So I Guess I Love Kirby Now | Kirby and the Forgotten Land REVIEW 

Arlo: "I would say Kirby's dodge move is what really seals the deal." Me, having already gotten 100% in the game: "His what now?"

To be completely honest, even though there are bigger games you could get for the same price, I found myself actually having fun more often in this game than almost any other.

The Waddle Dee Town is honestly one of my favourite aspects of this game. Seeing all the waddle dees I’ve saved and watching them build this cool town as I progressed through the game - it felt so rewarding. Not to mention all the cool buildings available ! It felt like a genuine town/community and it helped to ground the story. I just loved it.

Funny how you went from arguably one of the worst Kirby games to one of the best. I would recommend Robobot though

It is true, I didn't talk about the music! It's super good though. Lots of great tracks. (The Waddle Dee Town music was stuck in my head for daaaaays)

Coming straight out of the mouth of a HARDCORE Kirby fan, this game is nothing short of a dream come true. The story, the world, the characters, the satisfying continuity between the series and it’s lore, the level design, the abilities and upgrading system, and to top it all off, ONE HELL OF A GOOD END GAME, I can confidently say this is byfar my favorite game of ALL TIME. It genuinely warms my heart to see such an amazing game bring people to appreciate one of my favorite franchises in my entire gaming history

I absolutely adore fanarts of The Forgotten Land that embrace the deliberate juxtaposition between the cute & simple designs of the Dreamland characters and the dilapidated & melancholic state of the setting Rather than being another post-apocalypse that's all doom and gloom, the game takes the more optimistic approach where life and nature goes on as normal, indifferent to tragedy and despair

From Star Allies to Forgotten Land, Arlo’s Kirby story arc is complete

This is honestly one of the best modern games I have played in a long time! It feels like it's been forever since a modern game has had me this impressed and this happy! The music, the combat, the upgrades, the level design, the graphics, the bosses, everything about this game is masterfully done! It's definitely in my top 10 Switch games right now! Just an overall amazing game (and should've been on Arlo's best Switch games of the past half decade)!

Let me just say…it’s a WEIRD feeling knowing you went from Star Allies (probably one of the WORST Kirby games overall) to Forgotten Lands (debatably one of the BEST). I’d HEAVILY recommend giving Super Star Ultra, Triple Deluxe, and Robobot a shot, as they are often considered the best games in the series.

My 4 year old daughter and I were in gamestop the other day, and she always wants to play the demos on the switch. Well she wanted to try this game out and it was the 1st game she gave an honest try with and really enjoyed trying learn it and float around and do all the other Kirby stuff. So needless to say I'm gonna get this and me and her are going to do a playthrough together and hopefully it can become a core memory for her as it will for me.

That idea of “the game feels like art” is exactly why I love playing series like Kirby, whether they are indie or not, games loaded with this much charm, quirkiness, and depth need to be recognized. This game is fantastic! As a long time Kirby fan (Nightmare in Dreamland was the first video game I ever played!) it exceeded my expectations, especially the finale and post game, it hasn’t left my head since playing!

When the worst complain from a game is "I wish there was more of it", ya know it's doing alot of thing's right. Here's looking forward to Kirby's Next Adventure! (Come On Kirby RPG!)

Man, it’s really cool to hear Arlo being so positive about Kirby. And as someone who, tastewise, was pretty lukewarm towards 3D platformers, Kirby and the Forgotten Land gave me a greater appreciation for the genre. It was a blast. Now, with that being said… can we _please_ let this idea of “linear games = less than” die already? It’s totally OK to say you like open world more, but linear levels and a fixed camera are _not_ “limitations” by any means, and this game proves that (as do MANY others).

I do kinda miss every power up having a gameplay variety equivalent to that of a super smash bros move set but that aside everything else was 10/10 for me

All I'll say is I can't believe you're here having only played Star Allies. Kirby is such a good and fun series.

This is my new favorite kirby. The OST absolutely incredible, so happy as a fan with this game

Been tempted to pick this up. Might have to now. Thanks for reviewing it!

Wild Mode isn't so much a difficulty "option" as much as just toggling off easy mode in most other games.

