This is colossal knowledge for Kirby luminaries, and all the pink puffball aficionados have been ardently waiting for some type of development since the launch of the “Nintendo Switch2 Edition” of “Kirby and the Forgotten Land.” The official Nintendo of America Twitter handle simultaneously teased a new version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land while mentioning “Star-Crossed World.”
Now what really are we looking at here? The original tweet is pretty straightforward but heavy with implications. “Adventure is out there—are you ready? đŸ’« Blast off in #KirbyAndTheForgottenLand – #NintendoSwitch2 Edition + Star-Crossed World!” That is it. That is all there is to the tweet. But man, it says a lot without really saying much. This is probably one of the more explicit acknowledgments from Nintendo about the Switch successor, even if they’re using “Switch2” in a manner that just seems…uNofficial? But hey, it’s being said. So hence, it’s real.
Replying to the tweet will become an unfathomable mixed bag of hype, confusion, and altogether Nintendo mischief. We have people like @JacquesPaught planning his purchases: “Picking this up in two days once I get paid! Already gave my copy of the NS1 version to my younger cousin since I definitely want a physical copy of the NS2 version.” Serious commitment right there! Then, we get some from @The_Hypist, saying: “It’s a short campaign, but so much fun. Looking forward to the next 3D Kirby adventure!” Suggesting this might be more than a mere port.
But what is Star-Crossed World? Great question, and no one really has a clue. Is it DLC? A new mode for the game? Or maybe even a full expansion? The original Forgotten Land was a already a masterpiece mod-a proper flatland for Kirby for the first time-ever and nailed it. New content could be anything from new levels to a whole new story. Then DanielEvans0306 said, “My favorite part is The Ultimate Cup Z EX,” which sounds like some sort of challenge mode, so maybe Star-Crossed World entails a lot of that hardcore stuff.
Then, there was the usual Nintendo discourse scattered about in the replies. Then @KingWario started a rant about Nintendo’s business practices: “You have a reputation and a game to come back at and it simply takes the following.. (it’s not rocket science) – Lower your prices – Cut Game Key Cards – Quit bricking consoles.” Okay, that’s a different conversation in itself. And @VainTheWyvern asked the question everyone else had on their mind: “Is it free?” to which @i_am_the_fred spit out the harsh truth: “It’s Nintendo, dude. You’re not getting it for free.” So true.
The timing behind this announcement is interesting. With all the daily hype in the Switch 2 rumors, the Nintendo reveal somehow now feels like an indelible memory. Are they about to go full-fledged with a hardware announcement at any moment now? Could this be the game they are going to show running on it? @OyaPlayOfficial got it right, “Kirby’s back, bigger and bolder than ever.” If that is the case, then this remastered edition, and its destiny on Nintendo’s next-gen console, is in very good hands.
What is equally good is that the news now evokes different reactions from different parties. @CZunde posts a photo showing a probable full game save file captioned “We’re a little past ready.” On the other hand, @bardlebeelzebub says, “Still need to play this. I’m hooked on Bananza still. đŸ˜,” just…relatable. We all have that backlog of games we’re going to eventually get to.
The community was split on whether this is a trivial enhanced port or a bigger package. @n64josh says, “The upgrades on this game are gorgeous!” which implies they’ve seen more than just the first tweet. On the contrary, conversation surrounding game mechanics continues in the replies, and @SB_Game responds with tips: “Small tips to help, you can buy shield potion in the village to get 2 hp before entering and a shield potion as bonus. The best way to win is heavily relying on dodges.” Giving tips to gameplay rarely makes much sense unless the people are incredibly familiar with the basic mechanics.
What is amazing would be how much this little announcement overdrove a sprawling debate about Nintendo’s business model, about specific gameplay tactics, and about Kirby in general. @babyxweb3 took it down with “Kirby is the best,” and honestly? They’re right. The pink hero has been churning out good games since the beginning of time, and this new edition looks to be another success.
When will we get to hold it in our hands is definitely the measure here. Nothing was indicated about it in the very Nintendo-generic tweet. They love the slow build of hype. Still, with Switch 2 ceremonies being pushed lately to 2024, it wouldn’t be strange to take an educated guess that this Kirby edition would likely end up in at least the launch window. Launch title, perhaps? That would be nuts.
The very name Star-Crossed World is quite fascinating. Does it mean Kirby will have to handle some celestial subjects? Space adventures? That first one had the greatest Mouthful Mode transformations ever where Kirby would turn into a car or a vending machine. Maybe we’re getting some space-themed transforms in this new stuff. Rocketship Kirby? Satellite Kirby? The possibilities are endless.
At the backstage, this announcement reads as Nintendo testing the waters. They offered a little tease, without revealing anything utterly important. Very clever marketing: let people chatter, make a buzz over it, and then drop the big reveal on them. And judging by the engagement on this tweet, the people are really chattering.
One thing that is certain—transitioning Kirby into 3D was nicely done in Forgotten Land and if the Switch 2 edition can operate atop the foundation with genuinely new content, then we are looking at another classic in the making. Mixed with the brilliant charm of Kirby and enhanced hardware capacity could really be something completely new. Now we wait for further news. And then maybe start saving for Switch 2. The new content will surely be available on PlayStation and Xbox as well.
