Nintendo’s adorable pink puffball Kirby is back in a new 3D adventure. As revealed in today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, the upcoming game is called Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It’s been a few years since our favorite wide-mouthed menace was last seen, and it seems the land itself has somehow fallen into ruin, as the new game looks to take place in a post-apocalyptic, post-human world.
Of course, environment aside, the big change here is the swap to fully 3D gameplay. Kirby’s adventures have basically always been two-dimensional, so this new 3D entry certainly represents a twist on the usual formula. It looks great, too: Check out the trailer below to see for yourself.
Otherwise, the central gameplay loop doesn’t look to have changed much. Kirby still skirts around environments, inhaling enemies to acquire their abilities. There are still over-the-top boss battles, and we can likely expect the usual assortment of mini-games and extra game modes.
What’s so far unclear is whether or not Kirby and the Forgotten Land will retain the charm mechanic of Kirby Star Allies from 2018. If you didn’t play that entry, it notably allowed Kirby to enlist the help of fighters without having to first swallow them. That allowed players to keep a roster of different abilities and effects on-hand at any given time. Not only was it a fun mechanic, it also opened the door to co-op gameplay.
It is very interesting to see Kirby running around in what looks to be a post-apocalyptic world. Given the game’s title, it’s likely that we’ll learn more about the Forgotten World throughout gameplay. But otherwise, the real highlight here is the shift to 3D. If Nintendo can keep Kirby’s usual platforming charm alive, Kirby and the Forgotten World might be a huge hit. We’ll find out more as it edges closer towards its 2022 release date.
