Kirby Wii: Where Could it Be?

Since 1992, Kirby, the marshmallow-like creature with the ability to inhale his enemies and swipe their powers, has had the privilege of starring in numerous critically-acclaimed games for various Nintendo platforms. While he would occasionally star in games in such genres as racing, puzzle, and sports, he has mainly been featured in platform games. One such game is eagerly anticipated by Kirby fans, but has yet to show up, even five years after it was announced. Simply known as Kirby Wii, though it could ultimately be a working title, the game has been delayed and an exact release date is still unknown. What is this new Kirby game that has yet to be unleashed to the world? It is time to delve into some known facts about this as-of-yet mysterious title.

Kirby Wii actually started out as a Gamecube title, and was first announced in 2005. Like other Kirby games before it, the game was set to be a platform title, with such returning features as the ability to steal enemies' powers and having a lot of moves for many abilities. A new feature would have our hero ride on the backs of a maximum of three additional characters. Beyond all that, not a lot was revealed about the game. Neither the story, nor the amount of planned levels, or even any added features such as mini games, were announced. Even so, it seemed that Nintendo and Hal Laboratory would have yet another popular Kirby game on their hands. It was to be Kirby's second Gamecube game, following Kirby Air Ride two years earlier.

As time passed, no further information was revealed, and the Gamecube was approaching the end of its life. By 2006, with the release of the Wii drawing near, Nintendo had canceled several planned Gamecube games and ported them over to the Wii. The new Kirby game was said to be one of those titles moved to the new system. While other former Gamecube titles such as Super Paper Mario and Donkey Kong Barrel Blast have since become Wii-exclusive titles, Kirby Wii has languished in development, with no other details announced nor any indication as to a specific release date. To date, his only significant appearances on the Wii were as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and as the star of popular classic games available on the Virtual Console service.

What really makes the wait and anticipation agonizing is that the game seems to have alternated between having a rumored release date and being canceled outright. Some reports indicated that no new Kirby Wii game was in the works and that the title that first appeared on the Gamecube would never see the light of day in any form. However, there are reports that the game is still being developed, and has merely been delayed a few times. A tentative release in 2009 was hinted at by Nintendo in a fiscal report, but it did not come to pass. As of February 2010, Kirby Wii has not been officially canceled, but it still does not have a release date, either.

All of this is unfortunate, as the Kirby series is appealing and fun for players of all ages. Having enjoyed a few Kirby games myself, I certainly would have enjoyed Kirby Wii, and I hope to get the chance to do so if it ever comes out. Perhaps Nintendo may yet reveal new details about the game at a special event such as the E3 convention. Since that event is slated to include new information about such games as Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Zelda Wii, it would be fitting for Nintendo to include new facts about Kirby Wii, as well. It is also possible that Kirby's first Wii game is receiving an overhaul, and may not necessarily be a platform game when it is finally released. One thing is for sure: Nintendo remains very secretive about the fate of Kirby Wii, and consequently, the series has yet to appear on the popular console, while the Nintendo DS has been home to three Kirby games so far.

Will Kirby Wii ever see the light of day either in its original form or as something entirely different? The hope for Kirby fans such as myself is that one day, it will finally be released, and the agonizing wait will have been worth it. At least there have been hints suggesting that the game has not yet been canceled, and with any luck, specific release information may be forthcoming before 2010 is over. Until and unless new details come along, we can only speculate what else Kirby Wii may have to offer, and moreover, if Nintendo will release it and bring the long wait to a much-needed end.