawcia creates replicas of Kirby's oldest opponents to slow him down. These include Paint Roller, Kracko, Kracko Jr., and King Dedede. Kirby eventually confronts Drawcia, but after her defeat she transforms into the fearsome Drawcia Soul. Kirby defeats her once and for all and peace is restored.

Reception

Critical response

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic86/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge7/10[4]
EGM8.83/10[5]
Eurogamer9/10[6]
Famitsu34/40[7]
Game Informer8.5/10[8]
GameProStarStarStarStar[9]
GameRevolutionB+[10]
GameSpot8.6/10[11]
GameSpyStarStarStarStarHalf star[12]
GameZone8.8/10[13]
IGN9/10[2]
Nintendo Power9/10[14]
Detroit Free PressStarStarStar[15]
The Sydney Morning HeraldStarStarStarStar[16]
Awards
PublicationAward
GameSpyEditors' Choice[12]
IGNEditors' Choice Award[17]

Kirby: Canvas Curse received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] In Japan, four critics from Famitsu gave the game a total score of 34 out of 40.[7]

1UP.com called it "genuinely excellent", saying that "it's a welcome reinvention of gaming's most overplayed genre" and later concluded that Canvas Curse is "the DS's first great game".[18] The stylus gameplay has also been noted, with IGN hailing it as "incredibly innovative", GameSpy calling it "quite rewarding", and GameSpot calling it "a satisfying part of the gameplay."[11][12][2] Official Nintendo Magazine ranked it the 96th best game available on Nintendo platforms.[19] On the other hand, Play's editor disagreed, noting that "it's innovative... but for me, that's not enough."[20]

The New York Times gave it a very favorable review and called it "tremendous fun".[21] The Sydney Morning Herald gave it four stars out of five, saying that "Kirby's use of touch-screen technology provides a fresh and engaging game."[16] However, Detroit Free Press gave it three stars out of four, stating that "there is some nice innovation, such as levels that are completely black until Kirby bumps into lanterns that put off light. And as we all know, in dark places like this, it's good to have a friend."[15]

Sales

Kirby: Canvas Curse was the third best-selling game in Japan during its week of release at 75,365 units sold.[22] Famitsu annual sales for the region show that the game sold 276,418 copies by the end of 2005.[23] According to the NPD Group, the game sold just under 80,000 copies in North America during the month of June 2005.[24] The following month, it was the top-selling DS game in the region at 50,000 copies.[25]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Touch! Kirby (タッチ！カービィ, Tacchi! Kābī)

References

  1. ↑ "Nintendo DS price drop: As of September 22nd". Nintendo Australia. September 14, 2005. https://www.nintendo.com.au/nintendo/news/index.php. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Harris, Craig (June 10, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/10/kirby-canvas-curse. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Kirby: Canvas Curse for DS Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/kirby-canvas-curse/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (June 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse". Edge (150): 90. 
  5. ↑ EGM staff (August 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse". Electronic Gaming Monthly (194): 116. 
  6. ↑ Walker, John (October 22, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kirbycc_ds. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "New Famitsu Scores". The Magic Box. March 16, 2005. http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-11871.html. 
  8. ↑ "Kirby: Canvas Curse". Game Informer (148): 108. August 2005. 
  9. ↑ Rice Burner (June 30, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse DS [sic Review for DS on GamePro.com"]. GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/46268.shtml. Retrieved October 6, 2016. 
  10. ↑ Silverman, Ben (June 23, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse Review". GameRevolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/kirby-canvas-curse. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gerstmann, Jeff (June 13, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kirby-canvas-curse-review/1900-6127444/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Theobald, Phil (June 14, 2005). "GameSpy: Kirby Canvas Curse". GameSpy. http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/touch-kirbys-magic-paintbrush/625375p1.html. 
  13. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (June 15, 2005). "Kirby: Canvas Curse - NDS - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/kirby_canvas_curse_nds_review. 
  14. ↑ "Kirby: Canvas Curse". Nintendo Power 194: 82. August 2005. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Schaefer, Jim (June 10, 2005). "Kirby fans will have a ball in newest title". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/game10e_20050610.htm. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Hill, Jason (October 6, 2005). "Fresh and engaging". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/fresh-and-engaging/2005/10/04/1128191720746.html. 
  17. ↑ "IGN.com Editor's Choice Awards (DS)". http://ds.ign.com/index/choice.html. 
  18. ↑ Parish, Jeremy (June 13, 2005). "Kirby Canvas Curse". http://www.1up.com/reviews/kirby-canvas-curse_4. 
  19. ↑ East, Tom (February 17, 2009). "Nintendo Feature: 100 Best Nintendo Games: Part One". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7188/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-one/. 
  20. ↑ "Kirby: Canvas Curse". Play: 57. August 2005. 
  21. ↑ Herold, Charles (June 17, 2005). "Painting Rainbows, Not Battle Scenes". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/arts/painting-rainbows-not-battle-scenes.html. 
  22. ↑ Jenkins, David (April 4, 2005). "Japanese Sales Charts, Week Ending March 27th". https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/japanese-sales-charts-week-ending-march-27th. 
  23. ↑ "GEIMIN.NET／2005年テレビゲームソフト売り上げTOP500" (in ja). Geimin.net. http://geimin.net/da/db/2005_ne_fa/index.php. 
  24. ↑ Maragos, Nich (July 22, 2005). "June 2005 U.S. Sales See GTA, Pokémon On Top". http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6006. 
  25. ↑ Jenkins, David (August 15, 2005). "July U.S. Sales See NCAA Football Dominate". http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6211. 
  • Official site
  • Kirby: Canvas Curse on IMDb
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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