Nintendo announced a new Kirby game for Nintendo Switch during its Nintendo Direct today, called Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The game looks to place Kirby in a full-blown 3D platforming environment, a rarity for the little pink ball. You can check out the new trailer for it above.
The setting for the game looks to be one of the more interesting aspects of the title. Not only does it appear that the structures of the level embrace a fully realized 3D, rather than just a side-scrolling game with 3D graphics as in past installments, it seems to take place in a post-apocalyptic earth. Or at least an earth that is no longer occupied by humans.
“In this new unforgettable 3D platforming adventure, Kirby explores a mysterious world full of abandoned structures from a past civilization. What surprises await the pink puffball?” writes Nintendo of America via Twitter.
If you’ve ever wondered why Kirby seems to have an unfair advantage by being able to float above all the action in a round of Super Smash Bros., it’s probably because both games have the same creator, Masahiro Sakurai. In fact, the first Kirby game, Kirby’s Dream Land for the original Gameboy, was created initially to be a lower-entry platformer for less skilled players, enabling them to float above enemies to pass each level. The game was a hit and proved to be charming and inventive enough to attract even the more seasoned players.
It seems to be an exciting new direction for the franchise and a starker, more ominous setting than the usual Dream Land locale.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land should be coming to Nintendo Switch in Spring 2022.