It’s hard to believe that 2022 is getting close to wrapping up. It’s also hard to believe that so many games have already come out, like Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Now, Kirby is back via Kirby's Dream Buffet for one more adventure in 2022.
Kirby's Dream Buffet is a lower-key experience that isn’t about immersing players in an epic narrative or giving them huge open levels to explore. It is a simple spinoff for the series that is a Battle Royale experience that can be fun for the whole family. There are some downsides to this cute spinoff though, so let’s break down what this latest Nintendo game gets right and wrong.
6 Love: The Gimmick
Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a fun mixup of several different games. Kirby has been in a ball form before, like in Kirby’s Pinball Land or Kirby: Canvas Curse, but the controls are a bit different here since this is a racing game at its core. The cartoon-like nature of everything and the emphasis on knocking players around by bumping into them is like Fall Guys.
Eating things to get bigger is reminiscent of Katamari Damacy, although there is no opportunity to steamroll through entire towns. Finally, the food gimmick is like a lesser-known multiplayer experience from a few years ago, Cake Bash. Kirby’s Dream Buffet is seemingly inspired by a lot but manages to combine the ideas into a coherent video game.
5 Don’t Love: Feels Free To Play But…
The price tag on Kirby’s Dream Buffet is not high. $15 is a decent amount for a big IP like Kirby. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that, at one time, Nintendo may have thought this should be a full retail game. However, the package is lacking in content even with that low price point. It feels like a free-to-play game, except that it makes players pay upfront.
There is no story-based single-player campaign, but there are ways to play through levels offline. The number of mini-games and stages is low and there is no variety in the mini-games besides eating, which is also what racing is about. Updates can make the package more appealing, but there is no telling when those will come.
4 Love: The Food
The best part of this game is how good everything looks. The food worlds look delicious, fitting the name of Kirby’s Dream Buffet. There is a course wherein players run across meat patties, buns, bacon, pickles, and all other burger-related things. There are tons of bakery-themed levels as well, from donuts to cakes to cookies.
There is a delectable dish waiting for players to feast their eyes on. It’ll be hard not to get hungry while playing the game, which may or may not be to the game’s detriment. The intro video makes the food look even better, so hopefully, the next Switch console can make those graphics a reality for the inevitable Kirby’s Dream Buffet.
3 Don’t Love: The Small Player Count
It’s hard to be impressed by a Battle Royale game when it only allows four players to compete with each other. That is hardly a scenario that can compete with the likes of the biggest Battle Royale experiences out there. Given the Switch’s power, it is understandable that Nintendo couldn’t put a hundred Kirby characters on each course.
However, they could have at least tried to get into the double digits. Even a small count at twenty would be better than playing with four people. This may be the worst aspect of Kirby’s Dream Buffet, as the stakes aren’t as juicy with this low number. One of the greatest Battle Royale experiences on the Switch is Tetris 99. That game is much simpler than this one, but the development team should still try and cram in more Kirby characters onscreen.
2 Love: The Legacy Nods
Kirby’s Dream Buffet is not a complete love letter to the pink puffball’s iconic series. It feels more like a treat made specifically for Kirby so that he could eat to his heart’s content. Is there anything Kirby can’t or won’t eat, and when does it ever get full?
The legacy nods are small in the game, but they are appreciated. Kirby can be customized with hats and a variety of colors. Players can also equip skins to make themselves look like classic characters from the series, such as the Waddle Dees. The music sports a track list that cherry picks from the franchise as well, remixing familiar tunes to give fans something new to listen to.
1 Don’t Love: The Upgrade Method
Another thing that can make the game feel like a free-to-play experience is how players unlock the aforementioned cosmetic items. Playing the game will grant them experience points akin to an RPG. The more they play, the more players will unlock as they level up.
What players get upon leveling up will come automatically. It would have been nicer if Nintendo gave players some sort of currency instead so that they could choose which costumes they wanted first. It’s weird how linear the progression system is. It would also be great if Nintendo added more skin and accessory options from the start.
Kirby's Dream Buffet was released on August 17, 2022, and is available on Switch.