When I was younger I would probably agree with Arlo's complaint of wanting more, but as someone with a job and also applying to medical school, I really appreciated Forgotten Land's short, compact, joy-filled stages, even if they were easy. Actually even teared up at the end because the game reminded me of being a kid playing Kirby's Dream Land on the OG Game Boy, it was just that great.

Arlo seriously NEEDS to go through the whole series and experience the _COMPLETE AND UTTER INSANITY_ that is this franchise.

If you loved Mouthful mode from this game, you'll love the mechs from Planet Robobot (assuming you haven't played it already) Planet Robobot is also just a fantastic entry in the series as well

I'm sorry I'm sorry Just the image of this fuzzy blue monster looking at this precious pink puffball and going "This is art. This is a masterpiece." Is killing me

I can compare games like this to big AAA open world games. These are often more fun to me. Just comes down to what you like. This kind of tight, directed, insanely well crafted experience is just often so much more enjoyable than the hands off, directionless, often repetitive and sometimes empty feel events of big budget open world games. I do like some big open world games, but I don't think they're simply superior as some seem to.

As someone who bought and 100-percented this game about a week or so after its release, I can say with absolute certainty that *this is my Game of the Year for 2022.* I will readily admit that I've never played any Kirby games before (wasn't really able to), but I followed all the news around this game's release anyway. Once I got my hands on a copy, I could not help but smile every time I launched it. For my first ever Kirby game, it was far more fun than I ever expected it to be. Most of it wasn't very challenging, but there were a few Waddle Dee missions I struggled with a few times (didn't help that I didn't explore the levels thoroughly the first time through). The post-game content, though, was a very welcome step up. Granted, the secret final boss only took me two tries to beat, far less than I expected. Still, its increased difficulty compared to some of the other bosses in the game definitely served for a pretty solid finale. Now all I want is for HAL Laboratory to give us some DLC. Maybe they could explore Meta Knight's arrival in the new world and how he got to Waddle Dee Town? Frankly, I don't really care what they make as long as it gives me an excuse to dive back into what is now one of my favorite games I've ever played. On top of DLC, I would also like if they managed to port the other Kirby games to the Switch, because there's no way in hell that I'm wasting money tracking down old consoles and copies of old Kirby games when there's still plenty of games for the Switch I'd rather focus my money on.

Kirby to me is a friend 😁 I’ve played the games since childhood and they are just fun and chill, this one is amazing, I cannot tell you how happy I am that more people are playing them and I cannot wait to see what’s next for best bud 🤙

22:26 You nailed Kirby's appeal. Kirby and the forgotten land is my favorite game in the series and even when the honeymoon phase wears off, it will likely still be in my top 5.

If you want another fantastic Kirby game, I highly recommend Amazing Mirror! It's non-linear and exploration-based, (I'd argue it's a borderline Metroidvania) it's full of collectables, and it supports 4-player co-op if you can get enough GBAs and link-cables!

This was my first Kirby game since "Epic Yarn" back on Wii, and I gotta say... it's probably the most surprised I have ever been with a game. Its is genuinely one of the most consistently charming, fun, and heartwarming games I have ever played. Every level and area was so unique and gorgeous I fell in love instantly. Also my GOODNESS the soundtrack is God-Tier levels of amazing. I too am now a Kirby fan!!!

The sad thing about Star Allies is that it is a terrible entry point for new Kirby fans, yet it is also the one I see most people start with, at least until Forgotten Land released.

I couldn't be happier that so many people are being introduced or re-introduced to Kirby through this game. It truly is his big grand return that he needed after Star Allies. EDIT: 22:57 Oh no he said it

I actually like how the lore was handled in this game, I felt like I understood what happened after reading the Gacha descriptions, more so than how the pause screen did. I hope that they use this system in the future.

This game deserves a DLC. More levels, more power ups, expansion to the Waddle dee town. It's a lovely game

One of my favorite things to do (besides enjoying the WONDERFUL views) was deciphering the in-game language purely by reading the descriptions on some of the figurines. It's so cool that the language directly correlates to the English alphabet, so you can then translate everything in game! Such an awesome detail.

22:57 Everyone who has finished the true final boss suddenly had PTSD flashbacks when he said that.

1:06 If I recall correctly, Kirby has canonically only ever gone to two dimensions before this game. His home dimension, and "another dimension." There's also the mirror world and such, but those are within Kirby's dimension so idk if they count. So this is, canonically, the third Kirby dimension.

