“Kirby’s Return to Dreamland” was initially released on the Nintendo Wii in late October 2011 as the eighth main-series installment to the franchise. During the most recent Nintendo Direct, it was announced that the beloved Wii title would be coming to the Nintendo Switch.
On Feb. 24, “Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe” launched on the Nintendo Switch for $59.99.
The remastered title features the same storyline players of the original version will already be familiar with, but with a graphic overhaul and a few new features, freshening up the game for the modern age (although the Wii version is still a joy to play).
Even though the graphics received a major overhaul, the game still has the same aesthetic as the original title, and Nintendo stayed true to the charm the Wii version had with an outline around all of the characters, which has been removed from other new “Kirby” titles such as “Kirby and the Forgotten Land.”
“Return to Dreamland” didn’t just receive a graphics overhaul for the Switch, though. The gameplay also got a few changes, with a huge expansion to the minigames (which Nintendo referred to as subgames), two new Copy Abilities for Kirby to use during the primary story campaign and a story epilogue.
In “Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe,” up to four players can work together locally to help Magolord rebuild his ship, which crash-landed on Planet Popstar, Kirby’s home planet, and return to his own home planet, Halcandra.
As previously mentioned, all of the story is the same as the original “Return to Dreamland,” but a brand new epilogue starring Magolord was added to the game. Players can begin the new epilogue after completing the main story.
However, one of the first changes players will encounter in “Return to Dreamland Deluxe” is the addition of the “Merry Magoland amusement park.”
After playing a few levels of the main story, players will unlock Magoland, an amusement park full of fun new subgames to play. As you play the subgames in Magoland, you will earn stamps which unlock new face masks and consumables that can be used in the story mode.
Additionally, as you progress through the main story and defeat bosses, they appear at Magoland.
Up to four players can participate in the various minigames, like in the main story campaign. Some of the subgames are designed for four players, but if you don’t have enough human players, the other spots will be filled up by AI.
“Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe” is a great game overall. Even though it is just a remaster, Nintendo added various new features that help justify the $60 price for the game. The remaster is the perfect bit of refreshed love and TLC for the nostalgic “Kirby” title.
