I still don't understand how to use Spark Kirby's powers (wiggling the Circle Pad seems to have no effect on charging), but I've cleared the first world 100% (if 100% means finding all of the Sun Stones in each level, EX included).
I have to say, as someone who didn't care much for the two Kirby titles on Wii,
this one is really clicking with me. 
I'm guessing the first world is easiest, so it should all be uphill from here... even if it's only a
slight increase in challenge. I think the fact I had so much fun with the first world bodes well for the rest of the game. It might be a case of "you get out what you put in," since I'm taking the time to study up on the (surprisingly robust) moves of each power, something I didn't explore in past Kirby titles. But I also think it has to do with the level design -- not only do the levels look gorgeous and offer a lot of variety, with destructible elements and scripted events and a variety of terrain (ladders, hills, etc.), but there is a steady stream of enemies that allow you to test out your abilities. And when you throw yourself into the mix with mechanics like fast-falling and air-dodging and guarding and sliding, the game is still simple (barring a boss, here and there), but there is this odd quality of relaxation mixed with
aggression that is very... empowering. Like you're some gluttonous god of war, steamrolling the local populace with your shape-shifting powers of destruction! Maybe this has always been the appeal of Kirby, and I just didn't see it before because I didn't dig into the mechanics and simply went from Point A to Point B.
Moving between the foreground, mid-ground and background on a regular basis also keeps things fresh. The levels are framed well with structures in the foreground partially obscuring your view at times as you move through the mid-ground and background. There's this propulsive sense of progress moving between the layers of the level -- it's not a simple path from left to right or right to left. You're always bouncing back and forth between the layers of the background. There's also the "Motherfucker Fruit," as I call it, which allows you to inhale everything in sight. This has made for some mild puzzle-solving where I pull back and release wrecking balls, maneuver blocks into place, etc. It's simple enough to figure out in short order, but still fun because you feel so powerful. The spectacle is amazing -- entire trees are uprooted, enemies spiral into your maw, and the backdrop itself even peels away at one point, revealing the rest of the level. And then there are the semi-frequent gyro sections where you manipulate various mechanisms by tilting the 3DS left and right. These are surprisingly well-implemented, with controls that are smooth and snappy. The screen even switches to 2D automatically while tilting the system, so there's no loss of focus, and it returns to full 3D as soon as you stop interacting with the contraption.
The game looks crisp and colorful, solid and tangible in 3D. The textures are lovely, with quilt-like patterns on many surfaces. The music is super-catchy. The sound effects are punchy and make you feel like you're breaking bones as you drill through enemies with the rat-a-tat-tat of a sword plunge, or a boomerang throw, or a flaming forward dash, or a flying suplex. If only I could figure out how to use Spark Kirby... Everything else is rather straightforward -- just hit Pause to read up on your current power, and be sure to scroll through the pages since many powers have quite a few moves.
Oh, and the first boss,
, looks amazing and had a huge variety of moves. In fact, all of the mini-bosses preceding him had quite a few tricks, as well. And during the boss encounters, I actually had to use the healing items in my inventory since they had me in the red on a few occasions. So there's that. It's a simple game, but an empowering one rich in interactive elements, with responsive and varied mechanics you can rigorously use to keep up the pace as you plow through enemies, destroy the environment, manipulate mechanisms and solve light puzzles on your way through the layers of the background and back again.
And the key-chains are quite addictive to collect. You can zoom in on them and rotate them and even rattle them with the gyro. They tell you the source game of the different characters, which is good since I'm not very familiar with the Kirby series. Some of them also appear to be rarer than others. Hmm...
So far, so good. I don't regret this purchase at all.
