Nintendo's last few years have been dominated by major anniversary celebrations, and 2022 will apparently be no exception. This year, Nintendo and HAL Laboratory will celebrate Kirby's 30th anniversary, marking a major milestone for the colorful platforming franchise. Kirby fans have Kirby and the Forgotten Land to look forward to as a core part of the celebration, but Nintendo supposedly has several other Kirby-related projects in mind for the anniversary. There's no telling for now how ambitious Nintendo and HAL might get to celebrate the anniversary, but considering how other recent franchise birthdays have gone, it's likely that some classic Kirby games will get ported to the Switch.
If that's the case, then out of all the Kirby games that could make a comeback, Kirby's Return to Dream Land seems like one of the strongest choices. Released for the Wii in 2011, Kirby's Return to Dream Land was hailed as a return to classic Kirby fare after a couple of experimental entries like Kirby's Epic Yarn. Because of its compelling multiplayer and one notable similarity to Kirby and the Forgotten Land, it seems like a perfect candidate for an anniversary port and a generally valuable addition to the Nintendo Switch's library.
Return to Dream Land's Strengths
While previous Kirby games have included multiplayer elements, Kirby's Return to Dream Land had a particular emphasis on co-op. Some Kirby games like Kirby's Epic Yarn allowed two players to work together, but Return to Dream Land supports up to four players, letting fans choose between Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, and Bandana Waddle Dee as they group up to save Dream Land once again. The Switch is a famously strong local multiplayer console thanks to its Joy-Cons, which allow players to quickly jump into a co-op game together whether they're at home or on the go. Return to Dream Land's multiplayer emphasis is bound to shine with the help of the Switch's hardware.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land also focuses on a hub that has some similarities to Waddle Dee Town in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. As players progress through Return to Dream Land, they collect Energy Spheres which gradually unlock new minigames and bonus challenges within Magolor's ship, not unlike how Forgotten Land players will slowly build Waddle Dee Town up as they rescue Waddle Dees. While Return to Dream Land's version of this progression system is bound to look much more simple compared to Waddle Dee Town, Kirby fans might still enjoy revisiting a clear ancestor of Waddle Dee Town after playing Forgotten Land.
A Worthy Kirby Port
There's little doubt that Nintendo will release some kind of Kirby port or remake as a part of the anniversary. The last few years have been full of ports, whether it's Super Mario 3D All-Stars from the 35th Mario anniversary or The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD for last year's Zelda celebration. Ports and remakes are a great way to reflect on a franchise's past and enhance appreciation for just how far a franchise has come. Kirby may still focus on some of its earliest concepts, like Copy Abilities and floaty platforming, but on the whole, the franchise has evolved a lot over the last three decades, so there's good cause for some reflection.
Since many of Kirby's oldest games are already available through Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo would likely aim for a more recent but nevertheless nostalgic game, which makes Return to Dream Land the perfect choice. Its emphasis on standard Kirby sidescrolling over new mechanics makes it a great contrast to the highly experimental Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Nintendo seems a little nostalgic for the Wii era right now, between Skyward Sword HD and Wii Sports successor Nintendo Switch Sports, so maybe there's hope that Return to Dream Land will join the Switch next.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land releases March 25, 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
