Summary
- Kirby's move to 3D with Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a hit, but it created uncertainty about the series' future.
- HAL Laboratory, Kirby's developer, is torn on whether to continue with 3D or return to 2D for future games.
- Fans can expect more experimentation in future Kirby games, whether in 3D or not, as the developers are exploring new ideas.
The Kirby games have become a staple of Nintendo’s library, and their popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down. However, after the latest Kirby title, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, the series faces a major question about how to continue.
With more than 40 games under its belt, the series is one of the Nintendo franchises with the most games, showing that the formula clearly works. But as the industry changes, games are forced to evolve and take new chances. The latest Kirby game, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, treated fans to the franchise’s long-awaited jump into 3D platforming. The game was a hit, which obviously pleased Nintnedo and HAL Laboratory, but it also created some uncertainty around the series’ future. It seems inevitable that a new Kirby game will be released eventually, but the success of the new 3D title leaves fans and developers wondering if Kirby is better off remaining in 3D or returning to its 2D roots.
Kirby: Best Co-Op Games, Ranked
Fans of Kirby who are looking for an entry to play with a friend have plenty of titles to choose from, but these are the best co-op options by far.
3D Success Might be a Double-Edged Sword for Kirby
Despite being known as a Nintendo character, Kirby is the creation of HAL Laboratories, a developer who works extremely closely with Nintendo. Kirby is HAL’s most beloved creation, but it is also responsible for games like Earthbound, the Super Smash Bros. Games, and the Box Boy series. A look at HAL Laboratory’s best games shows that the company is most comfortable when developing games in 2D. While the success of HAL’s 3D games, like Smash Bros. And Pokemon SNAP, shows that the company has what it takes to tackle the third dimension, it’s clearly a move slightly outside the comfort zone of the developer. With that in mind, it may be in HAL’s best interest to return Kirby to his 2-dimensional world where success comes easiest.
HAL’s partnership with Nintendo has existed as long as the company itself, which is why many players consider the companies one and the same. However, it’s important to remember that Nintendo is a publisher for HAL. Their partnership has always been strong, and the two entities are usually on the same page, but they do have some differing opinions. With games like Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo has been focusing on high exploration in 3D environments, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land falls right in line with that trend. Because Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of the best 3D platformers on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo might want Kirby to remain in this new 3D realm.
Kirby’s Developers are Sending Mixed Signals
It seems that even HAL Laboratory itself is torn about what direction to take the future of the Kirby franchise. In an interview with Nintendo shortly before the launch of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, it was revealed that HAL team members want to create more “Wild and Free” 3D Kirby games. The interview teased some inclusions of the yet-to-release game, including Kirby’s new mouthful mode and the hub world of Waddle Dee Town, both of which helped Kirby’s jump to 3D succeed. The team members explained that they are interested in continuing to experiment with new mechanics and ideas for Kirby games, which might mean a continuation of this new perspective.
However, a separate interview conducted around the same time yielded different answers, casting more uncertainty on Kirby’s future. This time, developers stated that they wanted to “go beyond what is currently imaginable” when creating new Kirby games. While this sounds promising for 3D Kirby fans, the representatives from HAL made sure to indicate that 3D games might not be the future for Kirby. It was explained that HAL wants to keep experimenting with its next Kirby games, even if that means not keeping the new 3D setting. Keeping both interviews in mind, it’s hard to pinpoint where Kirby’s future might land, but either way, fans should be looking forward to more adventures.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- March 25, 2022
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- HAL Laboratory
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- unity
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Kirby
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
