The game also introduces a set of brand-new powers, unrelated to copy abilities known as Mouthful Mode transformations. This allows Kirby to inhale and wrap his mouth around certain objects, which allows for different types of gameplay. For example, when Kirby inhales a car, he’ll be able to drive around, boost forward, and smash through walls. This mode caught on with fans due to some of the crazy objects that Kirby can inhale in-game, along with how Kirby is able to stretch his entire body over each object. The origins of this gameplay mechanic were detailed by the game’s director, Shinya Kumazaki, in a recent interview with Nintendo Dream that was translated to English via Nintendo Everything.
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Despite Kirby’s Mouthful Mode being a brand-new mechanic in Forgotten Land, Kumazaki notes that it was something that he and his team have been looking to implement for a while. He even shared a rough sketch about how it would work, mentioning that he “thought about having Kirby inhale mysterious triangles and squares and then transform.” More specifically Kumazaki and his team were looking at Kirby’s shape-shifting nature, allowing him to do things that normal human characters couldn’t do.
This resulted in the creation of mouthful mode, where Kirby could stretch his body in creative new ways, as detailed in Kumazaki’s sketch of the gameplay mechanic. While Kumazaki first considered the basic shapes to transform, he then considered what if he didn’t swallow them, and instead took in the other objects around him. This included cars, pipes, and park objects, which are reflected in Kumazaki’s sketches.
Some transformations seem to have been cut from Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as this sketch includes ones where Kirby can be flattened, stretched out by a series of mechanical arms, or even twist his whole body like a corkscrew. The interviewer notes that while Kirby’s new forms are quite striking, the character retains his simple shape, along with the character’s cute charms. Kumazaki even notes despite Kirby’s adventure in the new world, he doesn’t fuss over the details and is “as chill as ever.”
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available now on Nintendo Switch.
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Source: Nintendo Dream (via Nintendo Everything)
