When Masahiro Sakurai first sketched a few stumpy arms, large feet, and flushed cheeks on a small pink blob, he was responding to a call from Nintendo to create a game that would appeal to all players; a game that, like the endearing Kirby, would have no sharp edges and be a haven for those who thought Mario was a bit too masochistic. Since then, Kirby has offered a lighthearted and carefree take on adventure, showcasing breezy platformers in which falling over a ledge is never a threat—instead, you can just inflate yourself and float away.
If it weren’t for the hard work of the designers at HAL Laboratory, who consistently come up with fresh concepts to keep you interested, such grace would be dull. At its finest, Kirby offers a parade of shiny new toys to play with, minigames to pass the time, and foes to swallow in order to get their abilities. The maximalist approach aspect of their magic makes them abundant.
Which helps to explain the new concept in Kirby and the Forgotten Land—it’s just a matter of wondering what would happen if Kirby could take up even more? In the mouthful mode, you may speed from one place to another by swallowing complete cars, a large bouncing ball of water that shoots jets, and vending machines that spew out cans. It’s true that this Kirby game has racing elements.
The fact that this is Kirby’s first true 3D experience to date—quite amazing, considering how long the series has been running—is the catalyst for many of the game’s smaller ideas, of which Mouthful Mode is one major one. Even while there’s the comfort and warm sensation of playing a 3D platformer that’s as liberal and innovative as anything from the genre’s golden period, the end product is a very different feeling Kirby game from what’s come before. The gameplay of The Forgotten Land is very similar to what may have happened if our collective dreams of a three-dimensional Kirby had come true during the GameCube era.
Which is, of course, excellent praise; in fact, there is no greater praise if you have a certain tendency. Contrary to some misconceptions around its unveiling, Kirby and The Forgotten Land is a magnificently classic platformer that isn’t even partially or fully open world. Rather, it is an assemblage of self-contained levels that are grouped together according to themes on a globe map that is gradually revealed. Ice levels exist! Levels of the beach! Fairground elevations! All of this was presented, somewhat weirdly, with the light post-apocalyptic overtones that accompany the narrative of the Forgotten Land (which I won’t reveal here other than to say it’s a great way to see some old favorites in a new light).
HAL Laboratory is able to pack a ton of secrets into each level thanks to the extra dimension. In fact, the real challenge lies in discovering its secrets and using new abilities to explore unexpected places to find treasures rather than just getting through each level (even on the ‘Wild Mode’ harder setting, which will be one of the easiest games you play this year). There are several Waddle Dees hidden throughout each level that need to be rescued, and then there are requirements to be fulfilled: locate the hidden container! On top of two trains! Grab hold of every poster to reveal more. A certain quantity is needed to reveal the boss encounter in each location. It implies that, while it’s never a chore, going through stages again is kind of required.
And those bosses get into battles! They are multi-stage, imaginative events that are unmatched anywhere else. You may revisit them in the hub world of Waddle Dee Town or indulge in a boss rush there in the colosseum. This area has a delightfully tense mini-game reminiscent of a root beer tapper, as well as gacha units where you can spend the gold you’ve earned in-game on hundreds of souvenirs, including a bed for Kirby to rest in. As usual, what makes it all so interesting is the attention to detail in seemingly commonplace aspects, like the cutscene viewer, which is a genuine theater where an usher tells you to take a seat while the projector spools up.
These sorts of distractions may be found in a surprisingly sophisticated Kirby game, where blueprints for advanced weapon types can be located and unlocked by winning stars in the smaller, more intricate treasure runs that are dotted throughout each actual level. A craft-based Kirby game! Not exactly, though; as always, it’s done with the slightest touches, encouraging exploration of earlier levels rather than a full-on grind.
As a result, I’ve never played a more giving Kirby than this one, and even once it’s all finished, there are still more reasons to play it again than I can think of. That’s partly to unlock its mysteries, partly to bring a co-op partner along who’s accessible the entire time, or partly just to linger longer in its comforting glow. From its charming opening song, “stuff your belly and nap awhile,” to its hilarious ending, Kirby and the Forgotten World has the ability to instantly uplift your spirits.
Though it’s tempting to claim that Kirby has advanced from a supporting role in The Forgotten Land to a prominent one in a game that can match Mario in its grandeur, that isn’t precisely the case. Though the action moves at a speed of about 30 frames per second instead of the more fluid modern Marios, the various concepts and new powers are never quite as fully realized as in the clear analog Super Mario Odyssey; similarly, the polish isn’t quite there. All of it appears to be incidental, though.
Similar to its predecessors, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an open-ended game that appeals to a wide audience. The transition to 3D platforming is arguably the biggest advancement in the series’ history. This is probably Kirby’s greatest game to date and an incredible hug of a game.