Nintendo recently blew over 500 bubbles of bubble gum to celebrate Kirby’s 20th Anniversary and the release of Kirby’s Dream Collection, but is this collection of six Kirby titles worth blowing a wad of cash on?

Here's what's included in the collection:

Six Classic Kirby Titles

• Kirby's Dream Land (released on Game Boy, 1992)
• Kirby's Adventure (release on NES, 1993)
• Kirby's Dream Land 2 (released on Game Boy, 1995)
• Kirby Super Star (released on Super NES, 1996)
• Kirby's Dream Land 3 (released on Super NES, 1997)
• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (released on N64, 2000)

For fans, this really is a dream collection. Kirby’s debut in the original Kirby's Dream Land was a fun little platformer where the rotund puffball jumped through anthropomorphic forests and swallowed his enemies. Later entries in the series added color and gave Kirby his patented ability to steal foes characteristics. Even when Kirby 64 buffed up the graphics to 2.5D, it still retained the polished Kirby platforming. Nearly every game in this collection is worth playing, especially if you missed them back in the day.

New Challenge Stages
Last year’s platformer Kirby's Return to Dream Land included a series of challenge stages where Kirby had to navigate through a series of 2D obstacle courses. These challenges return for Kirby’s Dream Collection, but this mode has been enhanced with new copy abilities and new stages.

Kirby Anniversary Celebration Book
This fun little booklet includes a Kirby timeline, character biographies, and a detailed history of the series. It’s something that most people will barely glance at, but the book includes a few cool historical anecdotes and some early concept art. Here’s a sneak peak:

Interactive Museum & Music CD
This interactive timeline is a digital museum that details the Kirby games released throughout the years. A 20th Anniversary CD with 45 classic tunes from 16 different Kirby games.

Final Thoughts
This set released today for $39.99. It’s a nice collection of classic platformers that are still fun to play. The graphics may be a bit dated, but the gameplay stands the test of time. If you're a fan, you'll love it, but this is also a great entry point for people who missed these games the first time. If you think of vacuums when you hear the word Kirby, Kirby’s Dream Collection is a great way to educate yourself about the history of one of Nintendo’s most adorable characters.