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

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is Kirby's first big 3D adventure. It's also the game that made me fall in love with the little guy.
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/ arlostuff
TWOOTER: @ArloStuff
BOOKFACE: ArloStuff
This video was edited by the lovely Kane!
/ farfetchdreviews
"Reloaded Installer #11" by LHS.
/ @lhschiptunes

[@DeltaStrata]

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?"

[@markguyton2868]

Please tell me your secret on how you beat the Z Cup without dodging.

[@jeremyc4786]

@@markguyton2868 I dodged everything by either jumping or using the dash. Also didn't know there was a proper Dodge move.

[@markguyton2868]

@@jeremyc4786 Nice.

[@DeltaStrata]

@@markguyton2868 By taking a lot of unnecessary damage, apparently! Also the slide kick.

[@D2daICE]

@@markguyton2868 When your skills are competent enough and you do a lot of the optional stuff then even the last cup is kinda trivialized by your skill combined with a fully upgraded sword ability and the damage/speed/hp buffs. edit: typos

[@AlecMac]

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.

[@LocrianDorian]

Because there's no padding just to make the game longer for no reason. Games that do that often stretch the fun moment so thinly that there is almost nothing left.

[@mr.sentryanddispenser]

Same thing with metroid dread Game doesn't need to be gigantic,it just needs to be fun (Of course there is also gigantic games which are also fun, like Hollow Knight and botw)

[@Mikau888]

@@LocrianDorian I don't understand why "more content" equates to "padding" in these arguments. You can add more content and value to your games without it being padding, it all depends on how well it's implemented.

[@skena39]

That's Kirby and Nintendo for you

[@Gfp1995]

I agree, I prefer a tight game that is very intentionally designed from start the finish. More isn't always better!! Games with shorter run times and tons of hidden collectibles are ripe for multiple playthroughs and that's exactly what I wanted from Kirby.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

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

[@lillipupzilla]

I love robobot. Not only do you get a mech, you get to decorate it with stickers!

[@Danominator]

Thank you Goomba, more people need to play Robobot. Still just barely my favorite Kirby over Forgotten Land!

[@jakoblinton2053]

I second robobot

[@thememorycard5802]

Robobot is so great

[@TanookiTex]

Robobot is awesome, definitely need to replay it if I ever get the chance.

[@ArloStuff]

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)

[@ultimatum.]

It's because the art is so beautiful, paintings are silent... the eyes are stimulated to maximum, almost forgetting sounds and music that are seamless to the experience

[@dylanmo8180]

The variety on display was amazing. The synth kind of 80s feel of the horror house (when it’s lighter), the epic soundscapes of the wastes area, the wonder of the first overgrown city, the over the top awesomeness of “Roar of Dedede,” the chill beats of the frozen streets. Just incredible

[@diamondmemer9754]

If you want to play older Kirby games, play planet robobot Just do so

[@Tortilla_Pizzeria_Pixels]

Dededes theme was straight banging, nothing else. Just pure de-de-deliciousness.

[@apollolux]

Standing tallllll On the wings of my dreams! Rise and falllll On the wings of my dreams!

[@thatdanjamesguy.330]

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

[@coreymckee4844]

Thats just 2 games. Its hardly an arc.😂

[@awakenedcrowl]

@@coreymckee4844 Star Allies did so much good for the series in terms of lore and fan service, it's just a shame that the levels and gameplay felt so "safe" and even kinda "bland" in comparison.

[@disneyvillainsfan1666]

I played Star Allies just for The Dream Friends. Playing as characters from previous Kirby titles was just super fun to me.

[@AlriikRidesAgain]

Star Allies is for long time fans, tho. It's like going to Avengers Endgame after only watching Iron Man 2. There's some cool stuff there for you but it's just full of references and plot building from the things you missed. Forgotten Land? It's just good in general. And now, hopefully, Arlo goes back, plays all of those older games, then goes back to Star Allies and is like "Yeah, my criticisms still stand, but I get to play as Rick and that is fantastic" and reaches peak Kirb.

[@awakenedcrowl]

@@AlriikRidesAgain Very true. Possibly the best comparison to Star Allies I heard so far xD

[@theonetrueboxman7361]

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

[@abcdefgee]

As another hardcore fan, I can say that this is one of the best post-games of any Kirby, love how they added new levels to each isle, makes it feel way different than the normal. And it's actually difficult XD

[@GodittoC]

69 likes, make a wish!

