Kirby and the Forgotten Land: A Detailed Analysis
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a simple yet highly enjoyable game that shines even more with the improvements made in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. The Star-Crossed World expansion is another demonstration of the elegant methodology of HAL and Nintendo: fun with high accessibility, mixed with challenges. The game arrived in 2022 as the most ambitious in the series, transitioning the lovable character into fully 3D environments, which resonated with players and resulted in over 7.5 million units sold in 3 years. The enhanced and expanded version in the Nintendo Switch 2 serves to make an already charming experience even more delightful.
An Enhanced 3D Adventure
One of the greatest pleasures of playing Kirby and the Forgotten Land is observing how its 3D environments have been adjusted and designed on a relatively small scale, ensuring players never feel lost but instead consistently entertained, always on the lookout for secrets scattered throughout the scenarios. The levels, though relatively small (many can be completed in 5 to 10 minutes), offer numerous extra challenges to collect more Waddle Dees.
The clever design of the 3D levels also incorporates a sense of verticality and manipulation of three-dimensional perspective to challenge players’ abilities. However, HAL Laboratory opted for a visual aesthetic that easily identifies the path to follow. This deliberate design choice aims to prevent players from getting lost, especially as the game is highly recommended for those wishing to play with younger children. Zero frustration, immense fun, especially in cooperative mode.
Star-Crossed World Expansion
The expansion, Star-Crossed World, offers new campaigns and extra challenges for those who have already experienced the original game. Whether new to the game or a returning player, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World provides hours of uninterrupted fun, prioritizing enjoyment above all else.
The Star-Crossed World expansion is literally a continuation of all the philosophies seen in the original game. Essentially, if you loved the game, you will love the expansion which, without great ambition, manages to give you more content focused on fun, with the ability to make you feel good. Driven by graphical improvements and performance enhancements, Star-Crossed World shows a meteorite changing the world where Kirby is, which means you will revisit various levels from the original (2 from each zone) to enter new areas and face new optional challenges.
