TheKirbyseries has always trended on the easy side. It’s made to appeal to a more casual audience than even Nintendo’s most popular franchises and makes for easy games to sit down and unwind with.Kirbyis designed to encourage this, with a cute aesthetic and chipper music always accompanying the action. Even Kirby himself is built with an easygoing tone in mind, being able to fly over just about any threat andshift between many powerful Copy Abilities.
However, much like many Nintendo games, challenges are present in the endgame for players that want them. Some ofKirby’s hard modes over the years have been particularly vicious, and later iterations even included extra lore for hardcore fans to find. WhileKirby and the Forgotten Landwill offer players a harder mode from the start, there may be something even more extreme waiting beyond the credits. Players won’t need to wait the whole game to get their hands on harder content, however, asKirby and the Forgotten Land’s Colosseum will allow them to access an iconic endgame mode far earlier than normal.
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The Arena Continues to be a Kirby Staple
In addition to extra modes, collectibles, and other playable characters, theKirbyseries often employs some sort of boss rush mode. This trend started inKirby’s Adventure, the secondKirbygame, and has continued throughout the series. The name this mode has gone by has been everything from V.S. Boss! to Boss Butch, but it is always roughly the same format. Some versions include extra aesthetic changes or screens to give more flavor, andKirby 64’s take restricted the use of Copy Abilities.
However, when modernKirbyfans think of boss rushes, they tend to think of The Arena. This is about the same as the usual boss rush mode, but with several improvements. Starting inKirby Super Star, and picking up again inSuper Star Ultra, The Arena lets players choose a Copy Ability before facing down a gauntlet of bosses. Between matches, players are taken to a rest area similar to the one found inSuper Smash Bros.’ All-Star Mode. Healing items are present there, as well as the occasional random two Copy Abilities. This mode has had some variations like Helper to Hero and The True Arena, but it maintains this distinct setup. The Ultimate Choice varies things up by introducing several difficulty modes, but it is fundamentally another form of The Arena.
How The Arena Can Integrate Into Kirby and the Forgotten Land
A return to The Arena has already been announced forKirby and the Forgotten Land, and this time it will be a true part of the game’s world. Throughout the levels, Kirby will be rescuing captured Waddle Dees from imprisonment. Safe Waddle Dees willbuild up Waddle Dee Town, a hub area that offers everything from upgrades to mini-games. At the back of the town and likely with a somewhat high Dee requirement is the Colosseum. The Colosseum will serve The Arena’s usual purpose, but it’s also offering functions never before seen inKirby.
Unlike most menu-initiated boss rushes, the Colosseum is a part of the world. That means that while major bosses will still see Kirby teleporting to their old arenas, mini-bosses and other special fights will involve him fighting inside the structure. Andif Meta Knight’s presence is any indication, it does appear that bosses outside the main story will show up to challenge Kirby. The Colosseum having the potential to be built before the credits roll means players won’t get a complete boss rush right away, but that might not matter.
Completing side objectives could unlock cameo fights along with mini-games and more functions in Waddle Dee Town. If that’s the case, then the final version of the Colosseum may be a veteranKirbyfan’s dream.Kirby and the Forgotten Landhas the chance to take The Arena to the next level, and diligent players may not need to wait for the ending to experience it.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landwill release on March 25 for Nintendo Switch.
