Breaking free

For years, Starfy has been stuck in Japan, anxiously awaiting the moment in which he can finally break free and go to other parts of the world. As each installment in his series is released, the chances of him making it around the world steadily increase.

In June 2009, Starfy will make his long-awaited American debut in Densetsu no Starfy Taiketsu! Daiiru Kaizokudan, or as Nintendo of America is calling it, The Legendary Starfy. Players will dive into a spectacular marine adventure with the legendary hero of Pufftop. Promising a uniquely aquatic experience, The Legendary Starfy could quite possibly be the biggest DS game of the summer.

Story

The tale of our legendary little starfish starts out while he is sleeping in his bed in Tenkai Palace. Out of nowhere, a rabbit named Rampa falls through the roof of the palace and, you guessed it, lands on Starfy, causing him to awake from his slumber.

Almost immediately after Starfy wakes up, a group known as the Dire Pirate Squad arrives to kidnap Rampa. Before they can flee, Starfy attacks them with his trademark Spin Attack, causing them to drop Rampa. With Rampa escaping, the Pirates decide to flee as well, leaving Starfy alone. Starfy sets out on an adventure to find Rampa and restore his lost memory, and thus the game begins.

Gameplay

Like past games in the series, The Legendary Starfy is a two-dimensional platformer that can be enjoyed by all types of gamers. By putting a small amount of emphasis on exploration, the game breaks free from many traditional two-dimensional platformers. Instead of trying to get from the beginning of a stage to the end, the objective in The Legendary Starfy is to experiment with your surroundings and try out several paths. Although there is only one way to complete the objective, there are plenty of different paths to get there.

Returning from the previous Starfy games is the ability to wear costumes as power-ups. This time around, Starfy can transform into a ghost, a walrus, a dragon, and a rooster. Simply touch one of Rampa's thought bubbles on the bottom screen, and voíla, you're all dressed up and ready to go.

Diversions

In addition to the story mode, five quirky minigames have been thrown into the mix. In one of them, players take control of Starpy (one of Starfy's friends) a cooking game. Another one of the minigames gives the player a slingshot and flying disks to shoot at. While these are nothing more than simple diversions, they are enjoyable enough to add to Starfy's value.

The Legendary Starfy is on the path to become one of the best Nintendo games this year. The game's cute and cuddly look will be more than enough to draw in younger audiences. Older gamers fear not, for the game also packs some solid platforming action. With the June release date rapidly approaching, America should get ready to get wet and greet The Legendary Starfy.