Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble
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Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble is a spin-off title for the Game Boy Color. It uses a tilt sensor to allow the unknown reader to control Kirby with physical movement of the player's Game Boy Color console. the unknown reader tilts the console to move Kirby around the gameplay environment. The game also registers if the unknown reader flicks the console - this causes Kirby to bounce into the air. In the game, Kirby deflects off objects in a similar manner to the ball inside a pinball machine.
Story
Kirby is sleeping on a cloud, when he is awoken by a Waddle Dee and King Dedede walking past him carrying strange objects. Kirby is curious as to their intentions, so he hops on a Warp Star, only to find that Dream Land has been robbed of its stars.
Gameplay
In this title, Kirby doesn't walk as normal, but instead rolls around like a ball. To control him, the unknown reader will need to tilt the Game Boy Color in the appropriate directions. As such, the stages are built like rolling marble courses in a top-down view similar to that of older Legend of Zelda games, and Kirby can easily lose a life if he goes over an edge. The main challenge comes from getting Kirby safely over pits and obstacles. This is done primarily by having the unknown reader flick the Game Boy Color upward to make Kirby bounce. Other methods of traversal include using items like Bumpers, springs, and balloons which grant temporary flight, among other objects. Enemies also appear on the stage, though Kirby cannot inhale them, and touching them will deal him some damage. Kirby will need to make use of a special item, such as the Mike to defeat them. Against bosses, Kirby can fight back by using various methods, usually by launching into their weak points.
Each stage also has a time limit, which can be extended by collecting clocks on the stage. Running out of time costs Kirby a life.
There are also a couple of Blue Stars which are optional to obtain, and yield a sub-game at the end of the stage they appear in if collected.
Levels & Stages
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble consists of eight levels, each containing four stages. It is possible to skip levels and stages by visiting Whispy Woods in certain areas. Each stage has a Red Star to collect, which are necessary to earn 100% Completion.
| Levels in Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level Nr. | Boss(es) | Notes | ||
| Level 1 | Orbservor | This Orbservor attacks by sliding quickly after being damaged. | ||
| Level 2 | Orbservor | This Orbservor attacks by pounding the floor. | ||
| Level 3 | Kracko | |||
| Level 4 | Orbservor | This Orbservor attacks by sliding extra quickly after being damaged. | ||
| Level 5 | Orbservor | This Orbservor is fought in an icy arena. | ||
| Level 6 | Kracko | |||
| Level 7 | Orbservor | This Orbservor is extremely quick when angered, and will always aim directly at Kirby. | ||
| Level 8 | King Dedede | |||
Once the game is cleared 100%, the Extra Stage opens up, which is a re-run of the regular stages with increased difficulty and less time.
Sub-Games
Kirby can play one of these if he collects a blue star in a stage, then clears said stage. They are as follows:
Enemies
- Blinkbat
- Blockbot
- Booler
- Bronto Burt
- Broom Hatter
- Cappy
- Cloud Cannon
- Dekabu
- Flotzo
- God Hand
- Gordo
- Kabu
- Mr. Frosty
- Poppy Bros. Jr.
- Shotzo
- Snipper
- Squishy
- Starman
- UFO
- Waddle Dee
- Waddle Doo
Bosses
Trivia
- Other Nintendo titles to include "tilt sensors" include WarioWare: Twisted! and Yoshi's Universal Gravitation (called Yoshi Topsy-Turvy in North America).
- While the game itself is compatible with other consoles such as the Game Boy Advance SP, the cartridge is inverted and the game has no way to compensate for this. The game is even possible to play on the Nintendo GameCube but it requires the unknown reader to pick up the entire console and tilt it, which is highly impractical, and could cause issues with the Game Boy Player disc.
- This is the last Kirby game to have 8-bit graphics.
- This is the first Kirby game ever to feature motion control.
- Kirby's voice clips in this game were taken directly from his Super Smash Bros. and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards appearances, though heavily bit-crushed to fit on the Game Boy cartridge. He would not be formally voiced again in a Kirby game until the release of Kirby's Epic Yarn, some 10 years later.
- There were plans for a sequel to be released on the Nintendo GameCube, which could be controlled using the Game Boy Advance via the adapter, but it was scrapped, likely due to the trouble of marketing a game requiring two separate systems to play.
