Thirty years is something to celebrate. So Kirby is back in full force on our Nintendo Switch consoles this weekend with what could very well be his funniest adventure ever. It’s hard (read: impossible) not to smile when you take control of Kirby, Nintendo’s candy pink little hero. After all, he has been with us, year after year, for three decades now, keeping his invariable good mood. In short, we had a good time in his company. And that’s obviously not about to change.
This time around, our valiant hero finds himself catapulted into a world abandoned by humans, now in ruins (think watered down version of The Last of Us) from which he must rescue his Waddle Dees friends. Once again, it is with the help of his almost infinite skills that he will achieve this, because, let’s remember for the novices, this little guy assimilates the skills of his enemies by swallowing them.
Nothing new under the sun, of course. But even if Kirby and the Forgotten Land in no way reinvents the classic formula, it succeeds in polishing and perfecting it, thus bringing it to its climax.
After all, why absolutely seek to revolutionize a mechanism that works perfectly well? We would thus risk distorting our dear Kirby, emblem of an entire generation in the same way as Mario and Luigi.
Between tradition and modernity
But if he stays true to his essence, Kirby and the Forgotten Land does indeed bring its share of novelties. Greedier than ever, our hero is no longer content to swallow his enemies. This time, he engulfs various objects – some of an impressive size, moreover – ranging from the vending machine to the car, passing by the light bulb, the bleachers or the block of lockers.
Some of them give him significant skills in combat. On the other hand, others will allow him to reveal secret passages, spin at high speed or even reach new heights. These are fun additions that energize the experience and increase the pleasure, which is already very important.
Another novelty? The integration of 3D that brings a touch of modernity, an aspect that has often been lacking in previous Kirby adventures. However, we would have liked to have had a more cooperative and less rigid camera.
Nevertheless, the conclusion is obvious. Our beloved Kirby hasn’t aged a bit. It is therefore with joy that we follow him again in his colorful, immensely creative and deliciously inviting universe.
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land ★★★★☆
Available on Nintendo Switch