Kirby’s first complete 3D mainline game has been released on the Nintendo Switch. In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, you set out on an adventurous journey to discover a mystery planet where nature has encroached over much of society. There you’ll discover curious abandoned attractions from the past like a shopping mall, a circus and even a gigantic amusement park.
Since the game’s release, I’ve been playing it with my family every night and have already completed the main mission. Following this line of thinking and heading to Dream Land, let me share three things I enjoyed about the game and one thing I didn’t.
liked the new “mouthful” mode, improved copying abilities, and the co-op aspect of gaming
Mouthful Mode, Kirby’s new star move, is unlocked early in the game when he inhales several enemies—and, to his astonishment, a vehicle. Kirby’s body wraps around the automobile, allowing him to control it instead of devouring it. Mouthful items that Kirby may morph into include a cone, lightbulb, vending machine, and water balloon, among many more. There are a total of 300 Waddle Dees buried across the 40 levels in the game. Because they bring fresh gameplay elements and stage variation, as well as being funny to see in action, mouthy abilities are a welcome addition to the Kirby franchise.
Kirby’s Evolved Abilities, which enhance the 12 normal Copy Abilities in the game, are another great addition. There are a number of ways to boost the power and attack rate of most abilities, and some upgrades may offer beneficial new qualities. You may make a strong homing bomb out of Kirby’s Bomb ability, or use his Ice ability to create snowmen that roll like missiles and attack foes. While Kirby and the Forgotten Land may be finished with only the basic Copy Abilities, upgrading them will turn you into a pink wrecking ball that can do no wrong. Since I play Kirby games to unwind and have fun, rather than for strategic purposes, I had a blast using the game’s new Evolved Abilities to despatch foes.
The two-player co-op mode in Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a lot of fun, too, while we’re talking about games. Sword-wielding sidekick Bandana Waddle Dee joins the fray, and his arsenal includes many spear strikes, as well as a throw. Bandana Waddle Dee is a wonderful pick for inexperienced players since if he gets too far away from Kirby, he’ll instantly take his place. One of the reasons Waddle Dee is so great for newbies is that you can bring him back to life at any point by pressing a button. By chance, I also learned that Kirby and Bandana Waddle Dee may cure each other by walking near together. Isn’t it adorable?
Appreciated: The Totally Adorable Method of Delivery
Kirby games are known for their vibrant colours, but seeing his world come to life in 3D raises the cuteness factor to a whole new level.
A wide variety of settings are available to explore in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, from beautiful green fields to a tropical water resort to an amusement park with many levels. The brilliant colours, delicate details, and eye-catching animations make everything appear great. I think this is the best-looking Kirby game I’ve seen so far, and I can speak from personal experience when I say that youngsters will enjoy the wide range of visuals on offer. […
Some of the levels are particularly noteworthy, including one of my favourites, a fast-paced rollercoaster ride in which you must move Kirby’s weight left or right in order to gather all the items. Levels featuring soaring sequences for exciting on-rails thrills and frightening ghost levels with plenty of neon lights also make an appearance. Big boss battles like Gorimondo, the punk-looking monkey, and Tropic Woods, the gigantic sentient palm tree that’s rooted in turmoil are all aesthetically impressive. This is a refreshing change of pace after playing games like Dying Light 2 and Elden Ring, both of which are more serious affairs.
The Minigames and Collectibles were my favourite parts of the game.
Waddle Dee Town is a fun place to hang out while you’re not battling baddies or bosses, and there are plenty of places and personalities to meet. A whole book describing many of Kirby’s previous exploits is included in the game, as well as the option to decorate his home with miniatures.
Many adorable minigames can be found in the village, like the Help Wanted café game, in which two players compete to serve a line of hungry Waddle Dees their favourite cuisine. On the most tough setting, it’s quite taxing, and it reminds me a lot of Overcooked. In the Colosseum at the top of the hill, you may fight previously fought mid- and end-bosses and additional prizes for Star Coins. Only in this location do you square battle against Meta Knight and a couple of the game’s most powerful adversaries. ‘
The village has a fishing pond where you may attempt to catch the largest Blipper fish, and a Gatcha Machine Alley where you can trade in Star Coins for new figurines. Additionally, a café serves meals, an item store sells useful boosts, and a weapons shop allows you to improve Kirby’s Copy Abilities (Kirby’s ability to duplicate objects). In the town, there’s a lot to do, and it increases the game’s playtime by several hours.
disliked: the tediousness of completing the project to the fullest extent possible
As much as I really loved my time with the game, completing all of the minigames may be a bit tedious. There are three to five “clues” in each stage, however only one clue is unlocked every playthrough of the level. To get the last Waddle Dee, I had to go through certain stages upwards of five times, which I found to be a bit of pointless repetition.
In addition, I had to keep replaying levels in order to collect enough Star Coins for the gatcha figurines that are required for 100%. With gatcha machines, it’s hit-or-miss whether you’ll obtain a double-figurine and lose your money in the process. Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s last stretch is a bit of a slog, in contrast to other Switch titles like Super Mario Odyssey.
Ultimately, everything comes down to this:
A lot of fun was had by everybody in my family and I would highly suggest it to anybody who like Kirby or platformers. As much as I like exploring the 3D environments, I’m hoping that the new Mouthful skills and Copy Ability improvements will be carried over to future games. This is the perfect co-op game for your next family game night if you’re looking for something light and enjoyable.