Kirby and the Forgotten Land isn't exactly the next-gen Kirby game that some fans had been dreaming of. Since the series debuted back in the 90s, the gameplay has mostly remained the same. It is a platformer aimed at an even younger audience than the Mario series, meaning that the barrier to entry into this classic Nintendo series really isn't that high.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is more of the same. Kirby still finds himself sucking up enemies and getting their powers. It’s a fun, albeit tired formula, that could have offered a little something more. For example, it’s not a true 3D open-world experience as some may have thought based on early trailers. What else is wrong with it though, and can these things be fixed in future patches?
8 Add A Harder Difficulty
There are two difficulties in the game, Wild Mode and Spring-Breeze Mode. For those looking for a challenging game, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is not it. All Wild Mode really does is lessen Kirby’s health bar, but it is still incredibly easy even on that mode. With this in mind, Nintendo should add in a harder difficulty setting.
Part of the reason why this series is so great is because of its accessibility. Anyone, young or old, can play these games with relative ease, and it's all by design. Still, the one thing that the series is missing is an option for the hardcore, and Nintendo could try and appease these players on some level with a harder difficulty option somewhere further down the line.
7 Co-Op And Buddy Changes
Co-op has been a staple of this series for quite some time now. If a game does not have co-op, then they usually tend to give players the ability to create an AI partner. Kirby and the Forgotten Land does not have this option, however, which is a real shame.
Co-op is nice and all, but the game supports local couch co-op only. For those without anyone in their homes to play with, this can make the game feel a little lonelier than it needs to be. Some people just like playing with others which is why online support should be added in as well. Either of these things would be a blessing to receive in a future patch.
6 Add Sound Effects To Movies
One of the most jarring things players may find about this game is the lack of sound effects in cutscenes. When games are not finished, sometimes effects will be missing from trailers. This is true for game trailers and other pieces of media like anime and movies.
It is easy to forgive these missing pieces from trailers as fans understand that they should be fixed by the time the final product is released. However, the production team behind Kirby and the Forgotten Land decided that, for whatever reason, cutscenes did not need sound effects, which makes them feel a little unfinished. Also, do the black borders really need to be there?
5 Add A Photo Mode
The Switch has one of the best native capture tools in the current console lineup. The only problem with it is that the resolution is only 720P compared to the 4K capabilities of the other more powerful consoles.
Switch power aside, many Nintendo games also include photo modes in them for players to capture moments in a more directed manner. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate might have one of the best as far as exclusive games go for Nintendo. Given the Masahiro Sakurai connection, it would be nice to see Kirby and the Forgotten Land get a photo mode as well.
4 Return To Title Screen
When players start the game and pause it, there will be an option for them to go back to the title screen. However, this option is scrapped entirely once players cross over to the titular “Forgotten Land” and open up the actual game, which was an odd choice on Nintendo’s part.
Why would they have the option in the game and then remove it after the first fifteen minutes? It just does not make sense, which is why they should add it back in. This should hopefully be a small fix for them to add to a future patch and would make navigation much simpler.
3 Add Better Figure Displays
Nintendo fans had to be content with looking at figures in their games for a long time. Then Amiibo came along and allowed players to study their favorites characters up close and personal. Kirby and the Forgotten Land gives players the option to collect virtual figures though, going back to the old school days of the series.
Nintendo did not make any new Amiibo for this game, but virtual figures can still be fun too. Now, players can look at these figures straight on in the menu, or they can enter a viewing mode that has Kirby ogling them in the background. Unfortunately, however, there is currently no way to look at these figures more robustly, like rotating them 360 degrees both vertically and horizontally. This option should be added.
2 Give Kirby That Bone Power
Kirby and the Forgotten Land introduces a plethora of new copy abilities to the series. For example, there is the Mouthful Mode, which has way stronger effects than any of the normal powers. Copy abilities can also be upgraded in a similar fashion to other games in the series. They even give Kirby a gun in this game, called the Ranger.
While the new and old powers are cool and actually quite plentiful, there are a few monsters with powers that Kirby just can’t copy right now. For example, Gabon wears a skull and throws bones. Kirby would look sick in a skull outfit, so, Nintendo should consider adding in this power at some point.
1 Expand The Past Adventures
There are many nods to Nintendo games and the Kirby series as a whole in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This goes beyond the virtual figures that players can collect. Once players unlock Kirby’s house, they can examine his diary, which is called Past Adventures and allows players to read up on older games in the series.
Sadly, some of the snippets are very brief. They don’t even tell players what these games were released on or when they were released. Nintendo could do a better job at curating its content. Maybe the developers could add in a movie to accompany these text entries. Do fans dare even ask for a quick demo of each?
Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released on March 25, 2022 and is available on Switch.