Review: Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

Kirby is back! The wonderful Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a highlight for the Nintendo Switch when it debuted in 2022. Adding new content and features to this lovely platformer is a great way to breathe new life into it, even if it means only Switch 2 players can experience the extras on offer.

I’m not going to delve too deeply into the Forgotten Land portion of the DLC. We covered this in our original Kirby and the Forgotten Land review at the time. Needless to say, it’s an absolutely terrific 3D platformer, brimming with cuteness and collectibles. It serves as Kirby’s first proper 3D outing, and it made for a fantastic debut for the Pink Puff. If you haven’t tried it, do yourself a favor and download the demo at the very least. 

If you have tried it, you likely already know how great the game is. So, this begs the question, is the Star-Crossed World DLC worth your time? Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes, with a gushing explanation. Let’s get to it!

Kirby has a long and varied history, with his first outing way back in 1992 for the humble Game Boy. He’s come a long way since then, sporting well over thirty titles in the series, including spin-offs. As one of the most popular Nintendo characters, particularly in Nintendo’s homeland of Japan, it was only a matter of time before we saw Kirby’s foray into the 3D realm. It’s not clear why Mario and Zelda made this leap much sooner, but here we are. 

The Star-Crossed World portion of the game begins as soon as you’ve completed the first section of Forgotten Land proper. A cutscene introduces us to a strange object as it descends from the skies, crash-landing in the ocean not far from where Kirby and his crew are hanging out. A volcano sprouts from this location, springing strange blue crystals into the air and altering the world around you. 

What this mysterious arrival means from a practical sense is revamped levels to play. While the Star-Crossed World DLC doesn’t provide new levels per se, it adds content to existing ones. To be clear, there are now two choices when you hover over certain levels: original or crystallized versions. I say “certain” because not every level is revamped this way. There are 12 remixes among the existing 40 levels, giving you an idea of the amount of new content.

I know what you’re thinking; no new levels? But hear me out. Firstly, if you haven’t played Forgotten Land since 2022, these will seem like new levels to you. Secondly, coming from a player who missed the game the first time around, I played the original levels and then almost immediately played the remixed versions. And they still felt new. In other words, they’re different enough to make this a worthwhile experience. They have a unique name compared with the original version, making them stand out as new experiences.

Not only are the levels remixed, but the Star-Crossed World DLC also comes with new Mouthful Mode abilities. If you’ve played the original, you’ll know this Kirby outing features traditional Copy Abilities along with a new Mouthful Mode mechanic. Kirby wouldn’t be Kirby without his special moves, and the Mouthful Mode introduces some terrific new ways to transform using large objects. From cars to cones, Kirby can swallow huge items like the stretchy marshmallow-like character he is, bending to their shape. Driving around as a Kirby-covered car in the intro is something truly wonderful to experience.

In Star-Crossed World, three new Mouthful Modes are available: Spring Mouth, Gear Mouth, and Sign Mouth. Spring Mouth lets Kirby bounce high and smash the ground. Gear Mouth grants Kirby the ability to scale walls and roll vertically. And Sign Mouth lets Kirby slide and spin down slopes to launch himself. These three add to the existing 14 in the Forgotten Land.

Visually, Kirby’s latest adventure looks lovelier than ever. This is a Switch 2 outing after all. While cartoony characters and colorful backdrops might not seem like the most obvious use case for the Switch 2’s capabilities, this game looks absolutely stunning. The glistening water, the detailed characters; and the improved framerate all combine into something pretty spectacular. Kirby has never looked better.

The in-game music is also a delight. The original outing features a terrific soundtrack full of bouncy pop-based tunes (you can check some of them out on the Nintendo Music app if you’re interested). Star-Crossed World adds remixes and new tracks, providing more wonderful synth-based melodies to become your next earworm. The energetic soundtrack suits the colorful tone of the entire game, providing another level on which you can experience Kirby’s unbridled enthusiasm. It’s catchy, to say the least.

Overall, Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World breathes new life into this fantastic platformer. If you enjoyed the original outing, do yourself a favor and check out the DLC. If you missed it the first time around, then you’re in for a real treat, with a massive game ripe for exploring. The lovely visuals, catchy tunes, and solid level design will keep you entertained throughout the journey.