Nintendo Australia Kirby Squeak Squad

Mention the words '2D platformer' and most gamers will immediately think of Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog. But what about Kirby? In our humble opinion, the bubble gum pink puff ball deserves an equal share of the spotlight.

You might scoff but Kirby's been holding his own for years and his latest title, Squeak Squad, just cements his status as one of the best ever to grace the second dimension.

Anyone who's stepped into the soft gummy shoes of Kirby will be instantly familiar with what Squeak Squad has to offer. The core game concepts are the same: Kirby walks around, swallows up enemies, assimilates their powers and eats lots of foods. But what's so compelling about the experience is how it's packaged together. The most amazing thing is the sheer number of powers that Kirby can gain. They range from the expected — the ability to breathe fire and ice — to the more esoteric powers like a magic top hat that releases three deadly pigeons.

The levels themselves are cleverly designed and there are plenty of opportunities to use your newfound powers on the playing field. Soft patches of earth can be dug away with your animal claws and cannon fuses can be lit with fire, for example. Add in the huge amount of unlockable content and the signature Kirby style and you have the makings for a great DS Lite title.

The only thing we didn't like about Squeak Squad is that it's a tad on the easy side. To say that it's forgiving is an understatement. Food, which replenishes your health, is readily available and the bosses don't put up much of a challenge. Also, the cartoonish visual style might turn off more mature gamers who like their games to have a little hair on their chests.