• Kirby Sass Attack: Why the Feisty Kirby's Avalanche Never Released in Japan
    Nov 13 2024

    Did you know Kirby's Avalanche is the only Kirby game never to release in Japan? That's because it's the Western version of Super Puyo Puyo, redesigned with Kirby characters instead of the usual Puyo Puyo crowd. (This also explains why Kirby is a little sassier in this one, as his personality is modeled after Puyo Puyo protagonist Arle Nadja.)


    For this episode of Kirby Conversations, Sean, Bridget, and Gigi are going through the history of this classic Kirby puzzle game, with an avalanche of trivia, history, other puzzle games we recommend, and even notes on the XBAND, an early modem licensed by Nintendo that made Kirby's Avalanche the first Kirby game with online multiplayer! Whether you're a Puyo Puyo pro or just looking to try one of Kirby's more overlooked titles, Kirby's Avalanche is a tough but fun entry in the series that is still worth checking out almost thirty years later.


    Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode.


    Want to enter our Bluesky giveaway to win a $50 gift card of your choice? Follow us there and repost this post to enter.


    Join us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi

    Carrd link


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).


    Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    58 mins
  • Happy HALoween: The Scariest Moments in Kirby Games
    Oct 30 2024

    With Halloween approaching for our staff and listeners in the U.S., for this episode we decided to explore our favorite scarier or high-tension moments from Kirby games. From frightening final bosses to surprisingly sophisticated moments that explore themes like death or colonialism, the Kirby series is no stranger to going to some darker places. (Lest this sound like a heavy episode, we have plenty of fun with this topic along the way, and in fact this interplay between Kirby games' lighter and darker sides is something we feel many players enjoy about the series.) And in the last few minutes, we also share some of our picks for favorite games or levels to check out if you're in the mood for something spooky or scary this time of year.


    Also please note: SPOILERS ABOUND in this episode! Our conversation includes discussion of several games' final bosses or later plot-twists, so please be careful listening to this one if you don't want anything given away that you would prefer to discover for yourself.


    Want to reach out? You can email us at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode.


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi

    Carrd link


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).


    Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Revisiting the Original Kirby's Return to Dream Land (with Flashback 64)
    Oct 16 2024

    For this episode, we're flashing back to the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii with Gooey and McKenna of the Nintendo 64 podcast Flashback 64. Even with the KRtDL remake out on Switch, the original still holds up with its distinct art style, motion controls, and even some unique content. And for fans of retro Kirby games, it may come the closest of any of them to capturing that spirit of the lost GameCube game once shown in trailers so many years ago.


    Some of us from Kirby Conversations recently appeared on Flashback 64 to discuss Kirby's Dream Land, so it was a pleasure to have Gooey and McKenna join us on our show, too. Check out their website https://flashback64.neocities.org/ and give them a follow wherever you listen to podcasts.


    Have a question or comment for the show? Reach out at mail@kirbyconversations.com, and we may read your letter on a future episode.


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi

    Carrd link


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).


    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • How the Kirby Star Allies DLC Pushed the Switch to Its Limits
    Oct 2 2024

    Gigi has been translating Japanese developer interviews from the Kirby Star Allies artbook, and with it she's discovered some intriguing new insights about the history of KSA's extensive DLC. So for this episode, we're talking all about KSA's final DLC mode Heroes in Another Dimension and all the character additions the game received throughout 2018. How do we feel about DLC in Kirby games, and how did the developers' plans change (drastically) from what they originally had in mind? And what do we make of the complex, inspired, and sometimes technologically boundary-pushing challenges of Another Dimension? Listen as we set off in search of 120 Friend Hearts and new trivia on this unique celebration of Kirby history.


    Have a question or comment for the show? Reach out at mail@kirbyconversations.com, and we may read your letter on a future episode.


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi

    Carrd link


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).


    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.


    And lastly, we hope you'll check out another gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Non-Kirby Games We Think Kirby Fans Would Love
    Sep 18 2024

    In this episode, Bridget, Ky, Sean, and our new team member Gigi share their picks for other games we think Kirby fans would like. From games that involve copying enemy abilities to inclusive platformers with similar vibes and themes, we cover more than a dozen games in this episode—including some pretty deep cuts you may not have heard of before.


