Game Analysis: Super Kirby Clash

Image source: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-kirby-clash-switch/

Super Kirby Clash is a free-to-play action game for Nintendo Switch. Kirby and his team must protect the Dream Kingdom by fighting in quests to defeat bosses. In each quest, players can choose to play solo (alongside AI characters) or multiplayer with friends. 

Game website: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/super-kirby-clash-switch/
Gameplay demo on Youtube: https://youtu.be/fHntlksVFMI?t=40 

The Lens of the Elemental Tetrad (Lens 9)
Story
– In the game, there is a storyline about Team Kirby being in the constant pursuit of the final boss. As certain levels are cleared, the story progresses along as the team moves to a new location to find the final boss.
– The story aspect is linear and quite straightforward, so it is not immersive for me. It does not add value to the gameplay of fighting bosses at individual quests. 

Technology
– The game is published for the Nintendo Switch. It supports local and online multiplayer gameplay, allowing the player to appreciate the cooperative aspect of the game when playing with others.

Aesthetics
– The game is aesthetically pleasing with 3D graphics, and there are distinct soundtracks throughout the game, both of which keep me immersed in the gameplay. 
– Animations for fighting and gear are designed well and are very dynamic, which adds to the gaming experience.

Mechanics
– In each fight, there are four members in the team. Some members may be controlled by AI if there are not enough players. The members can fight as any of the four roles: Sword Hero, Hammer Lord, Beam Mage, or Doctor Healmore. Each role has unique mechanics for attack and defence. The first two roles are attacking roles. The Sword Hero fights with a sword and moves very quickly while the Hammer Lord uses a hammer with a very high attack but moves very slowly. The latter two roles are supporting roles. The Beam Mage can stop time and the Doctor heals the other members of the team. This allows every player to choose their preferred role to attack the boss and help the team to win.
– Although graphics appear 3D, the gameplay is mostly in 2D. Some bosses can move in 3D as well (jumping further away from or towards the screen), giving variety to the mechanics and making the game a unique experience.

Overall, the improved aesthetics and large range of mechanics work well with the relatively new technology, while following the main storyline. As such, the four elements work together to elevate my experience of playing the game.

The Lens of Essential Experience (Lens 2)
– The essential experience of the game is to fight alongside teammates and defeat the bosses. In the game, fighting can be varied through choosing different roles to play as, since each role has its own strengths and weaknesses.
– Different bosses also come with their own individual attacks, so fighting in each quest is slightly different from others. As new levels are unlocked, players also meet the same bosses again but with an increased difficulty level and more intense fighting mechanics.
– The variety in mechanics keeps the game interesting for players while they can still enjoy the core experience of fighting and defeating each boss successfully.

The Lens of Endogenous Value (Lens 7)
– Gem Apples are the main currency of the game and are the most valuable item to the players in the game. They can be used to upgrade gear which helps players level up and defeat stronger bosses.
– Initially, it is easy to earn Gem Apples by completing simple missions. As the game progresses, missions get more difficult, making it harder to earn Gem Apples. In addition, stronger gear becomes more expensive, so Gem Apples become more valuable to the players. Earning and spending Gem Apples serve as a motivation for people to continue playing the game.

The Lens of Problem Solving (Lens 8)
– Different bosses use distinct methods to attack the players, such as flying, jumping, rolling and more. In turn, the player must put together a team of four players that includes the best roles to defeat each boss. For instance, Sword Hero and Beam Mage are able to move very quickly and are best suited to fight enemies that fly, and it might be best to omit the Hammer Lord who moves slowly. Omitting some roles can potentially lead to a better result, which provides a strategizing aspect to the game.
– As the game progresses, the quests get more difficult. The player must find ways to increase their attack or defence, such as by upgrading gear. This problem-solving aspect allows players to feel even more accomplished when completing difficult levels.

The Lens of Time (Lens 27)
– Each quest has a time limit. If the players cannot defeat the boss within the time limit, they are considered to have failed the level. This encourages players to beat the bosses as quickly as possible, hence the time limit given makes gameplay more exciting. 
– The total length of time that the player spends on the game is also limited by the amount of energy that the player has. Energy is used up to start each quest and difficult quests take up more energy to play. Once the player’s energy has been depleted, it restores slowly over many hours. The player must wait for the energy level to rise again before they can continue playing. Having this system encourages the player to come back and play the game another day. 

The Lens of Visible Progress (Lens 55)
– At the end of each quest, the player earns EXP and can see their total EXP as well as the amount left before they are able to level up. This screen clearly shows visible progress to the player and encourages them to continue playing.
– During each quest, some dialogue appears when the opponent is almost defeated, and the opponent will be flashing red. This provides visible progress and gives players motivation to quickly defeat the boss.

Conclusion
The analysis of this game has allowed me to view games more closely through different lenses and see how various aspects contribute to the gaming experience of the player. Such insights will certainly be useful to the group project and we will be able to apply our understanding of the lenses to make our game enjoyable and fun.