Kirby and the Rainbow Curse Reviews

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Mar 1, 2015

It's adorable, charming, and totally Kirby except for the pesky controls. And gameplay. And Game Pad.So no, it's not that good.

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GBAtemp
Top Critic
4 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2015

Overall, I cannot stress enough not to buy this game at $40 for the Wii U, unless you're ok with what is basically a portable game being packaged as a full console experience. If Nintendo re-releases this game for the 3DS for $20, go for it. If you see it in a bargain bin for $5, go for it. But whatever you do, don't spend more than that.

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Feb 17, 2015

Ten years later, this frustrating follow-up to Canvas Curse feels shallow and soulless by comparison.

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4 / 10
Apr 16, 2015

A tepid sequel to Kirby: Power Paintbrush, that even with its short running time barely manages to stretch it's small collection of ideas across a whole game.

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May 18, 2015

In an attempt to prove the viability of the GamePad touchscreen as a primary input device, Nintendo accidentally created an inferior sequel to a decade-old DS puzzler. Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush squanders much of its potential and achingly beautiful visuals, functional but lacking in lasting fun.

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Feb 20, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse has its moments, but is ultimately marred by frustrating controls and questionable game design.

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5 / 10
Feb 17, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse oversimplifies its mechanics, making for an experience alternating between frustrating and dull.

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60 / 100
Mar 4, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is still a thing of beauty, lovely to look at and challenging (but not punitive) in play. In places, you can even see the sculptor's fingerprints, but you can't leave any of your own.

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GamingBolt
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Apr 6, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a definite misstep for the Kirby series, and for Nintendo. Unless you have some young kids in your household, steer clear of this one.

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6 / 10
Apr 15, 2015

Gets several points right, especially its artwork and visual environment. There's a lot of content to unlock and its difficulty curve is balanced enough. Where it fails is on providing a more captivating gameplay, as the game forces the players to constantly look down to their GamePads, wasting time in the process.

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6 / 10.0
Feb 27, 2015

The nature of experimentation means that some ideas could falter, however, and Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a prime example of not quite getting the results that I hoped for.

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Apr 15, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush is one of the best-looking games on the Wii U, yet its creativity fails to reach the same dizzying heights where gameplay is concerned. It's fun and accessible, but doesn't offer enough substance to serve as anything more than fodder for a few lazy Sunday afternoons.

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Feb 22, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse offers up unique visuals and gameplay, but largely fails to bring them together into a fun game. The colorful world is worth exploring, but only for those that are especially interested in the different nature of the game.

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Feb 25, 2015

Bottom line: If you play only one new Nintendo platformer starring an adorable character, you should definitely pick up Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

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69 / 100
Mar 1, 2015

It certainly isn't awful, but what strengths it does have only really appeal to the Kirby faithful, or less serious gamers.

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7 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2015

Innovative gameplay, but too short and not enough story for me to give a better score.

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7 / 10
May 14, 2015

A fine game, if not a great one

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Apr 24, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush isn't going to single-handedly change the face of gaming, or anything remotely as drastic, but it is nevertheless a very high-quality effort which showcases Nintendo's strength as a developer and provides a thoroughly whimsical and surprisingly deep gameplay experience for those of all ages. In common with a growing number of its peers, it leaves you shaking your head and wondering how Nintendo managed to make such a mess of convincing the public that the Wii U was a worthwhile purchase.

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Feb 26, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a weird and beautiful game, but it's an odd fit for the Wii U.

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7 / 10
Feb 17, 2015

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon: a pleasant roll through a gorgeous world, with some novel concepts, and one of the most beautiful games the Wii U has yet seen. However charming the game may be, Rainbow Curse is a few strokes from greatness: overly repetitive mechanics, underused ideas, and a failure to integrate its clay theme into gameplay in any meaningful way keep it from reaching the lofty heights to which it potentially could. Well crafted, but not a masterpiece.

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