The pink puff himself has finally been given a new title: Kirby and the Forgotten Land. And with this new game came a huge variety of new and reimagined abilities to gobble up. The recently released Switch exclusive, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, has made a great impression with its 3D world, a revolutionary change for the series. Garnering more fans and some impressive sales numbers, Kirby is on a roll.This popularity is partly due to the inventive new "Mouthful Modes" that are employed in the game. From construction items, to vehicles, to random bits of broken scenery, Kirby can stretch over many items to gain abilities. Let's have a look at them all with a discerning eye.
12 Scissor-Lift Mouth
Possibly the least used of all Kirby's Mouthful Modes is the scissor-lift mouth. Kirby stretches out over a scissor-lift, and can then move vertically if need be. This lets him access platforms at different heights, as the action ends with a jump when the mode is ended.
This is a helpful trick, but it is only used a handful of times, and can only be moved in linear ways. Most of Kirby's new modes can only be used in certain places, but this one feels really restricted.
11 Stairs Mouth
Being able to turn into a set of stairs and move them around is helpful, but the use of this is quite clunky. Kirby can "fall" to squash enemies or press buttons, or can spit out the stairs in a new location to provide a route to different areas.
In terms of other Mouthful Modes, the stairs idea is a little boring — it is slow, and has only one real use. It does mean that players can access areas too high for hovering, though.
10 Dome And Storage Mouth
Kirby's mission is to save as many Waddle Dees as possible, and a lot of them seem to be hiding behind lockers, or in closed domes. Thankfully, Kirby can easily get to them with the Dome Mouth and Storage Mouth abilities. They're essentially the same, and thus have been combined into one entry.
The Dome Mouth sees Kirby gob onto the top of a spherical object and twist the top off. Similarly, Storage Mouth mode lets Kirby move any lockers that are in the way or hiding secret rooms.
9 Pipe Mouth
Kirby can be let loose on a construction site and swallow a cut-off section of pipe in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Who knew? These Pipe Mouth moments can be used to bash through objects while gathering considerable speed downhill. This immediately does away with any enemies in Kirby's path.
The Pipe Mouth can be a little tricky to control when it comes to jumps to reach a new area, as the timing needs to be just right.
8 Light-Bulb Mouth
This Light Bulb Mouth is reminiscent of Kirby's abilities in previous games, such as the Light from Kirby's Adventure, or Spark in Dream Land 2.
Essentially, this iteration allows Kirby to swallow a light bulb, and become his own moveable light source. Putting aside questions as to how it remains lit, it can be used to turn on any machines and light up dark rooms that Kirby encounters. Like a lot of other abilities, it slows Kirby's movement speed while it is employed.
7 Water-Balloon Mouth
For any fan of PowerWash Simulator, Kirby and the Forgotten Land has them covered. This particular Mouthful Mode has Kirby ingest a horrendous amount of water, right from a pipe in the ground. This fills him to a gigantic size, as well as reducing jump height and movement speeds.
Kirby can then shoot the water out to clean surfaces and clear a way through dirty areas, and to water any parched flowers — which are tied to a mission in some levels, and can unlock more Waddle Dees.
6 Ring Mouth
This slightly painful-looking mode is Ring Mouth. The object that Kirby swallows doesn't necessarily align with the ability, but it is very convenient nonetheless.
Kirby can stretch over a large O-shaped light, which means he can shoot big blasts of air. This can help pilot boats and rafts in water areas, as well as being useful for destroying objects and blowing away enemies. Players can also use this ability to complete the word on top of a building for another Waddle Dee.
5 Cone Mouth
Cone Mouth Kirby is a super useful ability. One of the first Modes introduced in Forgotten Land, it allows Kirby to ground pound areas with a crack in them to break through. This leads players into secret holes containing food and coins, or water pipes that can create a shortcut to higher levels.
This mode can also be used to quickly dispose of enemies, including specific Tortorner and Tortuildings: reptilian monsters covered in a hard concrete block that can only be broken by cone-mouthing their back.
4 Rollercoaster Mouth
In Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby can turn into a rollercoaster. What else needs to be said? He can gobble up a rocket-shaped car and have the time of his life whizzing around a track. This area is wildly fun even if it is small, and offers a nice little extra.
Players must tip the Kirby-car left and right to avoid spiked enemies and other obstacles, and can also collect a substantial amount of coins. This section can be redone to improve the score.
3 Vending Mouth
Ever wanted to shoot a ruthless barrage of cans at some cute enemies? Well, now you can. One of Kirby's weirder designs for Mouthful Modes is the Vending Mouth. Using an item from the seemingly abandoned human world, Kirby can turn into the drink machine and wreak havoc.
Kirby will be a little slower while controlling the Vending Mouth, but can spit out drink cans at a rapid pace. There is a limited supply, but is in the hundreds, and can be replenished by grabbing the soda cans that appear nearby.
2 Car Mouth and Big-Rig Mouth
There are two different versions of Kirby's vehicular abilities that come with Forgotten Land. The first is seen in the trailer and very early in the game: Car Mouth. In this (slightly unsettling) mode, Kirby envelops an entire car, and drives around at speed. This can knock out enemies, boulders, and walls.
Spoilers: there is another version of this known as Big-Rig Mouth. This is saved for the last phase of the fight against the final story mode boss, Fecto Efilis. This time Kirby swallows a semi-truck, adding more power to the mode.
1 Arch Mouth
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's Kirby, flying along doing tricks in midair. Now, "arch mouth" doesn't make a lot of sense in terms of flying, but it is the item that Kirby swallows up that allows him to glide gracefully in the open skies. He can also do barrel rolls, to knock enemies out of his path.
This adds a whole new dimension to the game as it gives a new perspective, as well as a new setting and controls to figure out.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available now for the Nintendo Switch.