I adore this game I’ve been a huge Kirby fan since I was little and this game was just like a big warm insane hug for me. I got to experience it with my sibling which made it all the sweeter!!

This game was a magical experience. From the visuals, the theming, the fantastic music, great gameplay and mechanics, it was all just incredible to behold. Playing through the game, you can feel the passion of the devs everywhere throughout the game. This became my new favourite game on Switch, and one of my favourite games ever!

Wait... there's a DODGE!? I feel dumb, this is my first Kirby in like 20+ years and I just assumed there was no dodge

Ok, I know you've probably heard this a million times already, but I absolutely implore you to play Planet Robobot. If you loved this, then I ensure you will at least really enjoy it. It not only has a very cohesive world for a 2D platformer, but it also has a really fun central gimmick, some the best level design to grace the series, and one of the best final bosses I've ever played. (Also I'm kinda shocked you didn't discuss the music, Kirby soundtracks are some of my favorites on gaming.)

*Scratching my arm, suffering from withdrawal* "So, Hal Labs, when are we getting some more of that Kirby?"

As someone who's been a Kirby fan since i was a little kid, its awesome seeing this game turn so many more people into fans :)

played this again with my friends for the first time in a while, just got to the third world and EVERY single level is brimming with love and care! I may even pick the game up for myself so I can explore these wonderful lands for myself, without using their copy! You can tell the devs had tons of fun with this game, and that makes a game way more fun for me.

Never forget that Dedede's theme manages to get even better this game. A true herald of the franchise.

I adore Kirby, and to see such a triumphant win of a game which seems to be universally loved fills me with joy

Arlo should play Planet Robobot because that's an actually amazing Kirby game that would change Arlo's views on 2D Kirby games, I am sure! Triple Deluxe is good and Return to Dreamland is arguably even better than Triple Deluxe, but Planet Robobot would really sell Arlo on 2D Kirby in my opinion.

This game is a good example of why I'd rather have a short, dense experience over a long bloated one. Quality over Quantity, ya know? Also this review legit almost made me cry, seeing someone actually GET Kirby outside of smash always hits a chord with me

Arlo.. that review was emotionally beautiful how you wrote it, and signed it off. I am, too, now in love with Kirby... For me, Super Star Ultra and Kirby's Epic Yarn on Wii were big steps in the franchise, and this is, spiritually, the finale of greatness to those two other games. WELL DONE, BLUE KIRBY

A lot of people love reviewers who unabashedly bash games - when deserving - but listening to arlo gush about a game he truly deeply enjoys is such a great treat! There's not enough positivity in this industry, and I'm glad to see it when it is there.

He loves Kirby he’s finally joined us, the dark side (or the pink side really)

14:38 My thoughts exactly! That's such an adorable detail! I wish more games did that sort of thing!

I love this game's dichotomy between feeling happy and somber. When I first went in the cutout standee, I thought it was adorable. Then, I learned that the alien language can be translated, and says "Wish you were here", which gave the scene a much sadder feel.

The dodge mechanic did so much heavy lifting in why I enjoyed this game as much as I did. At first I didn't find myself using it too much, but by the end I was deliberately putting myself in harm's was just so I could dodge and get that satisfying slow-mo damage boost.

Great review, Arlo! You hit the nail on the head talking about how this game's greatest strength is its art direction, and how it works in tandem with S-tier level design to create an extremely memorable adventure with a real sense of progression. As much as I love Return to Dreamland, Triple Deluxe, and Planet Robobot, the levels in those games very much all blend together rather than each having their own distinct identity. I was also reminded of DKC Returns/Tropical Freeze as you were. I personally didn't have a problem with the length. The Waddle Dee level conditions are a wonderful replay mechanic, and the postgame was very satisfying. I would have loved more, of course, but Kirby is never going to have the budget of a Super Mario or Legend of Zelda, and it's obvious from the love poured into this game that the developers would have done more if they could. All in all this game was everything I could reasonably ask for and even a little bit more. I'm super excited to see where Kirby goes from here.

This was the first video game that truly connected with my 5 year old. On the easy mode he could actually get through a large chunk of the game on his own playing as Kirby... and when it eventually got too hard, the excellent co-op mode let him continue to play while I took over the Kirby role. A game that is fun and approachable for a 5 year old and for an adult like myself... that there is rare and wonderful.