[@ghostofhallownest5300]

Fact’s

[@GinnyTheSquid]

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.

[@MildSatire]

As my Uncle Jim always said, “A-waddle dee-doo da, a-waddle dee day”.

[@MildSatire]

@Brent Wolgamott What’s your evidence for this claim? Source?

[@MildSatire]

@Brent Wolgamott damn, I guess I’ll take your word for it. Curse you, Nintendo! You tricked us all again! Brent Wolgamott informed me that the Waddle Dee Town sucks; therefore, I will not purchase this Nintendo game.

[@carbodude5414]

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

[@613-shadow9]

and it wasn't even a tragedy that made the land the way it is. people just up and left after gaining power. how cool is that?

[@anothergamer112]

It is refreshing to see a post apocalyptic world where everything is the way it is simply because it was left untouched rather than destroyed. Funny how it took a series as upbeat as Kirby to make us all reconsider what "post apocalyptic" can mean.

[@gluttonousmaximus9048]

And then ID-F86 throws all hate at your face

[@jameslawrenson1208]

Will the sequel be called Kirby and the forgotten people? That'd be a cool continuation.

[@joshvacca7657]

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.

[@simontheslakoth719]

I felt so happy feelings reading this, thank you. :')

[@sherbertshortkake6649]

Be careful of the ending sir; it is very much not for 4 year old daughters if that's what you mean.

[@bluerious5475]

@@sherbertshortkake6649 Honestly kids can absolutely handle a Kirby game ending like this one, but it definitely is more shocking to adults who think the Kirby series is one of the most innocent series to exist. Though, yeah I guess it could be something to be wary about

[@VonFirflirch]

Kirby really has a way with the kids, Planet Robobot was the first game my nephew actually beat by himself... I remember cheering him out during the final boss gauntlet x)

[@chrisofstars]

@@sherbertshortkake6649 Calm down its not that bad lol

[@nickk3077]

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)!

[@EnigmaticGentleman]

Not to mention the final boss, Kirby final bosses are always MIND BLOWING, and worth the price of admission alone, even Star Allies (though that Finale was the best in the series)

[@nickk3077]

@@EnigmaticGentleman Star Allies had an outstanding final boss! I loved the rematch too! too bad the other bosses in Star Allies were mostly a little underwhelming in my opinion because of all of the action distracting you from really attacking, the ease of having partners basically do all of the work, and the lack of observation and memorization in avoiding attacks.

[@InnerRise]

@@BBWahoo bytch wtf?

[@jakoblinton2053]

@@BBWahoo . . . What

[@BananaReidy]

Hal labs know how to deliver and not screw over there fan base unlike Gamefreak/TPCI.

[@kruggsmash]

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

[@nickk3077]

Go grab it! I love this one!

[@jonathanwilson7949]

do it

[@kunfupanda1231]

!! Didn’t expect to see someone else i watch when looking at the comments :o

[@pikaboom6539]

You won’t regret it. This game is a gem.

[@InnerRise]

Try th3 demo first Be careful

[@Next0gen0]

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!)

[@jerryborjon]

Isn’t there already a Kirby RPG? I think it’s the weird free-to-play one in the 3DS.

[@profl0g1c38]

@@jerryborjon clash is more like a co-op fighting game than an rpg

[@jerryborjon]

@@profl0g1c38 - I always thought it was an RPG for some reason. Thanks for clarifying.

[@theivoryguy2476]

THATS WHAT IM SAYIN!!!!!!

[@Cri_Jackal]

@@jerryborjon To be more exact, it's like a heavily simplified Diablo or MMO. There's 4 playable classes, and the entire game is built around fighting stronger and stronger bosses and getting stronger and stronger gear, while also leveling up, with there being both singleplayer and online multiplayer quests. The combat itself is exactly like traditional Kirby, with the 4 classes being modified versions of Sword, Hammer, Beam, and Doctor. The game was also rereleased on Switch, with that being the most up to date version with its own additional content, the 3DS version is essentially obsolete.

[@krisisgod666]

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.

[@Cri_Jackal]

Return to Dream Land definitely inches Triple Deluxe out of that list, but Triple Deluxe is still underappreciated nonetheless!

