Review

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland

Common Sense Media says

Platformer provides cooperative fun for up to four players.
Age
9
Quality
 
  • Positive messages1
    This game promotes social, cooperative gaming among up to four players in the same room. Attacking enemies is a major part of the experience, but the action lacks the hallmarks of grittier games that glamorize violence (the game’s fantastical enemies simply spin and disappear when struck).
  • Positive role models1
    Kirby is a precocious pink puffball looking to help an alien fix his ship, though he has to take on plenty of bad guys to do so. His companions -- including his buddy Waddle Dee and rivals King Dedede and Meta Knight -- are a mixed bunch, but they don’t have the opportunity to show much of their personalities from previous games since they’re controlled by players in cooperative play.
  • Ease of play4
    This game should prove highly accessible to players of most ages and skill levels. The controls are extraordinarily simple, and the level of difficulty mild. Instructions and advice are provided for each new activity. Our young playing companion held her own throughout much of the game. If younger players do have difficulty with a certain area or boss, they can simply drop out and jump back in when things calm down. 
  • Violence & scariness2
    Kirby and his pals use an enormous variety of attacks, including fire, electricity, swords of various shapes and size, tornadoes, mallets, explosions, and more. However, the intensity of this violence is dampened significantly by the game’s cartoon aesthetic and the non-humanness of its bad guys. Enemies -- several not much more than amorphous blobs with nubs for arms and legs -- simply disappear when defeated.   
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Kirby’s Return to Dreamland is a colorful, family-friendly game with content and a level of difficulty suitable for nearly the whole family. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has stamped the game with an E10+ rating and cites mild cartoon violence, but this may be a little high. Kirby and his pals spend a lot of time fighting their enemies with swords, fire, mallets, explosions, and other kinds of attacks, but enemies are fantastical creatures with no human qualities that simply spin and vanish when defeated. We think the experience is suitable for ages nine and up.

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This review of Kirby’s Return to Dreamland was written by
Age
8
Based on 3 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say there are positive role models
  • 67% say violence is an issue
  • 67% say it's easy to play
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say it's educational
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Kid, 10 years old
October 30, 2011
6
OK for kids & up
 
Great game, one flaw
Wow. Just amazing. There's only one flaw---people may get a little angry at other players to get a move on.
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Teen, 14 years old
December 28, 2011
6
OK for kids & up
 
Fun Kirby Adventure more E that E10+
Kirby's Return to DreamLand is a fun, slightly challenging game. It's a great game to play with friends, and anyone can play it. I haven't gotten completely stuck on a level so far. The game is easy without being too easy. The game is only a violent as a game rated E can be. I don't understand why it is rated E10+. I guess they just want it to sell better because people tend to buy the game with the higher age rating. Kirby's Return to DreamLand is a great game for everyone.
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Parent
January 12, 2012
6
OK for kids & up
 
Best pink ball of fluff ever.
KIRBY IS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!
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Teen, 15 years old
January 12, 2012
6
OK for kids & up
 
Best pink ball of fluff ever.
KIRBY IS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!
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Kid, 11 years old
February 23, 2012
8
OK for kids & up
 
Great, cute family game!
Kirby's Return to Dreamland has cartoonish violence. Kirby is a cute puffball. Meta Knight is the cool masked swordsman. King DeDeDe is the big armed penguin. Waddle Dee is a minion of King DeDeDe with a bandanna and a spear. The levels are springy, deserty, watery, chilly, spacey, mechanical, and burning. Levels are very fun, entertaining, and have brilliant music. Magolor is an alien who needs help to fix the Lor Starcutter, a space-traveling ship. This game was easy for me to complete. The mini games are also fun. Ninja dojo, you have to hit a target with a ninja star. It is awesome and action-packed. Scope shot, you shoot giant robots with a laser gun. It is lovely and mechanical. Kids and parents will love this creative, exciting game!
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Kid, 10 years old
April 11, 2012
6
OK for kids & up
 
Hahahahahaha,Eh,Sorrysorrysorrysorry.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha eh,sorry about that.Absolutely-Positively Funny And Fun.
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Adult
June 2, 2012
10
OK for kids & up
 
Learning3
Kirby's Return to Dreamland
Kirby and his friends to save the dreamland.
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Teen, 13 years old
August 10, 2012
3
OK for kids & up
 
Learning0
AMAZING
This is one of the best Wii titles Nintendo has to offer! Action, adventure, comedy, good graphics and amazing tunes make Kirby such a great series. I wish all games were like this!
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Parent of 7 and 11 year old
May 31, 2012
8
OK for kids & up
 
Learning1
awesomest game and cute!
great kid game! i have played it with other people and its easy, but can get challenging at times. Its adorable and shows a role model, kirby! its cute but only has two flaws, it loses some of the powers from other games, and in multi-player kids may get angry at others to do something or catch up.but thats what the little teleport thing is for.
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Teen, 16 years old
May 30, 2012
7
OK for kids & up
 
Superb video game!
This game is great! The level are awesome and it's easy to play.I even got to the FINAL LEVEL!
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Helped me decide (5) | Had useful details (4) | Read my mind (4)
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