Arlo, hearing you talking about games you love is always a pleasure. Hearing you talk about a character you love made this extra special. Great work as always.

Wasn’t too short for me. Getting most the collectibles (Waddle-Deed, soul pieces) kept me occupied for about 2 weeks of regular play.

I didn't think the game had few worlds or was pretty short, but if Arlo think that way, then hopefully other people do cuz I damn still wish there's more in the future, like a cool free or paid DLC, and this might good enough excuse to ask for it

as someone who's been with this series for years, Forgotten Land is my favorite Kirby game

I felt the exact same way after beating Forgotten Land 100%, I wanted more Kirby, and I'm going through every mainline entry now myself. It's a ton of fun and I had forgotten just how much I loved the formula.

I'll admit, I have never played a Kirby game before, never felt driven to try them out. So, naturally, I wasn't planning on ever picking this one up.... but you're really selling it to me, I might just have to check it out.

You definitely have to try Planet Robobot next! And coincidentally Crystal Shards is on NSO now, and that’s a must play as well. Glad you loved the game as well all did!

The final boss blew me away, the grandiose, the amazing music that swiftly became one of my favorite songs, and my god that design ❤

your characer arc has finally come full circle. I'm not a kirby fan but there is something interesting about how your thoughts on kirby altered over time as you compared games to star allies and more recently how excited you have been for forgotten land and also your nintendo should make more 3d platformers video where you said how you wanted a kirby 3d platformer. There's something kind of beautiful about it

This has been the first game I’ve played since Odyssey where I’ve been wanting more even when the game’s ended that’s how good the game turned out!

I agree with Arlo, Forgotten Land turned me from a “yeah Kirby is cool and I liked the anime” guy into a true Kirby fan. Such a good game! Also, was that a new outro theme for Arlo’s video???

I love this game. When i first played it i was in a- not good state, but something about this was just- a break. It somehow made me feel like a child again and made me just- not care about my worries. I literally cried at the game because it was just SO cute and kirby smiling innocently at the camera while the world is ending somehow made me feel like i could smile a bit, even when it felt like my world was ending. It obviously wasn’t a magical cure, that fixed all my problems but it didn’t have to be. For the 2-3 weeks it took me to 100% i was having a better time when playing it and thats more than enough. Thanks Kirby:)

I am honestly surprised you hardly spoke about Elfilin! I think he might just have become one of my favorite video games companions. Right up there with Midna and Fidget The little fella is just so heccin' adorable to me. I'm honestly a little surprised Nintendo didn't do an Amiibo of him or a duo one with Kirby, especially considering how the game is full of those little gocha figurines. Those scenes where you get to take a closer look at them with Kirby looking in the background, I really wish Elfilin was there as well, maybe also Bandana Waddle Dee if you have another player with you. I am so gonna get myself a plush of Elfilin someday. Whether Nintendo makes an official one or I'll have to get one from Etsy. But enough praise about the little fella. Yeah, I think Forgotten Land might just be my new favorite Kirby game as well. When you play the game, it's just impossible not to get into a good mood. From that opening level alone that just did everything right from the beach you start at to the wonderfully wholesome music video at the end *chef's kiss* The beautifully crafted and mysterious levels with all it's themes, colors and cute little touches. Like how the Awoofies will not always attack you but sometimes just chill out and other stuff. I was not one of the people who had any illusions of Forgotten Land being an open world game. From the first trailer I thought it looked very clear that it was in the style of Mario 3D World but I really didn't mind cause that means that the developers focused a lot more on cramming everything into a compact really fun adventure. The visuals was definitely one of the high points of the game, not gonna lie but I felt the gameplay was also very solid. You can easily just play through it casually without really getting into the mechanics but if you get good at the dodging and timing your attacks well, it's so satisfying to pull off. I really do wish there was more tho. I get that it's better with a game that leaves you wanting more than a game that drags out but I could easily have handled 1 or 2 worlds more. I rarely go back to games with new DLC after I've already beaten them but if Forgotten Land receives any new content, I might just make and exception. I also have to compliment how this game was actually a complete and finished released. Even a month after my physical purchase, there was no need to download any patched. I miss when games being stable and complete releases was the norm and not the exception :/ I do wish there was a better way to farm Rare Stones at the end tho. I'm one of those crazy completionist type of guys who would really like to max out the stats on all of my abilities but the amount of Rare Stones and money I would need to farm from the coloseum means that I would likely spend twice the time on that alone as the game as a whole, doing the same repetitive fights over and over again. Could have been handled a little more elegantly imo. But that's like my only gripe I think. Forgottenn World is a fantastic game. I can't tell whether it will appeal to everyone but there is just so much to love about it that I can't imagine anyone having a bad time playing it. Comes highly recommended.