[@InumiDarkness]

@@Cri_Jackal i wouldn't say that. I'd say that RTDL is wayyyy slower than Triple Deluxe and can get a lot repetitive.

[@GoroAkechi_Real]

I tend to see people endlessly praising RtDL over TD, which makes me sad because TD’s backstory is one of my favorite in the series. Granted, it is just backstory, which few people pay attention to.

[@kennethlatorre5269]

Star Allie’s is NOT one of the worst. It definitely released that way, but ended being good.

[@DONUTDONUTDONUTDONUTDONUT]

@@kennethlatorre5269 look buddy the DLC didn’t exactly patch up the main campaign. There’s some fun side content and a lot of fan service sure but the main campaign being a slog is a big problem.

[@deltalord6969]

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

[@Aldenfenris]

Yeah, me too, but as Arlo says, it is just harder to keep that many moves on a 3d game, unless they did some shennanigans with 'hold block, input motions, jump, release' or whatnot, and I feel they didn't try to go there, simply because as a Kirby game, they want it immediately accessible to everyone. I agree completely on the notes of 'wish had more moves, wish had more levels' but it was a very, very fun ride.

[@CouchSpud91]

They do kind of give that to you in certain copy abilities. The upgraded versions of the Sword most notably have a rather wide variety of different attacks.

[@Aldenfenris]

@@CouchSpud91 Yes, but they all just 'press block, charge, release' which is not the most fun in a mostly quick and reactive game. Most of those moves are just for 'oh cool, you can do that'and then never do them seriously when actually doing stuff. I feel they were hoping to come up with a method that was... more.. snappy? easier?. I mean guess 'block+direction plus button' would work fine enough. It does work for those 2 swords'

[@AsecasJavi]

Smash has less moves than some Kirby abilities tho

[@CouchSpud91]

@@Aldenfenris Yeah, that's why I said 'kinda'. The Morpho abilities are neat, but the awkward button combination and the way you have to hold them down for a while to do it does sour the moveset.

[@CrownedCryptid]

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!

[@danielarputharaj9918]

The finale is awesome, the final boss and their theme lives rent free in my head

[@FedoraKirb]

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).

[@Onlyitsmereid]

Yeah, linear vs open world is more of a preference, one is not better than the other. In linear games you can have awesome sequences that look like they’re straight out of a trailer but you’re playing it

[@Mr.C723]

Exactly, 3-D linear vs 3-D open-world games are more of a personal preference. I honestly think that it depends on the game rather if the linearity works within the game. The Super Mario Galaxy series is an example of how 3-D linearity can be used to its fullest potential, I love those games and there considered to be the best 3-D platformer’s in my personal opinion. Kirby and the Forgotten Land does so much with so little that you appreciate it’s linearity a lot more. Ngl, I enjoyed Kirby and The Forgotten Land a lot more than Super Mario Odyssey.

[@SilverSpireZ]

Thank you! It’s always so annoying when people act like linearity is a bad thing. As long as it’s well designed and fun, it doesn’t matter.

[@sherbertshortkake6649]

Hi Fedora Kirby! Been a while! You know Meta Knight has a fedora in the 30th Anniversary Concert artwork? This comment literally says everything. I also was lukewarm to 3D until Forgotten Land, and I also think that the 'limitations' really are what make it shine. I especially think of Metroid Dread and how the team had to work around the switch's processing unit to still create a beautiful game. And who knows, maybe one day we'll get an open world Kirby. But it will have to be something like Amazing Mirror or Milky Way Wishes; they would have to REALLY mix up the formula to do that.

[@FedoraKirb]

@@sherbertshortkake6649 Hello there, Sherbert Shortkake! Even better, THERE’S A WADDLE DEE WITH A FEDORA! AND HE’S PLAYING THE TRUMPET LIKE ME! And I would love to see an Amazing Mirror sequel; it’s still my favorite game in the series (Forgotten Land gets a very close second at the moment), but there are a lot of elements that people don’t seem to like even if I didn’t mind them. A sequel that more people would enjoy would be excellent.

[@Hawlo]

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.

[@Mojo1356]

It’s unfortunate that Arlo only played Star Allies at launch. It got much better with updates, but I can’t blame him for his criticisms when his review launched. It was such a disappointment going from Robobot to Star Allies when the latter launched.

