2017 was an anniversary year for a multitude of games, so much so that it was hard to keep track of them all. I was aware that it was the 25th anniversary of gaming's most adorable pink puff, Kirby, but the existence of this 25th anniversary album is something that I was completely unaware of.
Kirby25: A Chiptune Retrospective is a digital album consisting of 34 tracks from numerous Kirby games. The album is dominated by main line platform entries like Kirby's Adventure, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards and Kirby's Return to Dream Land (my personal favorite Kirby game) among a plethora of others but spin off titles such as Kirby Air Ride and Kirby's Block Ball get some representation as well.
A Kirby arrangement album done exclusively in chiptune form is strangely refreshing but fitting since Kirby's audio roots are heavily planted in chiptune hardware. A total of fourteen different artists contributed to this album and their love for Kirby really shines through with this project. I get the impression a lot of these arrangers were fans of SUNSOFT's NES sound font because plenty of these tracks have that undeniable SUNSOFT punch. I think that's a good thing because the majority of NES games with the SUNSOFT name attached have outstanding soundtracks (Batman: The Video Game, Gimmick!). The drum samples and baselines throughout many of these tracks ring of SUNSOFT quality. I'm not saying these guys just copy pasted SUNSOFT's audio and called it a day, though. Every track on this album has that Kirby charm and you can hear bits of the sound font taken from Kirby's old chiptune titles.
Most of the songs you would expect to get arranged do get arranged. If there wasn't an arrangement for Green Greens people would undoubtedly cry fowl. You've got your Factory Investigation, Rainbow Resort, King Dedede's Theme, Sky Sands and C-R-O-W-N-E-D to name a few. Strangely, there isn't an arrangement of Gourmet Race. As much as that song as been remixed over the years, perhaps the artists didn't feel like covering it. As much as I adore that song, the absence of it isn't really a big loss. Some of my favorite Kirby tracks that don't get as much love as the aforementioned tracks have been given some time in the sun here. Marshmallow Castle, Grass Land 2, Cappy's Stage (Kirby's Block Ball), White Wing Dyna Blade get some long overdue appreciation. Some of my more recent favorites are also covered here as well. White Office March sounds every bit as awesome as the 3DS original and Lovely Yellow Va-Va-Vrooms sounds like it was ripped right out of Kirby's Adventure, perfectly capturing the lively, chipper feel of the original tune.
Look, if I haven't made it abundantly clear already, Kirby25: A Chiptune Retrospective is an album that I cannot get enough of. It is not only a tribute to Kirby's long history but also his chiptune sound origins. The album is a pay what you want download, so you can give a few bucks or get it for free. Your choice. Whatever you do, just get it.
Kirby25: A Chiptune Retrospective
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