A remastered version of the 2011 Wii title, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land features updated graphics and new features, but are they enough to warrant a return to the game?
The review is based on the Switch version.
Kirby’s latest adventure took the pink puffball to a forgotten land and was the first game to let him roam full 3D environments for a change. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a bold step in a new direction for a series known for its colorful, lightweight, and accessible 2D platforming levels that are easy enough for players of all ages to enjoy.
BENEFITS:
- Classic Kirby experience with colorful levels, secrets and lots to collect;
- Merry Magoland makes it easy to play mini-games with friends;
- Magolor Epilogue presents a fun new version of the Kirby formula.
AGAINST :
- The usual Kirby experience we’ve all played before;
- Ideal for families or groups, but gets old quickly if you play alone.
However, Return to Dream Land Deluxe brings Kirby back to where he was before, both in terms of location and structure. A remake of the 2011 Wii title, this platformer features classic Kirby gameplay with a handful of new additions to make the game even bigger than the original. Bigger isn’t always better, but those looking for the ultimate Kirby experience will enjoy playing this remastered version, even if it’s nothing they’ve ever seen before.
Family friends
Return to Dream Land follows the story of Kirby and his friends who decide to help a stranded space traveler named Magolor after his ship crashes on their planet. To collect parts from his ship, Kirby must travel through seven different stages and fend off enemies and bosses to collect those parts and bring his new friend home. An elaborate story has never been the focus of the series, but Return to Dream Land has some surprises and adorable moments that the series is known to have you cheering for the pink puffball every step of the way.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, published by Nintendo (2023)
The settings you visit are also unique in their aesthetics, where you’ll play through icy hills, underwater labyrinths, and other bustling locations with plenty of enemies to defeat and traps to avoid. A host of copy abilities return, including two new ones, mecha and sand, which are useful for defending against enemies and bosses, but are also essential for solving puzzles that reveal new paths to explore.
VERDICT:
If you’re new to the game, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is the version you want to play, offering dozens of levels, tons of collectibles, and multiplayer mini-games to keep you busy. It’s ideal for families given its accessibility and friendliness for new players, but it also offers some light challenges and colorful levels that older fans might appreciate. It may not be a groundbreaking experience, but Deluxe is proof that the Kirby series is still as charming as ever.
Each level also contains optional “Energy Sphere” collectibles to allow you to find and unlock additional areas on Magolor’s ship, such as copy-on-demand abilities and challenges that test your mastery of each ability. Finding these spheres on each level can further increase each one’s difficulty, as you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled or solve more complex puzzles to find them all. I got most of mine in a single match, but had to revisit a handful of levels where I just didn’t go fast enough or got stuck outside of those areas to get the spheres missing. It’s a great incentive to revisit certain levels, but it’s a pain to have to replay an entire level just to get to the one you missed at the end.
Fun for all
One of the great things about the original and Deluxe is that you can play the entire game with up to three friends. Getting in and out of the game is very easy, and sometimes it helps to have a friend of yours on standby in case you need to be able to get to a secret area. While your friends can also play as Kirby, they can also choose Meta Knight, King Dedede, or Bandana Waddle Dee, who wield a sword, hammer, or spear respectively. Playing with friends can make it easier to complete stages, but the first player is always the leader, so the camera follows that person at all times. This can cause players to move to the first player’s side if they stray too far, so co-op can feel like a leader-follow game at times.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, published by Nintendo (2023)
If you’re familiar with the series, you’ll know that Kirby games aren’t meant to be particularly difficult. The first few levels you visit are very easy to beat, and it’s only later in the game that they get tricky. Even then, you will surely get dozens of extra lives and you may never see a Game Over screen due to the game’s generosity in keeping you alive. Assurance, some levels require quick thinking, but all of them are accessible to even the youngest players, so much so, in fact, that Luxury has a “Magolor Helper” feature that constantly offers you recovery items and guides you through the pits. It’s great for young players new to the platform or useful if you’re playing with friends who may need some extra help.
Due to their accessible nature, the levels you encounter may seem too easy, but ultimately offer areas where they introduce new elements, such as navigating a dark maze with only a candle as a guide or avoiding being crushed by blocks falling on you from above. . These moments make the game interesting and evolving from the series’ more usual direct approach of running from point A to point B. Even kids need a bit of a challenge, so it’s great that these areas make things more varied and challenging.
luxury additions
Deluxe is the exact same game that came out on Wii, but it comes with new features and a new look. Aesthetically, the game looks neater and features a smoother cell shading design than its predecessor. Some textures have also received an update, and the game features more detail in its environments and character models. Even King Dedede and Meta Knight got facelifts.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, published by Nintendo (2023)
Instead of waiting for the spheres to unlock minigames, Luxury features a new area called Merry Magoland where you can play its 10 minigames right from the start. Games reward you with stamps that unlock salvage items and skins that your characters can use here or while playing the story. It doesn’t add anything to the experience, but it does entice you to keep playing. Other cool touches include various references to previous Kirby games, and you’ll see some familiar faces appear as you play.
Among these minigames you will also find Samurai Kirby 100, which is a daily online minigame that tests your speed against 99 other players. This is the only true “online” feature, as the other inclusion is a journal that updates you on the latest online trends and journals. You get rewards for playing minigames against the computer, but you’ll get the most out of Magoland if you have friends and want a minimalist Mario Party experience on the go.
Once you complete the story, you’ll also unlock a harder mode that starts with less health than normal. Considering Deluxe is a remastered version of a game that’s been out for years, it would have been better to be able to play this mode from the start to give players the option of a more difficult return to Dream Land. Additionally, you also unlock a boss run feature that allows you to fight all bosses in a row with limited health. It’ll keep you busy for a while, but it’s nothing particularly interesting.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, published by Nintendo (2023)
The real draw comes from the added Magolor Epilogue mode which lets you play as Magolor instead of Kirby. This mode can add around two extra hours to your seven-hour adventure and offers a unique RPG element the series has never seen before.. I won’t spoil too much what you’ll do in this mode, but it serves as a creative example of the new direction the series can take. You have to beat the story to unlock it, but it’s totally worth it.
final thoughts
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a throwback to the classic Kirby formula, but features a few creative updates to make it the definitive edition everyone should play. However, if you’ve already played the original, it might not be worth picking up this version given the small number of updates you get. Sure, they extend the life of the game, but their new features just offer a bit more substance.
However, if you are new to the game, Luxury is the version you want to play as it features dozens of levels, tons of collectibles, and multiplayer mini-games to keep you busy. It’s ideal for families given its accessibility and friendliness for new players, but it also offers some light challenges and colorful levels that older fans might appreciate. It may not be a groundbreaking experience, but Deluxe is proof that the Kirby series is still as charming as ever.