It begins on a hilltopâgreen grass, blue skies, and that unmistakable castle in the distance. But wait⌠thatâs not Mario. Thatâs Kirby. Round. Pink. Floating. Ready. Super Mario 64 Kirby Edition doesnât just mix worldsâit reinvents them. And somehow, it works.
The moment you take control, the difference is clear. Kirby doesnât run like Mario. He glides, he hovers, he inhales. Itâs Mario 64âs layout, yesâbut filtered through Kirbyâs unique mechanics. The controls feel familiar and strange all at once. You think you know the level⌠but now you float over gaps you used to leap. You suck up enemies Mario would dodge. The game dares you to play differently.
Power-ups arenât collectedâtheyâre copied. You inhale a Goomba? You get dash. A Koopa? Maybe projectile powers. That classic Kirby gimmickâreplicating abilitiesâadds depth to a world designed around Marioâs jumps. Now puzzles can be solved with powers. Combat becomes creative. Movement feels playful.
The castle hub remains intact, but each portal holds surprises. Bob-omb Battlefield feels lighter, brighter. Kirbyâs movement lets you access areas fasterâbut also adds danger. Hover too long and you might miss a key platform. Itâs not easier. Just different.
Sound is a mashup dream. Marioâs familiar melodies blend with airy Kirby remixes. Enemies make soft, silly soundsâuntil they swarm. One room echoes with whispers when you float too high. Another silences entirely when you copy the ghost's ability. Audio isnât backgroundâitâs feedback.
Boss fights feel surreal. Facing King Whomp as Kirby? Hilarious. But harder than it looks. Some bosses are easier thanks to float. Others are harder because you lack Marioâs precision. It becomes a study in balanceâyour tools change the challenge, not the outcome.
Visually, itâs charming chaos. Kirbyâs soft pastels clash and blend with Mario 64âs blocky texture. Itâs a mod, sureâbut it feels like its own thing. The nostalgia of Mario collides with the whimsy of Kirby, and the result is something odd and joyful.
Progression follows the star system. Complete challenges, grab stars, unlock new areas. But now, some stars require specific abilities. You might need fire breath to open a secret. Or a rock form to break through a hidden wall. The game doesnât tell youâexploration does.
Some levels change entirely. Tiny Huge Island becomes a playground for size-changing antics. Kirby with size powers? Wild. Wet-Dry World with hover mechanics? Oddly perfect. Even the infamous Tick Tock Clock feels less punishing when you can float through time.
PC Controls:
Arrow Keys - Move
Z - Jump
X - Inhale / Copy
C - Drop Ability
Space - Hover
Mobile Controls:
Touch Joystick - Move
Tap Jump Button - Jump
Hold Tap - Hover
Tap Ability Button - Inhale / Use
This version of the game speaks to fans of platformers, mashups, mods, and nostalgia. If you ever dreamed of breaking Mario 64âs rules just a littleâKirbyâs your guy.
Itâs not just a crossover. Itâs a remix. And once youâve floated across Peachâs courtyard, copied a Chain Chompâs ability, and bounced through Bowserâs arena with a parasol⌠you wonât see Mario 64 the same way again.