With Kirby potentially stepping into a brand-new era, potential fans will probably be looking to give Forgotten Land a chance. Fortunately for them, Kirby is as accessible as ever, supporting a distinct story and setting this time that waives the need to know much about the series. There will likely be references buried deep for Kirby experts to find, but the experience should be welcoming to all. Forgotten Land has been bestowed with a number of new features to make it as accessible as possible, and potential buyers should familiarize themselves with these additions before this colorful adventure begins on March 25.

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One of the most obvious changes to Kirby and the Forgotten Land is that it is now seen and played in three dimensions, with Kirby able to move in any direction. This sounds like a straightforward change, and to some degree it is; Kirby and the Forgotten Land can be adequately summarized as a 3D version of regular Kirby. However, that would be oversimplifying things, as there is a lot that has changed. One thing Kirby fans will immediately notice is the shift back to Kirby 64’s limited flying, where Kirby will only be able to float a little higher than he can jump and will gradually fall. This is to ensure that the new level design, which is wide but still linear, isn’t broken by one of Kirby’s signature abilities. Players should still try to get creative, as there could be mission objectives or blue coins hidden anywhere.

Speaking of signature abilities, many of Kirby’s staple Copy Abilities are back once again. Sword, Cutter, Fire, Ice, Bomb, and Hammer are among the regulars. Abilities that have been absent for a while like Needle and Tornado are back, and new abilities such as Drill and Ranger are joining them. The new camera means that there are new ways to use these abilities, such as aiming Ranger’s gun or banking Cutter blades around obstacles. Veterans used to Kirby’s past movelists just need to keep in mind that many movesets are smaller, and also divided between not only different tiers of Copy Abilities, but Kirby’s other actions as well. Pausing to check Kirby’s current abilities is always a good idea, and doing so during bosses will yield the usual extra lore.

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Kirby’s New Powers in the Forgotten Land

Different tiers of Copy Abilities is another aspect deserving of elaboration, though it needs some background. At the beginning of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby is transported to a strange, abandoned world that is gradually being overtaken by the Beast Pack. Kirby must rescue Waddle Dees and a small creature named Elfilin on his way to discovering the land’s secrets and returning to Pop Star. For their part, the Waddle Dees will gradually construct Waddle Dee Town, a pleasant place where Kirby can play minigames, participate in the Colosseum boss rush, and upgrade his Copy Abilities. Major abilities tend to have two upgrades, but even minor ones like Crash and Sleep can be modified.

Kirby isn’t just getting new Copy Abilities, either. He will also have access to Mouthful Mode, a strange ability granted to him by the vortexes that brought him to the new world. Kirby can suck up certain large objects to gain their powers for a little while, and these objects can range from a car to a traffic cone. Sometimes, Forgotten Land will make use of its 3D environments to give Mouthful Mode a more cinematic touch. Car Kirby busting through a wall and then driving into the distance soon afterward are two prominent examples of this right at the start of the game. Boss fights also take advantage of new camera angles, placing the view behind Kirby as he faces his foe. These are perfect for watching the action slow down after a perfect dodge, which is one of many tools Kirby will need to master.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Is For Everyone

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of the most accessible games in a series that already prides itself on serving all ages of fans. A new difficulty selector is available at the start of the game, with Spring-Breeze Mode providing the typical Kirby experience, and Wild Mode turning things up a notch for the sake of more Star Coins. There’s a good chance the postgame will include another mode, which should leave oldschool fans thankful that the extra life system has finally been removed. Those who want a stiffer challenge right away should keep an eye out for challenge missions appearing as vortexes on the world map. These can be many things, but they will all be a bit more demanding of the player than normal levels.

Fortunately, players do not need to take on these trials alone. Bandana Waddle Dee returns as a co-op partner wielding his signature spear, and can drop in to help Kirby at any time. King Dedede and Meta Knight are both around, but a redesigned Dedede seems to have thrown his lot in with the Beast Pack, and Meta Knight seems like a Colosseum exclusive. Kirby and the Forgotten Land has plenty of mysteries to be unraveled, and players can get a head-start with the free demo available on the Nintendo eShop. Clearing and one hundred-percenting it will produce prize codes for the full game, so fans and intrigued gamers should start their journey through the Forgotten Land as soon as possible.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land will be released on March 25 for the Nintendo Switch.

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