Kirby and the Forgotten Land review

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of Nintendo’s most important productions this year. The game, which is expected to compete with Elden Ring in terms of sales, was developed by HAL Laboratory, a company very experienced in Kirby. That being the case, I have to say from the beginning that what you expect from a Kirby game, you will find it in this game. I can say that Nintendo’s nasty-throated hero, who hides a great talent under his pink and cute appearance, has fulfilled his duty in this game, too.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land review

Kirby and the Forgotten Land starts with our hero happily hanging out in his own world. We are dragged into a world where we are very unfamiliar, with a dimension door appearing in the sky and we don’t know why. This world actually has a structure in which there are remnants of civilization and nature is slowly nestled on these remnants of civilization. When we say buildings, shopping malls, roads, we can say a world that we see in productions that are somewhat similar to today’s world and have more apocalyptic scenarios. Of course, when Kirby was involved, it was reworked according to this theme and painted in a sweeter way.

We can say that Kirby is on the road to save the captured Wadle Dees as well as being dragged into this world. As you save them, you also need to help them establish a new world to live in. As you save the Wadle Dees, you enable new shops and buildings to open in their own areas. At the beginning of the game, we open our eyes in a region where the sea waves hit the beach, and we complete the first part and move on to the world map of the game.

The open world of the game is actually set in a system that will not be foreign to Nintendo players. The region progresses region by region, and each region is divided into different sections that unlock as you progress through them. In a way, you can liken it to the classic 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 progression of mario. Of course, you need to save a certain number of Wadle Dees in order to move on to the next main area. In addition, besides the sections in each region, some side sections designed in the form of mini-games are also included. You try to collect the objects in a certain second by using different features in each of them and you reach the finish. I can say that they are short but enjoyable.

When we come to the gameplay part, we see that all the dynamics are placed on Kirby’s throat, except for the platform gameplay. If you have played a Kirby game before, you know that the character gains different features according to the enemies and objects he swallowed. When he swallows an object that he has not acquired, there is a character who uses it to his advantage by spitting it out again. As such, a section design created according to Kirby’s shape change has been included. You pass the enemies, platform items and mini puzzles you encounter according to the features Kirby will gain.

If there is a crack on the ground, you swallow the triangular pontoons and jump upside down, causing this cracked part to break up. It is also possible to acquire the characteristics of enemies who swing swords, throw boomerangs, throw bombs, use weapons or fire flames. In fact, you need to take advantage of this flame spray feature to ignite the fuse of the cannonballs that you will reach the hidden parts of the playground. As Kirby progresses in the game, encountering different enemies and objects from which he can acquire his abilities has also shaped the gameplay. With such different uses, both normal progression, mini puzzles and boss battles become more creative and entertaining.

Of course, Kirby’s struggle with his throat is not limited to this. Sometimes it can turn into a trampoline, sometimes it can turn into a tiny tornado. It even tries to swallow construction ladders, vending machines, even a huge car in the playground, apart from the pontoon. Although it cannot swallow such large objects, you can use their properties by taking their shape. Here, when you swallow stairs, you overthrow the enemies and neutralize them, when you swallow a vending machine, you throw cans of drinks at them, or when you turn into a car, you crush those who come in front of you with gas and jump off the ramps. Using these different features and seeing their effects on the playground has really brought along a very simple but fun gameplay dynamic.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is not a difficult game. Although it takes on a more challenging structure with the Wild mode, the part of the game we call the challenge is based on doing the tasks in all the sections and discovering the hidden parts. Here, in addition to different tasks such as driving without falling, finding all the Wadle Dees in that area has strengthened the gameplay again. After a certain time, you go back on the world map and you want to complete the parts you missed.

Here, when you see Wadle Dee, who has 10 in one episode but you saved 8, you play that episode again to find those two missing ones. Some secret areas are so hidden that it can bother you a little not to notice, even if you play it many times. Fortunately, the different themes of the sections such as the city, the carnival area, the snowy areas and the water sections prevented you from getting bored in this replay.

Apart from the main theme song, Kirby and the Forgotten Land offers a gameplay accompanied by music that makes the atmosphere fun. When we come to the graphics side, you see that all the sweet designs expected from a Kirby game are included. The shapes Kirby entered, the smoke and some of them were repeated, but the boss designs ensured that the game preserves this structure. Moreover, a lively and colorful world has been captured with the objects you interact with. The flames burning in Kirby’s head or that face when he takes the form of a car are really worth seeing.

A co-op mode is also included in the game, and as in other Nintendo productions, this player can join and exit the game whenever he wishes. When the other player is involved, he embarks on an adventure as Waddle Dee, who is not very skilled and can only use a spear. According to Kirby, being very incompetent and not being able to use the main dynamics of the game means that he will miss this fun, especially for the other player. It also brings control difficulties as the camera only focuses on the main player.

As a result, I played Kirby and the Forgotten Land recently. most enjoyable platform managed to become one of his games. I can even say that it has become one of the best Kirby games with its theme and gameplay dynamics. If you already like Mario and Kirby games, I can say that an adventure awaits you that you should not miss.