Title: Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Developer: HAL Lab
Genre: Platform
Released: 2022
Rating: 7/10
In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, rescue the Waddle Dees so they can rebuild their town! Inhale enemies and objects to gain a variety of attack abilities, battle bosses, and discover hidden areas as you explore the beautiful world with Kirby and friends!
Pros:
Varied abilities and landscapes
One of the most entertaining aspects of the game is changing up your attack abilities by inhaling enemies and objects. You can battle with bombs, fire, ice, and so much more! On top of the variety of attack abilities, you can also upgrade those abilities in the Waddle Dee town to make them stronger. While you can’t upgrade abilities gained by inhaling objects, you do get to enjoy the hilarious attack methods that they provide. Some of my favorites include becoming a water balloon, cone, and ring.
The stages of the game are also varied regarding the scenery and method of completing the stage. One of my favorites includes a race to complete a portion of the stage. You get to earn a certain number of prizes depending on how quickly you are able to complete the race. If you complete the race fast enough to earn all three prizes, you get to rescue a Waddle Dee!
Gotta collect ’em all
In each stage of the game you not only want to rescue the Waddle Dees, you also want to find the collectible figurines!
Working towards a goal = Feeling of accomplishment
Throughout the game, you work towards the goal of rebuilding the Waddle Dee town. Each time the Waddle Dees are able to build part of their town, you get access to a new area that lets you do things like upgrade your attacks, take a nap to restore your health, or battle bosses for prizes. You also get a feeling of accomplishment when you’ve rescued enough Waddle Dees to complete a new area of the town.
Cons:
Wish you could explore a bit more
In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the landscapes are beautiful. The developers clearly put a ton of effort into creating an aesthetically pleasing world. So it’s a bit disappointing that you’re not able to explore more of the world in a freestyle sort of way. I wish there was a bit more open-world gameplay available but I suppose that somewhat defeats the style and purpose of quick-play stages that have set checkpoints. I wonder if a future Kirby game could be open-world like Breath of the Wild.
Overall…
This is the first Kirby game that I’ve ever played and it did not disappoint! I do prefer games that are open-world but playing as Kirby has been a joy to experience. It also has some LOL moments when you inhale an object and use it to attack. You also get to meet some of the cutest characters – including the enemies! If you’re looking for a lighthearted, enjoyable game that’s not overly complicated or difficult, this may be the perfect game for you!
Caroline’s Library 