[@ultraprincesskenny6790]

@@Mojo1356 he did play the updates but didn't do soul melter ex

[@minicritman999]

@@Mojo1356 Star Allies looks like the an old leftover from the WiiU.

[@NEVETSGILBERT1233]

@@minicritman999 You mean there aint much a graphically difference between wii u and switch so ya a lot of games probably are also your an old leftover from the wii u

[@retrospect]

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

[@maxrn3923]

I wonder why he said no word about the OST

[@thedraftingax5963]

@@maxrn3923 Ikr he should’ve talked about them

[@diabeticman2194]

Northeast Frost Street is one of my favourite winter themes of all time, but there's so many standout tunes in the OST it's amazing

[@JsYTA]

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

[@Cri_Jackal]

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

[@markguyton2868]

Yes, every Kirby game has that weird tendency to go from 0 to 100 in brief seconds and I always enjoy it.

[@Socioromanticism]

I don't think he'd enjoy it as much as Kirby fans do, and I say that as A Kirby fan. Because I think most of the insanity comes from the lore and not the gameplay. And even the lore, to be honest, is only crazy in the context of it being a game series built to be easy for kids to pick up, play, and complete.

[@Cri_Jackal]

@@Socioromanticism All that becomes irrelevant the moment a distorted ball of demonic paint screeches straight at the player, or a cat-faced supercomputer threatens to commit genocide and begins warping reality. Also the literal gore in Dream Land 3. You don't need any of the lore to be utterly horrified and/or awestruck by the series's unhinged dedication to traumatizing unsuspecting children.

[@ChaudTheGamer]

I played every single Kirby game and beat them all! I experienced it firsthand! :3

[@Adamatronamus]

Starting with star allies again. And again and again and again.

[@LegendofKal]

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

[@Octorocker743]

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.

[@Funkiotologist]

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 🤙

[@enzog1078]

This is so sweet

[@Funkiotologist]

@@enzog1078 aww thanks, even tho I’m in college now I still rave about these games to my friend, there’s truly nothing like them and this one made me remember how much I missed playing the games (I hated Star Allies lol)

[@peteralfano9217]

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

[@elijahfoltz3755]

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.

[@DeltathRiylaan]

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.

[@chandlerredding721]

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.

[@derekw8039]

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!

[@Danominator]

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

[@Psyan]

And here we are!

[@AV-yk3ng]

My first game was Star Allies but I enjoyed it. Maybe I should give this a try?

[@InnerRise]

@@AV-yk3ng try the demo Be careful

[@Danominator]

@@AV-yk3ng It's a good game but it makes in comparison compared to every other. Star Allies is basic where the 3DS games and Forgotten Land absolutely soar above.

[@awildmoose6541]

Everyone just ignores how the last 20% of the game is reusing same bosses again, reusing complete stages but worse and just repetitive.

[@fablejoey3666]

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!!!

[@fablejoey3666]

Ordered Planet Robobot, and Triple Deluxe yesterday. Can't wait to enjoy more from the series

[@creativebeetle]

@@fablejoey3666 Those are some top-class picks

[@janeelizabeth3789]

Couldn't agree more. Such a fun experience

[@danielgenusandfergusonfyou1102]

@@creativebeetle planet robobot is goated

[@carlyrichards5590]

Good picks!

[@jakoblinton2053]

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.)

[@joshbourne9679]

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!!

[@elijahadkins6195]

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

[@makaronishenouda6413]

AND HERE WE ARE!

[@ASquared544]

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.

[@Semudara]

Yeah.... Star Allies is not a bad game, but it just felt so bland and mediocre for most of the playtime, which is really unlike the other recent Kirby games.

[@FedoraKirb]

This, so much. I’ve always felt that Star Allies is a TERRIBLE first entry. Not only does it take the two biggest problems people have with the series (“too easy” and “too short”) and amplifies them to extreme degrees, but most of the best parts of the game (story, Dream Friends, post-launch content) require you to have played at least a few prior Kirby games in order to fully appreciate their significance. It’s best enjoyed as a long-time rather than acting as a first impression.

[@OddyOddity-ob2uv]

If I see someone dismiss Kirby after only playing KSA, I just want to throttle them. In a frustrated kind of "I totally understand but YOU CAN'T JUST DISMISS MY SON AFTER ONE MEDIOCRE GAME" Kind of way.

