Over the past 30 years, Kirby has starred in countless games across Nintendo platforms. Often times, the character’s outings were fun, even if they didn’t offer much in the way of the challenge. Kirby and the Forgotten Land On the Nintendo Switch it’s not as challenging as, say, Metroid dreadBut it does move the series in a direction that longtime fans of the series will embrace while still welcoming younger gamers. The result is one of the best Kirby games in years, if not at all.
at Kirby and the Forgotten LandAlong with the other residents of Dream Land, the titular hero finds himself drawn into a strange new world. There, the evil Beast Pack has kidnapped the Waddle Dees, and it’s up to Kirby to save them. Of course, Kirby is able to use his brand copy abilities on his quest, but he’s also able to use the new “oral mode” as well. During his journey, Kirby encounters many items that he can absorb even when he already has energy. Instead of being transformed, these items essentially extend Kirby over the item, allowing him to use that item in interesting ways.
For the most part, mouth-placement capabilities make a solid plus. The car is well executed, allowing Kirby to drive around different levels. The soda machine is also a blast, giving Kirby the ability to shoot cans of pop at his opponents. However, my favorite is the bow that turns Kirby into a glider; This ability demands sections of the journey on the railway that look like something outside Star Fox 64. Overall, Mouthful Mode is a neat progression on the classic Kirby formula, and is put to good use in game puzzles. It’s less fun when it’s as simple as “grasping and flipping that storage cabinet,” or “swallowing the stairs to get to a higher platform,” but until then, the abilities encourage exploration at each level while expanding the concept of Kirby’s powers in an interesting new way.
Exploration plays a big role in Forgotten Earth. Completing each level will unlock three Waddle Dees, but there are many more hidden throughout, requiring players to hunt down every nook and cranny. Some Waddle Dees are relatively easy to find, but others are awarded as rewards for completing secret missions. For example, a level might require Kirby to defeat a certain group of enemies without falling into the water. Sometimes, players may stumble across these rewards by chance, while at other times, they may not discover the requirements until after defeating the stage once or even twice. In a way, it reminds us of Super Mario 64And supplementers will find plenty to keep them occupied.
There is also a very strong incentive to revisit these levels: the more Waddle Dees players unlock, the more add-ons become available. The rescued Waddle Dees set up shop in a small pivot world called Waddle Dee Town. This is where players can participate in sub-games such as Flash Fishing or Tilt-and-Roll Kirby. Players can also find the Weapon Shop, where clone abilities can be upgraded after Kirby finds specific blueprints. Each world in the game features multiple stages of the treasure road, in which players will face a challenge based on the ability to copy. Completing these optional stages unlocks the Rare Stone, which can be traded along with Blueprints to upgrade clone abilities in the Weapon Shop. Once an ability has been upgraded, it can be toggled to appear throughout the game when a companion enemy is absorbed by Kirby. These upgrades are much more powerful than the default, and can be a huge help.
In terms of graphics, Kirby and the Forgotten Land It is one of the best first party games on Switch. The title’s vibrant colors pop off the screen, and there are plenty of great details. In particular, the clothing looks great, like the leather on the Weapons-Shop Waddle Dee hat or the knit on the Kirby’s Frosty Ice hat. The general artistic direction of the game is really impressive. Forgotten Earth Set in a world that looks and feels a bit post-apocalyptic, with Kirby exploring abandoned malls and theme parks. Forgotten Earth It still manages to maintain the cheerful tone players have come to expect from classic Kirby games, but the world as a whole gives the game its own unique flavor, and ties in well with Kirby’s new mouth-positioning abilities.
When starting the game, players are asked to choose between two modes: “Wild Mode” and “Spring Breeze Mode”. Wild Mode offers a more challenging experience, while Spring-Breeze is, as it sounds, a little easier. The game also allows players to easily switch between the two options. I spent all my time with the game on Wild Mode and found it more challenging than the regular Kirby game. Some of the later boss fights increased a bit, but I never felt like I needed to make a change between the two modes. However, some of the Treasure Road stages in the game can present a decent challenge; Nothing too steep, but just enough that you might walk away in surprise. Some of my favorite Kirby games were pretty easy, but I liked the method Forgotten Earth It allowed me to choose more of a challenge. This should definitely be the norm for the series, going forward.
As we’ve seen from a lot of first-party Nintendo Switch games, Forgotten Earth It features a cooperative mode. In this case, a second player takes on the role of Bandana Waddle Dee. Bandana Waddle Dee does not have the same copying abilities as Kirby and instead uses a spear to attack enemies. When Kirby uses some mouth-positioning powers, Bandana Waddle Dee jumps and throws spears at opponents on the way. It’s not quite as fun as the Kirby control, but it’s a great way for parents to play the game with their kids, and I applaud Nintendo for continuing to include this option. If you ever played Pokemon: Let’s go, Pikachu! or Let’s go, Evie!co-op here is quite similar, although more intuitive, allowing players to easily switch between single player and co-op from the pause menu.
If you had asked me about my favorite game in Kirby a few weeks ago, it would have been a neglect between them Spinning epic And the Planet Robot. However, I can honestly say Kirby and the Forgotten Land It is the best series ever. Developer HAL Laboratory has put a lot of care and effort into this game, providing a compelling entry with plenty to see and do. It took me over 10 hours to complete the game’s main campaign, but I found myself at only about 62% complete at that point. Height is not important if there is no incentive to stay in the game, but Forgotten Earth So charming that players will want to spend more time searching for every hidden secret. With lush graphics, fun gameplay, and plenty of things to see and do, Kirby and the Forgotten Land It is a must for fans of the series, or anyone who wanted to try out the Kirby game. This year marks Kirby’s 30th anniversary, and the future of the series has never been brighter.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Kirby and the Forgotten Land It will be released on March 25th on the Nintendo Switch. The game was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review, and was reviewed on a Nintendo Switch OLED.
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