    What unexpected or lesser-known non-Kirby games would you recommend to a Kirby fan? Let us know at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may read your letter on a future episode.


    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could click the ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.


    Games mentioned in this episode:

    Brave Fencer Musashi

    Einhänder

    Shin Megami Tensei V

    Magical Tarurūto-kun

    DoReMi Fantasy: Milon's DokiDoki Adventure

    Avenging Spirit

    Cotton series

    A Hat in Time

    BoxBoy series

    Toontown Online

    Klonoa series

    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

    Several of Koji Igarashi's Castlevania games

    Gimmick!

    Super Mario Odyssey

    Spyro series

    Persona series

    Smushi Come Home


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi

    Carrd link


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/).


    Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    1 hr
  • Some Exciting News and Updates from Kirby Conversations
    Sep 4 2024

    Hi everyone. There's no regular episode this week, but we've got a few updates about the show to share. Most importantly, we are happy to announce that we will now be joined by Gigi, WiKirby Editor-in-Chief and avid translator of non-English Kirby content, as a new official member of the Kirby Conversations team! Welcome Gigi!


    And among other news, we also have a new giveaway running, where you can win a $50 Nintendo eShop gift card! You can enter at this Gleam giveaway page. We hope everyone who listens to this show can throw their name into the hat, and good luck to everyone that enters.


    After a short break, we will be back with the next new episode of Kirby Conversations on 9/17. See you again soon!




    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Gigi: Carrd link



    Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).


    Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    3 mins
  • An Interview with Gigi, the Prolific Kirby Translator and Editor-in-Chief of WiKirby
    Aug 28 2024

    If you've ever read an English translation of a Kirby article or developer interview that was originally published in Japanese, chances are you've encountered the work of Gigi. We've cited her work several times on this podcast in the past and also refer frequently to WiKirby, the massive Kirby wiki for which she serves as editor-in-chief. So it's an honor to have her join us on this episode for a wide-ranging interview, where we cover topics like how she become such a prolific Kirby translator, the most surprising Kirby facts she's ever unearthed in Japan-only content, and what Kirby culture is like in Brazil, her home country. We learned so much in just an hour with her, and chances are you'll walk away from this episode having learned about more than a few pieces of Kirby content, from novels to board games, that you never even knew existed.


    We encourage listeners to give Gigi a follow on Bluesky at @gigi9714.bsky.social you can follow this Carrd link to her many projects and communities.


    Got a question or comment for the show? You can reach us at mail@kirbyconversations.com, and we may share your letter on a future episode.


    If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd be so grateful if you could leave us ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app.


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).


    Liking Kirby Conversations? Then you may also enjoy another retro gaming podcast we recommend, Flashback 64: https://flashback64pod.podbean.com/


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    52 mins
  • The Magolor Epilogue is a Playground of Gameplay Possibilities
    Aug 20 2024

    There are so many ways to approach the Magolor Epilogue in Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Along with completing the story, you can earn medals, speedrun it, or even take advantage of its brilliant combo system to go for amazing, triple-digit runs through each level. So for this episode, Sean and Bridget are breaking down all the gameplay possibilities for this ambitious subgame. Sean played through it the traditional way, maxing out Magolor's skills to earn platinum metals, but Bridget has her own "weird" (her words) way of playing through it to bring even more challenge. And of course, they also dig into some history and trivia behind the game, including surprising regional changes across its different translations.


    Have you played the Magolor Epilogue, and how did you feel about its unique systems and mechanics? Tell us your thoughts at mail@kirbyconversations.com and we may share them on a future episode.


    Follow us online:


    Kirby Conversations

    IG: @kirbyconversations

    Bluesky: @kirbyconversations.bsky.social

    Threads: @kirbyconversations


    Bridget

    Threads: @no1kirbyfan


    Sean Douglass

    Bluesky: @seandouglass.bsky.social


    Ky "Captain Dangerous" Parker

    IG: @captaindangerous


    Our music is by Megan Kellough (https://diamondthorns.bandcamp.com) and arranged by Duncan "PixelTea" Smith (https://duncansmith.carrd.co/). Our show art is by DJ (IG: @drawing_lemonz).


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    53 mins