Nintendo has been kind in its approach to platformers in recent years, as Super Mario Odyssey shows that even the face of the video game medium can make the leap to a 3D perspective with ease. Though they are perhaps the most important titles of all time, few players are desperate for a new side-scrolling Mario game, as the formula has been perfected on numerous occasions, on multiple consoles. Taking the first step towards what feel like an inevitable 3D future, Kirby has done the hard work, and would do well to evolve the success of the 2022 title instead of going back to what the series is known for.
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Kirby’s Forgotten Land is a 3D Playground
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a significant improvement over 2018’s Kirby Star Allies, as the latter felt like a simplistic take on what many expect of the titular pink puff. Presenting a post-apocalyptic world in Nintendo’s signature cartoonish style, the game uses its 3D environments well by littering the landscape with familiar gameplay quirks that fans are still used to. With the shift in genre comes more room for creativity, which developer HAL Laboratory utilizes wonderfully.
After 30 years of consistent, if a little uninventive quality, the developer insists the Kirby series is finally entering the “next stage” of its life, and now players know what that evolution is. Reviews for Kirby and the Forgotten Land are strong, with many praising the game’s ability to retain what’s special about the character, while making each level more of an exploration-based affair. This philosophy isn’t anything new for franchises in the Nintendo first party, and with Kirby making changes for its second mainline appearance in Switch, it proves that it too has more to give.
From Kirby’s Adventure to Mario’s Epic Odyssey
Mario is a character that has matured into 3D game design with grace. Deviating from what truly is the perfect formula with titles like Super Mario World and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, the Nintendo 64 provoked innovation when Super Mario 64 released in 1996. Critics and fans alike were flawed by its revolutionary gameplay, and 21 years later, the series was still going strong when the character’s 2017 outing on Nintendo Switch quickly became one of the best-reviewed platformers of all time.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land hasn’t had as significant of an impact on the industry, nor has it been met with as much critical acclaim. However, its success on the 3D plane has proved that the core mechanics of Kirby can still make for a fun experience. More ways to traverse the level means there’s an increase in gameplay options and player freedom. From Mouthful Mode to finding all the Waddle Dees, so many of the game’s components benefit greatly from a more open-ended design, and if the fundamental expectation of any Kirby game can be successfully implemented into the genre, it simply wouldn’t make sense to return to a 2D perspective.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land shows that the character isn’t a relic of the past, and that it can evolve with the times. There’s much to love with HAL Laboratory’s latest offering but while its quality is evident, its impact on the series’ future is perhaps more promising. Kirby has proven that it is capable of wielding a fantastic experience in the 3D genre, and future mainline entries would do well to build upon what it started.
KIrby and the Forgotten Land is available now on Nintendo Switch.
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