You know by now what to expect from Kirby. The popular Nintendo character can suck up and imitate the powers of his enemies, while looking fluffy and cute.

There’s not much new in this release, which first appeared on the Wii in 2011. There’s an alien spaceship that’s crash-landed in Popstar land, and Kirby and friends are helping the alien retrieve the pieces, which have been scattered across the land. Even Kirby’s one-time enemies are getting in on the act.

There’s a whole heap of costume changes, each with their own specific ability – a cowboy hat, for example, will allow you to capture enemies with a lasso. There’s some super-charged abilities that last for a limited time, that can be bestowed on Kirby when he inhales special enemies. These are marked out by a starry glow, and once the rainbow bar is depleted, so too is your new ability. Still, it’s worth it for the “big bang” they bring; you can easily wipe out enemies in your path once you’ve picked up the special ability.

Navigating Kirby’s colourful world is as fun as ever, and you can get some friends in on the act. Up to four people can play at once, and you have the choice of playing as Kirby – just in different colours, which can get a bit confusing – or as different characters. Co-op play is flexible; you can have friends leave or join the game at any time.

Newcomers to Kirby will find this charming; experienced players will enjoy seeing Kirby again. If you've already played out the original Wii release though, this may be worth skipping.