Kirby: The Crystal Shards is the New Nintendo 64 Game of May for Nintendo Switch Online Users

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers just gained the opportunity to play another classic game of the past a few weeks ago. Then, let’s find out more about the new Nintendo 64 game of May available for Nintendo Switch Online users, shall we?

Starting May 20th of 2022 a new title was added to the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pack for the Nintendo Switch Online membership service: it’s Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards. This new addition was presented by Nintendo in a video you can view at this link.

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a nice new entry in the Nintendo 64 catalogue, which today counts a good amount of nostalgic Nintendo titles:

• Banjo-Kazooie
• Dr. Mario 64
• F-Zero X
• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
• Mario Kart 64
• Mario Golf
• Mario Tennis
• Paper Mario
• Sin & Punishment 
• Star Fox 64
• Super Mario 64
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
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• Yoshi’s Story

What is Kirby: The Crystal Shards about?

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a platformer developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the N64 in the distant 2000. The game was pretty avant-garde at the time of its release, since it was the first mainline Kirby title to feature 3D graphics. Gameplay is viewed from a 2.5D perspective though, similarly to other Kirby games that came before it.

In this new colorful adventure, our pink chubby hero’s goal is to retrieve the pieces of a sacred crystal that was shattered by the evil Dark Matter. The crystal shards are scattered across the galaxy, so Kirby will need to travel between six planets in order to get them back together. Along the way, he’ll be helped in his quest by King Dedede, Adeleine and Waddle Dee.

The gameplay is typical of a Kirby game, with platforming, a side-scrolling screen and the iconic skill of our protagonist to swallow enemies in order to copy their abilities, and spit them out in the end.

But one interesting new feature is Power Combos: Kirby can mix powers to create more powerful ones. By inhaling two enemies at once Kirby can copy both their abilities, giving him 28 possible combinations, which are stronger than normal copy abilities or have added effects. Kirby can also mix two of the same abilities, thus increasing their power.

Multiplayer mode is available for up to four players, who can compete in three minigames: 100-Yard Hop, Bumper Crop Bump and Checkerboard Chase.

Now, do you feel like playing Kirby 64 by any chance? If so, you can get the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pack right here!