Bye-Bye BoxBoy! is a puzzle-platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The third game in the BoxBoy! series, it was released worldwide in 2017.[1][2][3][4] The game was followed by BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.[5]
| Bye-Bye BoxBoy! | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | HAL Laboratory |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) | Yasuhiro Mukae |
| Producer(s) | Satoshi Mitsuhara Keisuke Terasaki |
| Artist(s) | Yusuke Ota |
| Composer(s) | Jun Ishikawa Hirokazu Ando |
| Series | BoxBoy! |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle-platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editThe player plays as Qbby, a box with legs who can create boxes out of his body. The player must solve puzzles using these boxes, which can stay on Qbby or be detached. If they remain attached to his body, Qbby can use the boxes for movement by moving to the farthest box, destroying the boxes in the process. Crowns are placed in every level, and can be collected for an added reward.[6]
Bye-Bye BoxBoy! introduces different kinds of boxes, which appear in certain levels and have different effects depending on the type.[6] The game also introduces Qbaby, a small box that must be escorted to the goal in certain levels.[7] After beating the game, Challenge Worlds unlock, featuring more difficult levels.[6]
The player can scan an amiibo of Kirby or another Kirby character to have Qbby wear a costume that makes him look like that character.[8][9] Scanning the Qbby amiibo turns the entire game a shade of green that makes it look like it is being played on a Game Boy.[10]
Development and release
editBye-Bye BoxBoy! was developed by HAL Laboratory, the developers of the previous games as well as the Kirby series.[11] The game was released for the Nintendo 3DS on April 12, 2017 in North America.[12][7] In Europe, the game was released on March 23.[13] A demo was released to promote the game, featuring levels from all three games in the series.[14][4] The game also released with a Qbby amiibo, which could only be obtained in Japan.[9][4]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 83/100[15] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 7/10[9] |
| Game Informer | 8.5/10[16] |
| Nintendo Life |   [8] |
| Nintendo World Report | 8.5/10[6] |
Bye-Bye BoxBoy! received "generally favourable" reviews from professional critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[15] It won the award for "Best Puzzle Game" at Game Informer's Best of 2017 Awards,[17] while it came in last place for "Best Mobile/Handheld Game" in their Reader's Choice Best of 2017 Awards.[18]
Casey Gibson of Nintendo World Report enjoyed the game, especially the levels featuring Qbaby, but said that the game was too similar to previous installments.[6] CJ Andriessen of Destructoid also enjoyed the Qbabies, but complained that the power-up they give Qbby were underused.[9] The game additionally received praise from Nintendo Life's Steve Bowling, who enjoyed the game's puzzle design and music, but he mentioned that the game was not very replayable.[8]
References
edit- ^ Vogel, Mitch (5 December 2016). "Goodbye! BOXBOY! Has Been Announced for Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Calvert, Darren (9 May 2017). "Say Bye-Bye to BoxBoy on 23rd March in Europe". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Hilliard, Kyle (9 March 2017). "Bye-Bye BoxBoy". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ a b c Phillips, Tom (9 March 2017). "3DS curio Bye-bye Boxboy! has a UK release date". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Radulovic, Petrana (February 13, 2019). "BoxBoy and BoxGirl announced for Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Daan Koopman (23 March 2017). "Bye-Bye BoxBoy! (3DS) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ a b Kristin, Swalley (2017-04-12). "BYE-BYE BOXBOY! now Available on Nintendo 3DS". Siliconera. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ a b c Bowling, Steve (10 May 2017). "BYE-BYE BOXBOY! Review (3DS eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ a b c d Andriessen, CJ (18 April 2017). "Review: Bye-Bye Boxboy!". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Lada, Jenni (18 January 2017). "Goodbye! BoxBoy!'s Qbby Amiibo Adds A Game Boy Filter To The Game". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
- ^ Porter, Matt (2017-03-09). "The Final BoxBoy! Game Is Coming West". IGN. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ Sephazon, Robert (2017-04-13). "BYE-BYE BOXBOY! Says Farewell to the Trilogy in North America". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ Lada, Jenni (2017-03-09). "Bye-Bye BoxBoy! Trailer Shows Off The Qbabies". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Diver, Mike (20 June 2017). "An Overdue Appreciation of the Brilliance of BoxBoy". Vice. Archived from the original on 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Bye-Bye BoxBoy! for 3DS Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Hilliard, Kyle (25 April 2017). "The Best Of The Boxes - Bye-Bye Boxboy - 3DS". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ "Game Informer's Best Of 2017 Awards". Game Informer. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 8 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ^ Cork, James (4 January 2018). "Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 7 January 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2019.