Kirby Air Ride

Nintendo Power

Kirby has surprising depth and greater challenge than you might think. [Dec 2003, p.139]

GameNow

The real fun began when I grabbed a few friends and switched from the main Air Ride to the Top Ride and City Trial modes. [Nov 2003, p.66]

Play Magazine

The multiplayer is a blast and the challenge level is very, very high when the CPU is cranked up. [Nov 2003, p.90]

Deeko

Anyone from 5 years of age to 95 years of age can pick up a controller and compete for first place. That’s the beauty of it, the incredible universal appeal that it offers.

GamePro

It’s more different than fun, but once you get the hang of it, Air Ride’s quirks become strengths.

Nintendophiles

If you pick up Kirby Air Ride expecting a great racing experience, you're not going to find it, go buy "F-Zero GX." The level themes seem more like platformer worlds than racing environments.

TotalGames.net

Despite the huge amount of secrets to unlock we can’t envisage this lasting too long and it might be just too sugary for a lot of people. But if you’re looking for something to play with the whole family, or with a lot of friends then this is perfect. [Import]

NintendoWorldReport

A less-than-stellar multiplayer package coupled with an impressively addictive solo racer, Kirby Air Ride both entertains and annoys.

GameSpy

The perceptive lack of lots of courses in Air Ride mode and the limited fun that the Top Ride and City Trial modes offer might shy away some gamers, but KAR is primarily a fast, fun, and novel take on the kart racing genre that shouldn't go ignored.

PALGN

One of this generation's most under-appreciated games.

GameCube Europe

Like Kirby’s old games, its simple fun but it won’t last very long. If you want a nice simple multiplayer game that anybody can step into without too much effort, this is a game to consider.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

This game is so supremely easy for anyone to pick up and play that what initially seems one-dimensional and lame ends up leading to awesome multiplayer. [Nov 2003, p.196]

Game Informer

It's neat, but after a couple of hours you won't really feel the need to keep playing. [Dec 2003, p.158]

GameBiz

The ability copying and multi-routed tracks are smart additions that would be a lot more enjoyable had other infuriating faults not let it down.

NTSC-uk

The tracks are well designed, but with such simplistic gameplay it can get repetitive quickly. The greatest sin, though, is the lack of tournament or tally within the multiplayer game.

G4 TV

With an impressive variety of creative and offbeat game modes, great multiplayer, numerous tracks and minigames, a horde of vehicles, and endearingly charming characters and gameplay elements, Kirby Air Ride is surprisingly enjoyable if you give it some time.

Nintendojo

Much of the game just isn’t fun. Even with the three modes, there isn’t enough variety to the actual racing game to make it fun.

Computer and Video Games

Ultimately this is a game for the youngest of GameCube players and difficult to recommend to anyone who takes their racing seriously.

IGN

So simple and so devoid of depth or challenge that most will dislike it -- will, in fact, be utterly bored with it.

GameSpot

The overly simplified gameplay really holds it back, and overall, it's a game that really can't be recommended to anyone, young or old.

GamerFeed

It's not the speed that bothers me, it's the lack of depth and boring modes of play that kept it from being a keeper.

games(TM)

This game is big, chunky and bright but no amount of bold colours and cuddly enemies can save Air Ride from being a rather short-lived and simple affair. [Jan 2004, p.120]

Game Revolution

The one button gameplay is frustrating and silly, resulting is an uneven, uninspiring racer that doesn’t do the gumball justice.

GMR Magazine

If you do manage to get around the wacky premise and unintuitive controls, there is some longevity to the game, with a massive set of "challenges" to complete - but that's a bit "if." Otherwise, seer clear. [Dec 2003, p.96]

1UP

An unintuitive mess. Never mind the fact that gamers are instinctively prepared to press a button to accelerate, but charging your boost by braking is an impractical affair that can also get you into trouble when you're stuck at the bottom of a hill and need a boost to get up.

Cheat Code Central

I found it cliché, repetitive and not very much fun.

Gaming Age

Don’t pick this one up unless you’re really hard up for a multiplayer game or until it drops to $19.99.

Edge Magazine

None of this is very entertaining at all. The game offers some of the most slender, inconsequential, and ultimately, boring distractions to be found on the GameCube. [Sept 2003]