It's no Kirby (especially Nightmare in Dreamland that came out very closely), but it's a very enjoyable easy platform perfect to take breaks from frustrating/challenging ones.

Let's hope we can see the other unpublished games patched in english. Sure, we can always bet on Nintendo to actually remember it, but considering how it's going with the legacy of underrated gems it can be as much as in a random next direct as never.
Yeah, I'm not gonna do this mistake. Good luck, english fan-translation team!

First GOTM finished for January 2024. Both very charming and ultimately underwhelming. This one gives me excitement for the others in the series (especially the well-received DS ones) as it feels like a good base for a potentially better game. It's a fantastic looking game that somehow manages to not have terrible-feeling underwater levels, though sometimes the level design gets in the way. The constant "stop-and-talk" is very annoying considering the characters are borderline unlikable, and kills basically any momentum in the game, but the bones are here for a great game.

You ever play an underwater platformer? That's what Starfy is, kinda the "Kirby of the sea", if you really want to draw a comparison between the two. Starfy brings a lot more to the table than you would think at a glance though. His Star Spin provides a great way to attack enemies while also being really fun to move around with. Despite being a game that consists almost exclusively of underwater stages (there's a bit of land platforming too), it hits a nice blend between puzzle and action.

The real highlight of Starfy is definitely the characters though. You meet a whole school of characters with quirky writing, fun personalities, and unique designs. The game stops to talk pretty often, but it never failed to make me smile. Their dialogue even frequently changes as you play the postgame, making their brief story arcs during the main game feel worth it.

Oh yeah, Starfy has a pretty beefy postgame to dig into. Every stage gets remixed obstacle layouts and new enemies. All of the side areas can actually get really tough, and the bosses get new tricks up their sleeves as well. I wish the game didn't completely kick you out of a level when you find a treasure, even if these extra rooms are usually one-way paths.

I think Starfy can pretty easily join the pantheon of "Nintendo characters that don't get enough recognition". Hell, you probably only know him as that one assist trophy in Smash Bros. Starfy deserves more respect than that! This game makes the ocean look like a paradise. Give me that over the nightmare fuel found in our own ocean's depths any day.