The Switch has turned out to be a great console for fans ofKirby.First fans gotKirby Star Alliesearly on in the console’s life, and then in 2022, the acclaimedKirby and the Forgotten Landmade its debut, taking Kirby on a 3D adventure that fans had only dreamed of before now. What’s more, the Switch is a great console for retroKirbyfun, since Nintendo Switch Online offers fans a variety of NES and SNESKirbygames.Kirbyfans' luck hasn’t run out yet either. Anyone looking for another game to play afterKirby and the Forgotten Landcan set their sights onKirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Nintendo and HAL Laboratory took their time announcing content forKirby’s 25th anniversary, but now one clear piece of content has emerged.Kirby 64: The Crystal Shardsis joining NSO, giving Switch owners an opportunity to revisit this innovativeKirbytitle. Not only isKirby 64worth bringing back during the anniversary as a memorable title, but its similarities toKirby and the Forgotten Landmake it worth playing on the Switch, especially forKirby and the Forgotten Landfans who haven’t had the chance to play the leading N64Kirbytitle before.
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Kirby 64’s Innovations Compared to Forgotten Land
Kirbygames always try out new Copy Abilities, but not all of them try to rethink how Copy Abilities function. BothKirby 64andKirby and the Forgotten Landdo, however.Forgotten Landfamously features Copy Ability upgradesthat adjust each of Kirby’s powers and make him stronger in creative ways.Kirby 64, meanwhile, allowed players to meld Copy Abilities into Power Combos, which took advantage of both Copy Abilities to give Kirby a unique new ability. Power Combos may not have become aKirbymainstay, butKirby 64’s extreme Copy Ability experimentation may have set the stage forForgotten Land’s bold ideas.
Both of these games also have tried new things withKirbygraphics and platforming design.Kirby 64introduced 3D graphics to the franchise; everyKirbygame since then owes its appearance toThe Crystal Shards.Similarly,Kirby and the Forgotten Landis a 3D platformer, and although HAL Laboratory saysKirbymay not be 3D forever, it’s an excellent proof of concept for further 3DKirbygames.Kirby 64may still be a 2D platformer, unlikeForgotten Land,but fans may still find it interesting to compare the two games' approach to dimensions, such as howKirby 64’s Whispy Woods fight simulates 3D movement, as opposed to the truly 3D Tropic Woods fight.
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Shared Themes Across Kirby Games
Aside from mechanical concepts, there are story themes thatKirby 64andForgotten Landhave in common. For one thing, both games focus on adventures outside of Planet Popstar:Kirby 64takes players to several planets after leaving Planet Popstar, whileForgotten Landfocuses on the titular planet that Kirby and friends are teleported to. For another, both games include a cute companion character who needs Kirby’s help to collect something important.Kirby 64’s Ribbon needs to collect dozens of crystal shards to defeat Dark Matter, whereas Elfilin wants to findWaddle Dees who were kidnappedby the Beast Pack.
Between similar mechanical features and shared plot elements,Kirby 64seems like the perfect game to play after beatingKirby and the Forgotten Land.The N64 game certainly does a lot of things differently, but it’s clearly a close ancestor toForgotten Land.Even if Nintendo and HAL Laboratory don’t release any more games during theKirbyanniversary celebration, these two games make a strong pairing due to their shared ability to show how the franchise has grown.Kirby 64is hardly a surprising addition tothe Nintendo Switch Online N64 library, but it still has a lot of value.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landis available now for Nintendo Switch.
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