Retro Games Zone

Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)

What is Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)?

Kirby And The Amazing Mirror was the third Kirby title on the Game Boy Advance, surprising everyone when they released it alongside Nightmare in Dream Land in the early 2000s. It takes the charming copy ability formula and throws it into a sprawling, interconnected mirror world, replacing the traditional level select with free non-linear exploration.

  • Metroidvania-Style World Design
    The Rainbow Mirror shatters your map into distinct zones like Mustard Mountain and Olive Ocean. You'll need to uncover hidden warps painted on walls with the Paint ability, which often means backtracking to earlier areas with newly acquired powers.
  • Expanded Copy Ability Arsenal
    Kirby can inhale over two dozen classic abilities, from old faithfuls like Spark and Sword to newer forms like Missile and Smash, a direct lift from Kirby's Super Star games. Each ability evolves with secondary attacks triggered by quick combos, like Sword's upward slash by pressing up.
  • Multifunctional Cell Phone Mechanic
    Your main gimmick is calling one of three differently colored AI allies--or other players' Kirbys via GBA Link Cable--who will blast into the landscape and rendezvous with you. It was great for cooperative secret hunting, though the AI could sometimes be hilariously inept at navigation.
Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)

Why choose Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)?

For those who feel most Kirby games play it a bit too safe, Amazin*ing Mirror stands out as the series' most ambitious and unconventional outing on GBA. It’s the perfect pick for when you want the familiar, cuddly aesthetic paired with a map you genuinely have to figure out rather than just clear.

  • Authentic Experimental Kirby From a Bygone Era
    Today, Kirby games are typically either sprawling 3D sandboxes or short mini-game collections, but back in 2004, developers were trying bold new directions in structure on 2D hardware. This feels like a unique, one-time design philosophy that captures that era's experimentation.
  • A Satisfying Collectathon for Completionists
    Chasing the 180 treasure chests hidden throughout the world, often requiring multiple returns with different powers, is a delightful challenge with worthwhile unlocks like sound tests and illustrations. Finding that last chest is a real 'aha' moment.
  • Pure Unadulterated GBA Audio-Visual Nostalgia
    From the bouncy theme of Candy Constellation to the sinister organ tracks of Moonlight Mansion, Akira Miyagawa's GBA-specific compositional quirks shine. The crisp pixel art pushes the hardware to deliver massive, expressive Kirby sprites against beautifully tiled, vibrant environments that look fantastic on an original front-lit screen.

How to play Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)?

Navigating the mirror world is more about exploration than raw precision. You’ll want Master the fundamentals of ability-switching and use your Cell Phone often to uncover the map.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Kirby And The Amazing Mirror (U)(Rising Sun)