Kirby and the Forgotten Land Reviews
The new title on the Nintendo Switch marks the first time Kirby has starred in a 3D game, but does it measure up to his past highs?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land didn't blow me away, it's a simple and short game, and that plays into one of its strengths. While it could've been a little more coherent with it's visuals, and the level design could be a bit more open, the title works as a little puzzle platforming beat 'em up game that you can just boot up, play and relax.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s too easy. And it’s not like dialling up the AI or bolstering their numbers would help, it’s just been designed as an ultra-accessible game. And that’s fine. But for mine it’s detrimental to some of the clever ideas that do rear their head throughout, though these are more often flash-in-the-pan in terms of cadence and delivery
"Kirby eats colorful cars for breakfast."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
If you like 3D platformers from Nintendo, give Forgotten Land a chance. It will keep you entertained for a few nights, even if not everything works as it should. The basic concept and mechanics are there, but the sequel needs to expand and improve them.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Forgotten Land may not nail the world-building or plotting, but it’s not snoozing when it comes to Kirby’s transformations. In fact, the new optional Treasure Road activities highlight his absorptive arsenal better than in any previous game. These short stages help players learn how to maximize the various functions of each copy ability, whether that’s for light environmental puzzles—such as the Drill ability to burrow under barriers—or to do battle armed with chakrams, axes, flames, and more. Between the Road and the relatively lengthy main quest—six zones with five stages each and a post-game area that remixes harder versions of earlier levels—The Forgotten Land really gives Kirby’s powers a workout.
One of the best Kirby games ever made and while the formula hasn't changed as much as it first seems it's also one of the most enjoyable co-op titles of recent years.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s simplicity is its greatest asset as well as its greatest weakness. It makes it a fun and simple platformer filled with great copy abilities and a drive to work towards upgrading them all into cooler and more deadly versions. But it won’t likely have the staying power of some of the franchise’s earlier entries either. It’s a AAA Switch game though made by Nintendo, so surely it’s fun and will have its fans nonetheless.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land might not redefine the genre, but it's still a solid 3D platformer with a great gimmick. Kirby's duplication ability makes for some great gameplay and the much-anticipated Mouthful Mode doesn't disappoint. It's still lacking in some areas, but there's plenty of enjoyment to be had.
While a mostly fun experience, Kirby and the Forgotten Land definitely forgets a lot of the things that make the pink puffball’s games so unique.
The result is a well balanced game that really shows off some much needed depth that the Kirby series has really lacked up until now.
HAL Laboratory has done an excellent job in making sure Kirby and the Forgotten Land pay homage to the series’ roots, while still delivering a fresh experience of platforming and action from a new perspective.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land reminds fans of what makes this charming franchise so uniquely fun. At the same time, Nintendo and HAL elevate the formula with Kirby’s range of strong and often absurd powers, dense 3D settings, and (relative) depth through upgrades and extras.
Taking a jump to 3D from 2D is always risky, however Kirby and the Forgotten Land avoided all the possible pitfalls and creates a solid foundation for the games to come, considering it's already one of the best titles in the series.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
After years of always feeling like he's never quite reached his potential, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the sort of series-defining triumph worthy of Nintendo's flagship blob. Kirby finally has his Super Mario Galaxy, his Sonic Mania, his Star Fox 64. And I for one, am delighted by that.
It might be missing a few series staples, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an atmospheric delight that is often a joyful endeavor.
It doesn’t quite tread new ground, but its slick gameplay and sense of oddness makes it a fascinating and engaging platformer that really makes you wonder why it took so long for Kirby to journey through the 3D realm.
While the game promotes itself as Kirby's first foray into 3D, at this point it really isn't anything to celebrate with it now been over 25 years since Mario wowed everyone stepping into the new dimension. The big difference here is that Kirby plays exactly the same as he did in 2D and that is probably my biggest issue with the Forgotten Land, with its barriers, directional arrows and no real diverging paths except for some secrets, the 3D feels like an imposter or at the very least outdated.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a truly magical game that amounts to what could be the best franchise entry in decades. Even if its level themes and puzzle elements call back to concepts longtime fans will have seen before, the execution is charming and polished to an absolute shine. The oddities of Mouthful Mode alone are well worth the price of admission. If you can overlook linear levels and occasionally forced backtracking, this might be one of the best games of 2022 so far.
The platforming won’t give Mario any restless nights, but the exuberant creativity around it makes for a bold, buoyant adventure.