Nintendo has revealed more details about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, including an official release date of March 25th, 2022. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the next installment in the storied Kirby franchise and looks to be a bold new direction for the beloved pink ball. The trailer shows off more of the game’s post-apocalyptic art design in addition to showing off numerous different aspects of the gameplay.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land will see the titular pink puff embark on a new journey to rescue the Waddle Dees from the monsters of a strange new land. Along the way, Kirby will employ his trademark copy abilities to steal his enemies’ powers for both combat and puzzle-solving. Some of the returning powers the trailer shows off include the Sword, Tornado, and Bomb Powers.
It also reveals two new abilities Kirby will have at his disposal: Ranger and Drill. The Ranger copy ability allows Kirby to use a musket-style gun to deal ranged damage against his enemies. He can be seen firing it in an arc while in the air and charging it up to deal even more damage. The Drill ability is also shown to have a special attack that deals damage over an area when Kirby creates a circle with his tunnel.
The trailer also shows off more of the new world in which Kirby has found himself. Some of the new levels feature a new kind of art direction for the Kirby series that evokes a darker vibe for the game as a whole. Kirby and the Forgotten Land will take the franchise’s hero to crumbling castles, cities buried in sand, and a town that’s been overrun by nature.
After Kirby rescues each Waddle Dee, they’ll return to a town that acts as a base for Kirby and includes minigames and other features for players to enjoy. Kirby can work at the local diner and rack up a high score depending on how many orders he completes, or he can go fishing in a nearby pond with his good friend Bandana Waddle Dee.
Bandana Waddle Dee can also join Kirby out in the field through two-player co-op, using his special spear to attack enemies up close or at a distance. Bandana Dee can also use the spear to hover in the air and rain spearheads down on enemies.
The trailer closes by showing Kirby clashing with his longtime nemesis, Meta Knight, before revealing the game’s release date. Kirby and the Forgotten Land will release exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on March 25th, 2022, and will retail for $59.99 USD. It is available for preorder now through most major retailers and digitally on the Nintendo eShop.
