So I'm in the second world of the game now, and first off, it's gorgeous. I have a huge weakness for claymation and HAL did a wonderful job of simulating that look. Control wise, it's pretty much the same deal as Canvas Curse, which is wonderful. Though I do miss being able to tap enemies or blocks, because getting Kirby to roll through them can be difficult. The one thing that I really don't like about the game is the 100 star power-up mechanic, which unfortunately seems to be one of the main features. Making sure that you can get 100 stars to have the special attack which you could easily mess up due to it being difficult to aim (therefore wasting those stars) is just not fun. I miss the power absorption, which, combined with Kirby's ball form led to some interesting methods of play. What I do like, however, is how there's actual bosses now, and not the same three repeated over and over. And the figuring collecting is fun, but I don't really enjoy the end level target wheel to get the journal pages. Overall, I'd say that this is a visual masterpiece, but a step down from Canvas Curse. Maybe I'd think more fondly of it if CC had never been made, but it's impossible not to make these comparisons. Still, fun game, and definitely worth the $40.
Oh yeah, and I've only played on the Gamepad so far, but there's no way that I could look at the TV if it were on.