The post game content is very satisfying to play. I completed it 100% and I never felt the game drag once.

I know other people want games to be challenging but I really appreciate it when they're super easy. I've got bad hand eye coordination and a terrible tendency to panic so I really struggle with most games. Forgotten Land has been going pretty well. And I also have some amiibo to buy. :D

Loved your review of Kirby, Arlo! I still haven't played the game myself, but I'm so excited for whenever I get to! I've watched other people play it on RU-vid and I gotta say - this is going to be the best Kirby game I have ever played! Ah, I wanna play the game so bad! BTW, before I forget, love that new outro music. A real head-bopper, IMO. Catch you in the next one, Arlo!

I was a bit disappointed about the fixed camera at first. But once I played it I found that the camera being fixed meant the game could shift perspective angles and zoom in and out in a way that made it feel almost cinematic during game play in a way that a player controlled camera doesn’t. I was a pretty big fan of it by the end.

It's so nice to just hear Arlo being genuinely happy and enthusiastic :)

loved this game so much, excited to hear your thoughts!

I like how the copy I imported from France has a "Fear" content descriptor all because of that finale

In the level you first find the ranger copy ability in, go to the end and go up the tree. You get some cantaloupes and the perfect angle to shoot a far off target that you couldn’t see before. Doing this unlocks a secret.

As a long-time Kirby fan, I had a ton of fun with Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Definitely in my top 5 favorite Switch games aside from Mario Odyssey, Let's Go Eevee, RingFit, and New Horizons.

I personally think that this is one of the best-looking games on the Switch, along with one of the best games period. There is one thing that makes me laugh, though: If you have a second health bar from the defense power-up, the later Sword abilities will still throw out sword beams even if you take damage, since it seems that the game only cares if ONE of your health bars are full. Also, you don't have to beat the target times to get 100% PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Now Arlo needs to play Planet Robobot and experience the amazingness of it!

I recently started a co-op playthrough of the game with my brother for fun. We had both already beaten the game solo by this point, and as we unlocked new levels on the world map, I often found myself saying "Oh, yeah, I remember this one! It's super fun, I'm excited to try it again" or something along those lines. Eventually, I realized that I was saying that for basically every single level in the game. Heck, I'm thinking about a lot of the later levels as I'm writing this and can't wait to try them again! If that's not a testment to the absolutely BRILLIANT level design and idea execution on display throughout the entire game, then I really don't know what is. Great review as always, Arlo!

This game put a smile on my face during some difficult times. That alone justifies its price tag for me. As you said, Kirby is a symbol of hope and positivity, and we all need some of that in our lives. Can't wait for the next one!

Arlo did not mention the very good music throughout or the many little cutscenes that are so funny and charming. Personally, I think it was the perfect length. Planet Robobot. Play that one, Arlo.

Something to note about fighting with Kirby in this game, there are quite a lot of mechanics at play that are either unused or unexplained. For instance, Ice has a stronger guard than most other abilities, and L2 sword's guard lets you move while using it. Spoiler Sword has alternate charge attacks if you're in the air or guarding I believe. Max Cutter's charged blades will rebound off walls a good amount of times if they aren't caught, and cutter as a whole has its final cutter attack if you're point blank to an enemy while mashing. The only ability that doesn't really have any tricks to it outside of the one use ones is bomb, which is why its boring and lame.

Thank you for no spoilers! I’ve been seriously bombarded by those obnoxious "every boss no damage" type thumbnails, so I always appreciate it.

