Bibliographic Information

Title: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Developer: HAL Laboratory

Release Date: March 25, 2022

UPC: 045496597955

Genre

Action

Format

Video Game

Available Platforms

Nintendo Switch

Mode

Single system, 1-2 players

ESRB Rating

E 10+ – Everyone 10 years and older

Awards or Honors Include

• The Game Awards: Best Family Game (2022)
• British Academy Game Awards: Best Family Game (2023)

Game Summary

The game begins with Kirby at home on Planet Popstar, being pulled into a dark, swirling vortex in the sky. He’s deposited on the shore of an unknown land and the player then takes control of Kirby as he sets off into the jungle to explore. Here Kirby finds himself in the abandoned New World, and soon meets up with Elfilin, who begs him to move through different areas of the New World, rescuing captured Waddle Dees. Players clear each stage of the game by maneuvering Kirby through different obstacles, fights, and successfully freeing any Waddle Dees found there. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is not a first-person perspective game; players watch overhead and they use controls to make Kirby run, jump, climb, and inhale enemies as well as objects like a car, vending machine, traffic cone, and more.

Developer Background

HAL Laboratory was founded in 1980 and is based in Chiyoda, Tokyo. They have had a close association with Nintendo since the beginning, with their most well-known games centering on the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. franchises. Their logo is a dog incubating eggs, signifying “an unexpected bond…one that brings the birth of something new” (HAL Laboratory, 2024).

Critical Evaluation

With intuitive controls, adorable characters, and expansive scenes to explore, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a lot of fun to play. I appreciate that players get to choose between two difficulty levels before even beginning the game. Exposition is kept to a minimum, but is just helpful enough to give an outline of what is expected at each stage. The option of playing solo or with another player is nice, and the pacing of the game gives plenty of opportunities for success while still being challenging. The backstory of what the New World is, how the Waddle Dees were captured, and who the ultimate “Big Boss” becomes a bit convoluted, but it’s easy enough to simply enjoy the game without drowning in the details.

Creative Use for a Library Program

One of Kirby’s main abilities is to copy the skills and characteristics of the people and things around him. A library could set up a kind of obstacle or adventure course for teens with different tasks to complete along the way, and allow players to advance based on successfully playing a larger game of “Simon Says” with other youth and library staff. Teens who don’t do what “Simon Says” are frozen during that turn, while teens who do get to move forward or participate in tasks.

Speed Round Talk

Kirby is transported to the mysterious New World, where he has to face down the Beast Pack in order to rescue the kidnapped Waddle Dees. Join him as he runs, jumps, slashes, and hammers his way through enemies and obstacles to explore the New World and save the day.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation

The E10+ rating is for cartoon violence, and Kirby does fight, destroy, and sometimes smush adversaries in the game. There is nothing inherently scary or gory about the encounters, though, and as none of the actions are realistic, they’re certainly nothing a teenager would be inclined to mimic.

Reason for Inclusion

Kirby has been an incredibly popular video game character since the launch of his franchise in 1992 (Kirby (character), 2024). In addition to his own games, teens today know him from his inclusion in the Super Smash Bros line of games. In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, developers have upgraded many of Kirby’s basic capabilities and added several more opportunities for action and exploration with this fun character, making it a worthwhile inclusion in a contemporary collection for teens.