Review: Yo-yo

As firm believer of the 'smack your opponents and win' style, I've always favored melee attacks over the indirect moves. Beam? Laser? Who needs that when you can have a Hammer, a Sword... or even fight barehanded like a true Fighter...

I mean, if there was a single Bonkers around, or a Blade Knight, a Sword Knight, a Knuckle Joe or a Box Boxer- be it a normal enemy or a miniboss, I'd always hoped to end up with a melee attack. Sure, the inclusion of Master Hand as miniboss in Amazing Mirror gave me Smash, another bundle of joy..

But... no matter how much I cut zigzagging opponents, or threw my hammer repeatedly at unsuspecting enemies in Milky Way Wishes, or just uppercut the crap outta anything in sight... There was always one melee power that I could not resist sacrificing Hammer, Sword or Fighter power for... Yo-yo.

Giving Kirby some mad breakdancing skillz, a cool hat, and one of the longest reaching melee attacks ever, Yo-yo became my instant favorite. If there was a GIM around, it'd be but a splitsecond before the GIM'd be gone- and Kirby'd be replaced with Yo-yo Kirby.

Basically, all of his moves throw the Yo-yo in several directions, making it a versatile weapon. It's melee, yet indirect. Heck, if there'd be a small wall with an enemy behind it, the enemy'd better hope my Yo-yo couldn't reach him. Dash attack? Go right ahead, and Kirby will kick his opponents into submission- by breakdancing the crap outta them. Doing it correctly would even have Kirby use the Yo-yo to kick up into the air. One of the most ideal weapons against any airborne opponent, even bosses like Marx!

Alas! The Yo-yo power has yet to reappear in a Kirby game. It and it's owner GIM have not reappeared since Super Star... Though with the upcoming DS game- I'm fairly sure Yo-yo shall have a place in my heart once more... and leaving it's mark on Kirby games forever... or well, at least in the bruises of the opponents..

...or wait? Has it reappeared BEFORE Ultra Super Star? Has our favorite pink hero used the Yo-yo since Super Star? Well, honestly, I haven't seen a Yo-yo in Kirby's hands since the SNES game... but dont tell me... I am the only one who has found out that the Burning ability Kirby had in both Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee... has been replaced by Kirby's breakdance-kick as his dash attack?

I wonder if Sakurai's hinting at a breakdancing skill, or the revival of the Yo-yo... but either way, I'm happy that at least part of the Yo-yo has seen the light in recent times... that is, until our handheld game arrives...

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