Lol I love how people think this game is the first time Kirby went post-apocalyptic, when that stuff has been around since Kirby 64

Game was awesome, probably one of my favorite games I’ve ever played (I don’t have a set *favorite* game I just have favorites [oneshot, bugsnax and forgotten land!]) really hope Hal makes another banger like this one.

since my Joy-con is drifty I didn't know there was a dodge roll until way late into the game, had to do the no-hit boss fights using Ice's perfect guard instead

If you're looking for old Kirby games to play Arlo, Forgotten Land is now in my top three alongside Amazing Mirror and Squeak Squad. Some of my favorite DS games of all time. Amazing Mirror actually has a maze-like level structure, where all the zones and areas are CONNECTED to one another in a Metroidvania style. It's still my #1 Kirby game.

The one thing I would change in this video is that at least in wild mode coins are incredibly abundant, there was never really a time (outside of me spending 20k on the gatcha) where I had less then 5k coins. To the point where I would by meta matos from the Cafe when I had a small amount of health missing just to put waddle Dees in their place. This isn't a problem for me because I don't want to grind for hours on coins and I think the gatcha is a great way of slimming the economy because as mentioned earlier I have spent well over 20k coins to complete the set. I wish you could display more then 3 figures especially because there are a lot of good ones that end up left in storage. The one thing I would change is that if you wanted to add more trophies like shelves would appear on the wall and stuff because I want to just have a house filled with trophies. Other then that great game.

I love how the older Arlo gets, the more open he is about liking cute stuff! 😂

I've always been a Kirby fan. Kirby 64 was my first Kirby game and I've been playing with him ever since. Even with the weak entries like Star Allies, I never disliked a Kirby game. And Forgotten Land is a testament to the fact that not only do I love Kirby but the people who work on these games love him too. I never feel that way with franchises like Pokémon or Paper Mario; franchises that should've been easy to have both fan and developer love to make and to discuss. But Kirby, I feel, never had a toxic fanbase. Sure, there will always be toxic people in any fanbase but I rarely ever see that in Kirby. And I feel that's what makes this game and the rest of his games so special. Kirby is truly the purest Nintendo icon and I will always be there when another game comes around.

Glad that you were willing to give Kirby another shot and enjoyed your time with the game! It warms my heart to see so many people discovering the appeal of the Kirby series through Forgotten Land, like how I did with Robobot years ago. Seriously, I know tons of people are saying it in this comment section already, but y'all _need_ to play Planet Robobot if you haven't. Fingers crossed we get some kind of anniversary collection that puts it and the other modern games on switch so that they're way more accessible for people who wanna check them out.

I've only played Kirby's Adventure before this, but I had a blast with Forgotten Land. I know a lot of people have compared the game to 3D World, but I feel like it's closer to Crash Bandicoot (although it's much easier). Each level felt like it had a real history behind it and I enjoyed that every building you entered had chairs knocked over and cans to kick around. My only minor gripe was that the final world in the main campaign was a lava world. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun and well designed, but it feels like the biggest platformer cliche. That's not enough to drag the game down for me, though, and I'm sure I'll be returning to Forgotten Land for years to come.

Arlo: "Yeah, I got some amiibo to buy." Me: Yeah, I know the feeling, buddy.

I'm so happy that you love this game! I love it too, I agree with each level being it's own art! I also often just stopped and admired the scenery, taking in the ghostly chills it gave me! I highly recommend you play Kirby Super Star Ultra next. It has some important "baseline" lore of the series, and has a huge variety of fun gameplay! Although Robobot is definitely another great go-to (although I would play Return to Dreamland before that!).

22:56 "but... here we are" oh goddammit

the movement in the game is just so good and fun. my gf and i have been playing, i’ve taken a backseat and playing waddle dee since it’s her first kirby game, and i’ve found it so fun to just move around like a mad man, spinning in a circle, doing long dodges in fun shapes. IT JUST FEELS SO GOOD

As a life long Kirby-fan, I am so happy this game turned out the way it did. Essentially everything was made to perfection and there is such an amazingly small amount of problems that I can barely name any!

I think those “arms kirby was holding out to enjoy the wind more (around the end when he’s talking about the song around the start of the game)” are actually just the mirrors the car has so you can look behind you. But you know what, i like your positive thinking!

Arlo, I love the care & sheer zeal you put into your work. It's as fun as it is professional. Yay! I'm a fan.