Hello, and welcome back to The Backlog! This is the weekly column that reviews video games based on a certain genre or topic each month. February continues to be our month for “cute” games, and it would be remiss to not cover one of the cutest video game franchises of all time. Of course, I’m talking about the little pink ball of unlimited power, Kirby. More specifically for this edition, we’ll be looking at one of his most recent games, “Kirby and the Forgotten Land.”
“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” released in 2022 as a third-person platformer, a stark contrast to previous games which were usually 2D platformers. Hal Laboratory brought back our favorite icon in a new adventure for children and families to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch.
Gameplay wise, Kirby is equipped with all of his normal and familiar powers: inhale, swallow, spit out objects, inflate/float and copy the abilities of creatures he eats. But what makes “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” a bit unique is the fact that it pushes his eating ability to the limit.
The teaser trailer for the game was a hit and took the world by storm. It had been a while since a Kirby title graced our consoles, and fans were excited. Seeing Kirby explore a post-apocalyptic world that resembled our own allowed his journey to go beyond Planet Popstar and Dream Land.
But what really made audiences go crazy was the reveal of “Mouthful Mode.” Kirby could now swallow certain objects, and both use and become them. The trailer also revealed “Car Mouth,” a mode where Kirby swallows a car and traverses the stage.
I don’t think the plot of “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” requires much of a spoiler warning, as it follows along with the same template as many Kirby games before it. One day while peacefully flying over Dream Land on his Warp Star, dark clouds arrive and begin to suck up any objects and creatures nearby, Kirby included. He’s sucked into the vortex and awakens to find himself on a sandy beach.
After a bit of walking, Kirby finds an abandoned city overrun by foliage and plant life, as if it’s been abandoned for a long time. Eventually Kirby sees multiple Waddle Dees being captured by strange birds and dog/fox creatures from the Beast Pack.
He also meets a blue, big-eared creature named Elfilin, who was also being captured. He becomes Kirby’s companion and helps in their quest to find and save all the Waddle Dees in this mysterious Forgotten Land.
“Kirby and the Forgotten Land” allows for up to two players at a time. The first player is obviously Kirby, and the second player can play as Bandana Waddle Dee, who was also sucked up by the vortex and wishes to aid you in finding his lost brethren.
Even though the game includes new abilities and areas, it still retains the formula and magic that all Kirby games have. The bosses are always bigger than you and have their own personalities. Longtime Kirby fans know that a recurring boss is the Whispy Woods, but instead of the familiar apple-dropping tree, we fight the Unfriendly Fronds, Tropic Woods. It’s a boss battle with similar mechanics as previous incarnations, but it’s a cute twist on a familiar villain. Sometimes I feel bad for how often Kirby beats up that tree.
I played “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” with my family so it was easy to take turns as Kirby or Bandana Waddle Dee. I do wish it was compatible for four players, as other family games tend to be.
Spoilers for “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” ending!
After defeating a brainwashed King Dedede and running from the Beast Pack, Kirby escapes to a strange elevator with a few Waddle Dees while King Dedede stays back to fend off the enemies.
Within the elevator comes an automated voice in English, which is the first time we’ve heard English or any familiar language in any of the games. The elevator takes them to Lab Discovera, a science facility containing a specimen called ID-F86. The original inhabitants of the land captured the specimen, but 30 years later, a new specimen broke off from ID-F86 and escaped.
The big reveal shows that the Waddle Dees are being made to run on hamster wheels, and the King of the Beasts, Leongar, wishes to reunite both specimens in order for it to reach its full form. The previous inhabitants were sent off into a “land of dreams,” as Leongar calls it, and wants to reunite both specimens so that the Beast Pack — the ones left behind — can also follow in their footsteps.
If you haven’t guessed, Elfilin is that missing specimen. Although Kirby defeats Leongar, ID-F86 takes over and captures Elfilin himself, merging and becoming the final boss, Fecto Elfilis. After separating the two once again, Kirby must stop Elfilis from colliding Planet Popstar with the Forgotten Land. With the power of friendship, “Mouthful Mode” and an 18-wheeler, Kirby once again saves the day.
The Kirby games hold a special place in my heart as one of my favorite franchises, and I hope to review more of these games. I can definitely say “Kirby and the Forgotten Land” is one of the cutest games I’ve played.
Rating: 5/5 Waddle Dees