[@king_poyo64]

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.

[@Cri_Jackal]

With the pause screen description structure they really had to fit a lot of information onto one screen, with the limited amount of relevant bosses to put it in, with the gotcha figures they can spread it out amongst them all and elaborate more clearly as well. Though it is worth pointing out that fans have gone on to learn that the English translations of a lot of the pause descriptions from previous games were _SURPRISINGLY_ sloppy and a lot just flat out exclude or even _alter_ important pieces of information, the worst offenders are just completely different descriptions from the original Japanese versions.

[@sherbertshortkake6649]

The problem with the gotcha figures wasn't that they didn't like the concept, it's that Forgotten Land, between the song, dialogue, and all the figure descriptions requires SO much more money put in to localization. (I actually think this is a hidden reason why the game was programmed in English- money issues) Hopefully since Forgotten Land sold well we can get a higher word count in the next entry.

[@meirbhastekar3534]

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

[@lionclan4575]

ye give us a meta knightmare mode or dedede mode like what triple deluxe had. and i wonder if itll be payed or just an update, like star allies did, if this game has done that well as another reward for fans. though id pay for a dlc, definitely xD

[@Semudara]

@@lionclan4575 I'd be happy to pay for any additions. I've just enjoyed this game so much as is, it's brilliant. ^-^

[@BLamb]

Agreed. With all of that, it may actually have a chance of dethroning Planet Robobot as my favorite in the series.

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

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

[@hurgcat]

i need that pink stuff dog!

[@lamegamertime]

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.

[@Kirb-dv5hy]

the mirror world is definitely considered a different dimension and also rainbow curse and epic yarn exist too

[@lamegamertime]

@@Kirb-dv5hy Oh, I forgot about rainbow curse. But epic yarn doesn't take place in a different dimension, unless there's another reason the yarn planet is visible in the sky over Popstar.

[@Cri_Jackal]

@@lamegamertime It was visible because the main villain of that game was fusing both worlds together so he could rule over both, before that, and after he's defeated, Dream Land and Patch Land return to being separate realitied.

[@lamegamertime]

@@Cri_Jackal Uh...but the yarn world is still visible during the cutscene after that ended. And where did you get this information? There's nothing about that in the manual or game. There's no talk about fusing the two worlds at all, just transforming.

[@Semudara]

@@lamegamertime I thought the yarn world was inside a magic sock?? And the plot of the game does have Yin Yarn turning Dream Land and its inhabitants into yarn as well. But yeah, not fusing them I don't think.

[@outry_08]

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!

[@limm_ee]

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.

[@Glory2Snowstar]

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.

[@chrisofstars]

Yeah the level design is clever and the animation is top notch. The game also takes advantage of the fixed camera to make things seem very beautiful and alive.

[@error9778]

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

[@starryslight7095]

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 :)

[@QwixLF]

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

[@donkekung4150]

ESPECIALLY Forgo Dedede's second Phase music

[@humouroushawk]

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.

[@ultimatum.]

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

[@nickk3077]

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.

[@igotthemunchies7292]

What system are these on ?

[@AA-tz2bm]

@@igotthemunchies7292 3ds : (

[@nickk3077]

@@igotthemunchies7292 Planet robobot is on 3DS. Triple Deluxe is on 3DS Return to Dreamland is on Wii U and Wii.

[@thebatpig8424]

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

[@aafrophonee]

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

[@Semudara]

Try it out, as soon as you get the chance! The slow-mo effect when you dodge attacks with perfect timing is a lot of fun, makes you feel even more like a tiny pink badass. ;D

[@aafrophonee]

@@Semudara the boss fights would’ve been so much easier had I known about the dodge! Now I’m going through trying to 100% the game and using dodge as often as I can

[@BronzeFacade]

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

[@MetroidsEATYou]

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

[@kirbythingys]

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

[@Chiller326]

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.

[@CrashingThunder]

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.

[@VonFirflirch]

Yeah, while it's pretty much OP, it adds that extra element that pushes the combat from "basic" to "basic, but really fun to abuse" :D

[@Hyper_Drud]

Honestly I’ve never been a fan of combat in Kirby games. Combat in the Forgotten Land is much more enjoyable to me.

[@ryanhodgson8676]

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.

