Sounds wonderful, looks great, and is clever enough to hold the player's interest from start to finish.
From yarn to felt, cotton to denim, Epic Yarn is a game fully devoted to the driving conceit, that the story takes place entirely in an alternate universe where everything is made of cloth or cloth-associated materials (such as buttons). This change in visual design also extends to the gameplay, as Kirby is no longer able to swallow enemies for specific abilities (since he becomes a length of yarn). While taking away the core gameplay element of the Kirby franchise seems disastrous on paper, the feature isn't missed. If you like that part of Kirby games, there are plenty of them to keep you company, and this one is a welcome departure from the old style.
Epic Yarn, Kirby has a star-studded yarn lasso he can use to grab enemies, ribbons, and buttons, at times changing the world itself by tugging on fasteners and strings. Kirby will also spend lots of time transformed into various forms of transportation, from a submarine to a train, a shark to a kind of cotton drill, a fire truck to a flying saucer. These elements pop up enough, and have enough of their own flavor, that they break up the light puzzle-platform action perfectly without overstaying their welcome. There are also boss battle levels like most Kirby games, and they're generally unique and fun.
The game isn't very difficult, but again, this is a Kirby game, and the franchise has been historically easy, making the bar of entry relatively low. A young child can play the game fairly well, and an adult can spend extra time finding all of the hidden gems and treasure chests in the levels for high scores. Epic Yarn also supports cooperative play in the form of the Prince Fluff, who shares a similar body shape and identical abilities to Kirby, though he is blue and has a golden crown (and large eyebrows). Playing with a partner can be fun, but it isn't necessary, and it can be frustrating unless both players are on the same page.
The soundtrack is also worth mentioning, a downright stunning collection of tunes that eschew the traditional sounds most people associate with video games while also growing throughout. What starts out as piano in the early levels grows and evolves throughout the game, and there is a soundtrack room where the tracks can be enjoyed separate from play. That this score isn't available for purchase separately is very disappointing. Even against the beautiful, tight visual design, the soundtrack stands out.
Kirby's Epic Yarn is a charming, inventive platformer that takes a venerated franchise and does something fun without completely abandoning the very core of the experience. It marries a beautiful soundtrack to devastatingly charming visual design, and the gameplay is varied and enjoyable. It's good, clean fun for all ages.