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Kirby & the Amazing Mirror (JP) is a platformer video game released on the Game Boy Advance in 2004. While out for a walk one day, Kirby is attacked by a shadowy doppelganger of the enigmatic hero Meta Knight and inadvertently split into four by his sword. In order to become one again, the four Kirbies must travel to a parallel world on the other side of a magical mirror and free it from a nightmarish influence.
The game is a side-scrolling platformer with four player co-op centered around the players controlling four different color-coded Kirbies. Unlike other games in the Kirby series, Amazing Mirror is a Metroidvania featuring an interconnected world map in which all the levels connect to each other and can be beaten in any order.
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror is the only title in the series not to feature Kirby's rival King Dedede in any capacity.
Gameplay[]
The gameplay is different from the other games in the Kirby series, as the levels are less linear and are more maze like, though not as dramatic as Metroid video games tend to be. A major new gameplay mechanic is Kirby's cell phone. He can use it to call 3 different-colored Kirbies to his aid. Most of the time these Kirbies are for optional use, but sometimes they are required when replaying the game. The cell phone can also be used to call the Warp Star and take Kirby back to Rainbow Route.
Plot[]
There is a Mirror World that exists in the skies of Dream Land. It is a world where any wish reflected in the mirror will come true. However, one day it only copies evil minds, and rapidly changes into a world of evil. Meta Knight notices this, and flies up to save the Mirror World.
Meanwhile, Kirby is taking a walk, when Dark Meta Knight appears. But before Kirby can react, Dark Meta Knight slices Kirby in four and Kirby becomes four different colored "Kirbys". Kirby travels alone, but if his cell phone is working, he can call his friends and they will help him. They chase after the Dark Meta Knight and enter the Mirror World.
The two Meta Knights fight each other and the real Meta Knight is defeated. He is knocked into the mirror, which is then cut into eight fragments by Dark Meta Knight (Which are then scattered across the mirror world), so Kirby must save Meta Knight and the Mirror World.
Worlds[]
There are nine worlds; Rainbow Route, Moonlight Mansion, Cabbage Cavern, Mustard Mountain, Carrot Castle, Olive Ocean, Peppermint Palace, Radish Ruins, Candy Constellation.
Development[]
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror was developed by Flagship in collaboration with HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. Unlike most Kirby games, which were led entirely by HAL, this project was outsourced to Flagship (a Capcom-affiliated studio) to experiment with a fresh design approach. The development team aimed to create a Metroidvania-style experience, featuring a large, interconnected world rather than linear stages. Players could freely explore branching paths, collect power-ups, and backtrack to uncover secrets—a major shift for the series. To enhance this design, they introduced a cell phone mechanic that let Kirby call in one of his three AI-controlled or player-controlled clones for help, supporting up to four players via Game Link Cable. The art and animations were crafted to maintain HAL’s signature colorful, friendly aesthetic while pushing the GBA’s capabilities with fluid movement and large, detailed environments. Balancing the non-linear map and multiplayer design posed challenges, but the result was a unique Kirby game with an adventurous, exploratory feel. Kirby & the Amazing Mirror stood out in the series for its ambitious structure and remains a fan favorite for those who love exploration-heavy platformers.
Reception[]
External links[]
- Kirby & the Amazing Mirror at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Kirby & the Amazing Mirror at GameFAQs