Kirby and the Forgotten Land on Switch is a charming, majestic foray into various 3D worlds, and has already become a fan favorite platformer for the console. With additions like Mouthful Mode, the game brings a fun new dimension to this appealing formula.
Among the game's few critiques is the notion that, even on the game's normal difficulty setting, the gameplay feels far too simple and passive. Still, there are a number of settings, challenges, and collectible goodies that can bring a new layer of difficulty to this seemingly easy-going ride.
10 Beat The Game In Co-Op Mode
As with most games that offer a co-op mode, having a friend or family member aid in one's journey typically makes things simpler. And, in some ways, at least, this holds true in this already easy-going platformer. At the same time though, having Waddle Dee tagging along — who brings unique mechanics and attack methods — can add a new dimension and a new feel to the game.
This can make the experience deeper and actually trickier to a certain degree, as players will need to stay on the same page and work as a team. Communication will be especially important when attacking bosses together and seeking out well-hidden collectibles.
9 Play The Entire Game On Wild Mode
As it happens, there's no "hard mode" as it were in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as the default "Wild Mode" is the defacto difficulty. However, while some have pointed to Wild Mode being rather tame, it can get fairly tough after the first few worlds. Enemies and bosses become more unforgiving and hazards more deadly, which will set Kirby back to a greater degree as he has less health.
The game encourages more exploration here too, since Wild Mode grants extra Star Coins, as well as ten bonus Coins for beating Treasure Roads. Though Nintendo makes it easy for players to switch to the more relaxed Spring Breeze mode, players should make it a goal to stick with Wild Mode all the way through, even when fighting tough bosses like Morpho Knight.
8 Notch All Secondary Missions
Each level in Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a fairly linear structure with main goals and obstacles to traverse. However, most also come with a slew of secondary objectives to knock out, which yield more Waddle Dees and Star Coins. Even boss stages have these missions, which require certain conditions, such as using a certain ability or clearing the level within a certain time.
Players should try to complete as many of these missions as possible, maybe during a second run-through after getting familiar with the stage. Some of these tasks can be surprisingly tricky or well-hidden. Besides just adding a tough new dimension to each stage, these Waddle Dees are useful in their own right. Saving more will yield additional unlocks, namely in the form of more buildings in Waddle Dee Town.
7 Complete The Colosseum
Bosses are some of the most intense, challenging bouts of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, as the boss-laden Colosseum reestablishes. This arena will unlock after players beat the boss of world three (Wondaria Remains), called Danger Under the Big Top. Once Clawroline is slain, players will be able to access the Colosseum and revisit this boss, along with several others.
The initial set of fights, known as the Meta Knight Cup, can be difficult enough, as players will fight through six different mini-bosses. However, things really start to heat up with the Ultimate Cup, which hits Kirby with a dozen battles in a row of main boss replays. An even tougher variant of this cup, which features stronger phantom versions of the previous fights, can be beaten after this. While difficult, these three strings of fights are worth completing, as they provide thousands of Star Coins, several Rare Stones, and a Copy Ability Blueprint.
6 Meet The Target Time In Treasure Road Stages
One of the most thrilling portions of Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the brief-yet-intense timed challenges called Treasure Road stages. Knocking out at least some of these is a good idea, as they'll grant Rare Stones and serve as good practice for new abilities.
However, those looking for a real challenge will want to try and complete them all, and do so within the allotted "target time." These times don't allow much room for error, so they instantly bump up the difficulty quite a bit. Though getting 100% completion doesn't require players to beat these target times, they are enticing goals as they add to the challenge and give 50 additional Star Coins.
5 Upgrade All Copy Abilities
Kirby games are uniquely appealing for their range of abilities and attacks that can be absorbed from enemies. The Forgotten Land takes this to another level though, with both the gigantisied "Mouthful Mode" and powerful upgrades.
Scattered about the game are various Blueprints, which can be used to unlock Copy Ability Evolutions throughout Kirby's run. These upgrades balloon the dozen initial Copy Abilities to a sizable 35, and bring a slew of stronger, more satisfying moves. Most abilities can be upgraded twice during the initial run, with even more buffs unlocked after beating the campaign. Getting each takes time and effort since Blueprints must be sought out and several Star Coins and Rare Gems will need to be spent at Waddle Dee's Weapon Shop.
4 Collect More Figures
Much like Smash Bros. Ultimate's trophies, the figures in Kirby and the Forgotten Land serve as fun collectibles that give bragging rights and incentivize a deeper delve into the game. The fact that Kirby can display three favored by the player in his house make these even more enticing.
There are a whopping 256 figures scattered about Kirby and the Forgotten Land (and purchasable in Gotcha Machines at Waddle Dee Town), so, as one might expect, nabbing all of these can be quite the challenge by itself. While most can be bought or found within a stage, a select few require players to complete cryptic or difficult tasks, like listening to Wise Waddle Dee for a prolonged time or collecting all of Leon's Souls in the Isolated Isle.
3 Avoid Copy Abilities
With the exception of a secondary mission in The Tropic Terror, this one stands as a mere personal challenge without any real rewards. Still, it does make the game uniquely intense and thrilling. Those looking for a real challenge should try to run through most of the game without using Copy Abilities (this won't include Mouthful Mode as these powers are often needed to advance).
This makes Kirby far more vulnerable, though he can take advantage of Star Bullets, and spit some enemies into others as weapons. While the game will be harder, this can actually be a useful attack, as it inflicts loads of damage and is quasi-heat-seeking.
2 Conquer The Isolated Isles
After a triumphant victory over the (seemingly) last boss in the main story, players will open up a slew of larger, tougher stages called the Isolated Isles. These reside at the top of the observation tower in Waddle Dee Town after finishing the main campaign.
The levels are essentially a prolonged medley of each world in the campaign, with tougher baddies, bosses, and hazards. Surviving and beating each boss can be hard enough, but then there are the new collectibles, Leon's Souls, which add to the nail-biting experience. As it happens, 250 are required just to reach the boss. With that in mind, players should make a point of powering through each of these stages to get as many of the Souls as possible.
1 100% Completion
As one might have gathered from some of the tough secondary tasks, doing just about everything in the game (sans meeting the "target time" in Treasure Road levels) is borderline Herculean. Indeed, getting 100% completion is no easy feat, as it requires (among other things) beating each Treasure Road stage, surviving all Colosseum Cups, gathering all Blueprints, and upgrading all Copy Abilities.
However, for as daunting as all of this can be, it's certainly doable for Kirby and the Forgotten Land players who have already beaten the game and wish to revisit these dense, colorful stages. It's also a great way to squeeze a bit more fun out of an already enjoyable adventure.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available now for Nintendo Switch.
