Kirby in 3D is not something that I have ever been anticipating or even wanting. As a self-proclaimed Kirby expert and superfan, the spectacular adventures of the small pink ball of joy have always been exceptional in the 2D platform media, so I could not imagine them in any other format. I would place most Kirby games in the high tiers of Nintendo’s games catalogs. Thus, the thought of a 3D Kirby game left me extremely cautious and speculative. But now, after nearly 3 decades of 2D platform games, Kirby and the Forgotten Land marks Kirby’s 3D platformer debut. And boy, is it magical.

Without a doubt, one of the best aspects of the Kirby franchise is the atmosphere that comes with it. Many see Kirby as an overly annoying bright ball of happiness and joy, and they aren’t exactly wrong. The Kirby games tend to be aimed at a younger audience than the other Nintendo franchises. But when it comes to the gameplay and story, HAL Laboratory has always done a great job at introducing more challenging level designs and slightly more mature plots. The overall vibe of most Kirby games is absolutely still present in this newest installment. Kirby and friends are their usual joyous selves thrust into a barren, post-apocalyptic world. Kirby must happily copy his way through giant beasts to save his kidnapped friends.

This game has my favorite iteration of Kirby’s copy abilities. The implementation of upgrading said abilities as the game goes on was something I didn't know I needed in a Kirby game. It adds another incentive to replayability other than the thrill of 100% completing the game. It pushes one to discover every layer and secret entrance of every level to find the missing piece to upgrade your arsenal.

While there is a Spring-Breeze mode for a more casual playthrough and a Wild Mode for a more challenging playthrough, I feel the game could have benefited from a more consistent challenge difficulty. This game is marketed towards a younger audience, but while you shouldn't expect it to have Elden Ring levels of difficulty, the late game bosses had a pretty large jump in difficulty. It would have been nice to have more of an upwards incline to this challenge rather than it just being dumped onto the player after a certain level.

The art design and music help elevate an already incredible game. The level designs do start off a tad boring with the Natural Plains and Everbay Coast being quite basic and dull. However, as the game continues, worlds like Wondaria Remains and Winter Horns add the layer of spectacle that most Kirby levels have. There is also quite a lot for you to do after “completing” the game. There’s so much fun to be had in Waddle Dee Town and a solid amount of replayability around the game world.

Overall, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of the best entries into the Kirby franchise and a more than worthy part of Nintendo’s large video game arsenal. While the game may drag at points and feel nearly indistinguishable from other entries in the series (save for the 3D platform aspect), the gameplay mechanics, surprisingly involved story, and beautifully immersive world make Kirby and the Forgotten Land one of the best games of 2022.

Score: 9/10