[@ShmooZeroOmega]

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

[@NinjoXEnlightened]

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

[@fruit3193]

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???

[@hashbrown5879]

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.

[@iMelSchwolow]

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.

[@Sabundy]

I've never played a Kirby game in my life either. But I bought it and played through it in a few days. It was a lot of fun. A genuinely good game.

[@BelleTheMagazine]

If you really like the game I would recommend playing superstar first on SNES online then planet robobot and triple deluxe on the 3DS.

[@duckycolors]

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

[@maximusprime4448]

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!

[@BeaACutie154]

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

[@mandrias]

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.

[@riverthemook]

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.

[@AnokiReChord]

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.

[@kidplaysgame3590]

new horizons is terrible but ok

[@AnokiReChord]

@@kidplaysgame3590 That's your opinion. I still play New Horizons every day, it's not a perfect game, but I enjoy it.

[@bigorange4919]

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

[@HU-iv1ns]

Great video Arlo :)! Have really been missing you!

[@userone297]

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

[@rebirthphoenix5646]

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!

[@SpeederLight]

Ayyyy such an amazing video arlo! 😁 Love this video and I can't wait to play this Kirby game once it's on sail! 😁

[@gavadar8497]

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!

[@joshuahutchings558]

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

[@ThomatoSauce]

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!

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

I did the target times anyway but- never again. Some of the challenges were pure despair.

[@gwolft6996]

@@geschnitztekiste4111 multi mouth was torture

[@captainnintendo]

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.

[@cragl3yman343]

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

[@anibalmax1981]

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!

[@ashers1930]

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.

[@daltonsturgeon4024]

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 KZbin 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!

[@skycreeper0173]

Super awesome review. Great work you two.

[@potatochipclips]

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.

[@gryffehondor4236]

Not to mention that the most basic skills in fishing will net you thousands of coins in a few minutes ! I farmed, like, 20k coins in 10 minutes for the last of the gacha by fishing.

[@SuperWiiBros08]

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

[@Cri_Jackal]

The game is definitely on par with other Kirby games in terms of actual gameplay time. I think what makes it feel short, and in my opinion feel shorter than other Kirby games (discounting the actually really short Star Allies), is that there's fewer stages per world on average, and no extra stages to unlock in each world. The two 3DS Kirby games both had extra stages that unlocked in each world by collecting every Sun Stone/Code Cube in said worlds. Forgotten Land has extra stages in the form of the Treasure Roads, which will absolutely fill out your playtime if you do them all. But the thing is, there's was this weird psychological thing my brain did where it sort of ignored the fact they existed when thinking about how long the game felt, I don't know how to explain it but from how I've heard some other people talk about how long the game felt it's definitely a real thing, probably has to do with the fact that they're presented as a "separate" thing from the regular levels, instead of traditional extra stages where they're presented as "extensions" to each world.

[@koji8872]

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

[@alliesangalli1757]

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.

[@thepredman9lol266]

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

[@MrFrostyness]

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.

[@Jumperboy333]

This was a great review Arlo, tysm!

[@saraheart756]

I love when an new Arlo video drops!🥰

[@VGAfanatic]

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

[@RobLobster29]

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.

[@cjclementine434]

You and I are of one mind about this game, Arlo. It’s *GORGEOUS* and I want *MORE!*

[@somebaker2613]

Didn't realize how much I need late night review uploads but thank you for enlightening me

[@jakefromkc8739]

This game was my first Kirby experience (besides Smash) and I absolutely loved it! Can't wait to see more, and I'll likely play some older Kirby games too.

[@Cri_Jackal]

Wish they'd rerelease the Wii/3DS games, plenty of people just can't play them right now which is sad.

[@vicctretamaj7289]

This game is one of my favorite games, HAL really knocked their first full 3D adventure out of the park! Presentation is great, visually and the music is AMAZING. Mouthful mode is both charming and well designed. Despite not playing like it, this is basically the “Mario odyssey” of Kirby in terms of how impactful this is. It’s a shame your first real attempt with Kirby was Star Allies. The quality is ok, but I’m sure it was confusing for a new comer to play that game and understand what all the fuss is about from fans praising the recent titles. That game was mainly fan service, and lacked the interesting engaging level designs of the games prior, really hurting the story mode (the main mode). I will say again, the 3DS titles are very well crafted and deserve the praise they get. As a long time Kirby fan, the game has good qualities, mainly the fan service and references + seeing so many old characters return in a new game basically future proofing them for further use, it even mentioning the movesets and attention to detail with each individual character WHO ALSO all get their own levels designed around them in Guest star mode! With the DLC, the game has quite a lot, but again, it’s the main story mode holding the game back. It’s a game carried by DLC and fan service, and if you aren’t a huge fan of Kirby, that fan service doesn’t hit the same. Forgotten Land has little fan service In the game, which makes it feel fresh and brand new, which is still great for the game, making it even better for newer fans to jump in.

