We’re not keeping count, but we feel like Kirby is possible right up there in the top five of most prolific video game protagonists in the past three decades. Part of his appeal is how Kirby can absorb the abilities of other, thus opening the door for tons of gameplay formulas. After last year’s 3D platforming debut, Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe returns Kirby to his 2D roots in another Nintendo Switch exclusive.
Much like New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe is a remake of an older Nintendo title – in this case one that originally came out for the Nintendo Wii. In the game, Kirby has to help space wizard Magolor repair his spacecraft after he crash lands on Planet Popstar – the central premise for the game’s story campaign. You can play the campaign with up to three friends, and although it’s definitely on the easy side it’s a blast to play and a rare example of a classic 2D platformer that’s family-friendly.
What makes the campaign fun is how much diversity it packs into it, both visually (in terms of the level designs and backdrops) and mechanically (with a lot of different abilities for Kirby to adopt). Some of the abilities feel way too powerful in an already not too challenging game, but first time players in particular won’t mind one bit as they’re so much fun to use and none of them overstay their welcome.
We also really like the return to 2D, which feels like a more natural look on the Switch after we’ve seen it struggle in some 3D titles and with newer console pushing the envelope more and more. Kirby in 2D is timeless, and the colorful and vibrant graphics on display here are a joy to watch and steer Kirby and his friends through.
You can have Kirby embark on his journey solo as well, but playing through the story with one of more friends (or in a parent-kid combo) is a real blast. Even though it’s the same basic structure, the game scales up well towards having multiple players share the screen as the action never gets too frantic – this is a platformer at a relatively gentle pace, leaving plenty of room for experimenting and the odd mistake here or there.
Content-wise it’s nice to see that Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe features more than just the story campaign, and even some new stuff that’s exclusive to the deluxe version. This includes a brand new epilogue and a few extra missions, with the theme park-inspired Merry Magoland also returning – a selection of mini-games that should add a ton of lasting appeal to the game, especially within a local multiplayer setting.
Combine all that with the fact that an additional layer of polish has also been applied to the game and this is a great remaster of one of the best Kirby games out there. If you still have access to the Wii version then the AAA price tag here might feel a bit steep, but this is a Kirby adventure you shouldn’t miss out on.
Score: 8.2/10
Press Play Media 