“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” has redefined the classic Nintendo franchise. The latest installment to the Kirby series was released on March 25 for the Nintendo Switch and is one of the biggest launches in the franchise’s history, selling just over 5 million copies within the first weekend of its release.
After being initially announced in the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, fans of the series have been eagerly awaiting for “Forgotten Land” to come out. The release couldn’t have been timed better, as the series is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
“Forgotten Land” still feels like a traditional Kirby game and hits all the beats players have come to expect from the mainline titles, but it has also added a plethora of new mechanics to the game, the main one being Mouthful Mode. Using Mouthful Mode, Kirby can take on powers never before seen in the games. A few of these new abilities include becoming a car, a giant traffic cone, or a vending machine.
One of the most notable changes in “Forgotten Land” is the departure from being a 2D platformer and transitioning into a fully 3D game. While most Kirby games after “Return to Dream Land” have had 3D elements and textures, this is the first mainline game to be fully 3D, allowing players to explore the levels in a new way.
In “Forgotten Land,” players must traverse through a colorful post-apocalyptic-esque world, with run-down buildings covered in moss and other plants. The graphics are highly-detailed, but it still has the charming art style players have come to know and love from Kirby games.
While progressing through the levels, players must search for kidnapped Waddle Dee. As more and more Waddle Dee are rescued, they will construct new buildings for Kirby to purchase power upgrades, foods, and play minigames.
Players can be joined by one friend in a co-op multiplayer. The second player will play as a Waddle Dee but cannot use copy abilities like Kirby. Instead, they will use a spear ability, similar to the one Kirby can use.
“Forgotten Land” has everything players have come to expect from Kirby games and more. It is clear Nintendo put a lot of effort into the game, it plays very smoothly, and there are no issues to be found in “Forgotten Land.”
There are plenty of side objectives and achievements for players to complete, such as going through different bonus areas or finishing all the hidden tasks in every level to rescue all the Waddle Dee.
For people still on the fence about picking up a copy of “Forgotten Land” for themselves, there is a demo available to download on the Nintendo eShop.
“Forgotten Land” shows a promising future for Kirby games and is an absolute delight to play, whether you are a long-time fan of the series or not.