[@derekmoellmann78]

Love the video :) and also loving the new outro music 🎵🎶

[@somebaker2613]

Thank you! holy wow, i really like your new outtro music

[@Cri_Jackal]

So after a full day of engaging with the comments section here, I've learned something. There are a TON of people with irrationally harsh opinions on Kirby. Arlo being left with a sour taste in his mouth from Star Allies was completely understandable, the main campaign in that game was and still is the weakest in the entire series and could've absolutely been far better, but plenty of the people here have negative opinions on this series despite playing some its best games, or alternatively, without giving any of its games a fair chance to entertain them, they can't seem to help but compare it to Mario and the like and say it's lackluster and bland in comparison, repeatedly ignoring the fact that all of these games _have_ to be able to be beaten by an 8 year old, and that the harder and more engaging content for older players is implemented via the smaller challenge of getting every collectible, and the larger challenge of the post game content, they seem to have only played through the main game without any care for any of the opportunities for optional fun along the way, only to discard each title for being boring. And to begin with, this series has always been an _action_ platformer first, and a platformer second, it has far more in common with Mega Man than Mario, and comparing it to the heights of Donkey Kong Country Returns is just plain unfair, not a single Kirby game has ever aimed to be that kind of platformer, and if that's the type of experience you expected from Kirby, and you are criticizing it for the lack of that kind of design, then you're playing it for the wrong reasons. The final point I'd like to make is that plenty of these people seem like they're incapable of enjoying something that's objectively easy, they conflate easy with being bland, they lack the sort of mindset needed to enjoy something simple and unchallenging, the kind of attitude that fans of the Traveller's Tales Lego games thrive off of, it's entirely possible to enjoy something simple enough for a child to enjoy, the same way plenty of us can still enjoy the children's shows from years past, like Scooby Doo, He-Man, or hell, My Little Pony, just let go of your ego.

[@FedoraKirb]

I agree with this comment _slightly._ I agree that people seem to ignore the best parts of the games (the ones that reward you for understanding the game’s mechanics like the Extra Mode), but being beatable by an 8 year old does not mean it has to be lackluster or bland. Not that Kirby is that, I think that the best of 2D Kirby’s level design (Crystal Shards, Epic Yarn, 3DS games, etc.) rivals the best of 2D Mario’s level design and even some of 3D Mario’s (though that’s an apples to orange comparison in ways). Similarly, being an action platformer does not exclude you from interesting level design. Again, I think that 2D Kirby’s peak level design as well as Forgotten Land’s level design are downright excellent, and even the “average” Kirby levels still explore lots of fun ideas. Also, I agree that lacking difficulty is not a bad thing by itself; Kirby’s Epic Yarn is one of the easiest, least-punishing Kirby games and one of the most well-regarded and frequently referenced Kirby games by non-fans. However, you can’t fault someone for not finding a game fun if they want to play for difficulty. Difficulty is one of those things that is fairly neutral in game design. An easy game can still be engaging through elements like creative level design for instance, but you’re free to not like a game for not challenging you enough. To say “I don’t like Kirby because it doesn’t challenge me” is a very different statement from “Kirby games are easy, therefore they are bad.”

[@user-zw3on4bx2t]

Star Allies doesn't have the weakest campaign. I actually prefer it over the Dream Land trilogy and Amazing Mirror.

[@zandermetrakos2637]

Your whole art piece argument was exactly how I felt. The game really left me inspired and so much more fulfilled than other games like elden ring

[@FinnAndBlakePlayGames]

Always a great day when I see that Arlo uploads! I don’t even care all that much about Kirby, but Arlo’s reviews are so thoughtful and entertaining that I had to give it a watch anyway haha

[@cheesecake4204]

This made my day much better. Thank you, Arlo.