It’s time to fill your mouth with some sweet, sweet Kirbin'
Donkey Kong this, Mario Kart that.
This was the whole reason I got a Switch 2.
Ever since getting my grubby little mitts on KIRBY AND THE FORGOTTEN LAND + STAR CROSSED WORLD at the Nintendo Switch 2 Preview Experience, I have been sitting politely and waiting for this expansion on one of my favourite games ever, Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Star Crossed World brings dazzling graphic boosts, improved frame rates, and, obviously, a whole new story to munch away on.
A new asteroid has fallen, which may or may not be a sign of the oncoming end of days. As everyone knows, the only way to prevent the end times is to get a little pink thingy on the case. Playing as Kirby, your job is to get back out to the Forgotten Land and save some hidden Starries, get a taste of some fun new mouthful modes and fight well-known enemies with some sparkling new forms.
I am a notorious perfectionist when it comes to games. When first playing Forgotten Land, I would replay levels back to back in order to save all the Waddle Dees, and I can’t think of a level where, upon completion, I hadn’t at least unlocked all of the descriptors for the secret goals. With Star Crossed World, this wasn’t the case. I would go so far to say that this expansion genuinely goes up a step in difficulty. Part of the gameplay is altering the world using the crystal flowers, so it isn’t as easy to find secret passages as sometimes they just don’t exist to start with.
The boosted graphics complement the Switch 2’s HDR capabilities, making some vibrant and glimmering colours and smooth shapes which majorly match my sweet buddy Kirby and the magical world the puffball calls home. These graphic boosts don’t just apply to the new levels, either - Waddle Dee Town and all of the original levels also receive this upgrade, which I feel shines through best in the post-story Isolated Isles of Forgo Dreams levels. Honestly, the game was stunning already, I never expected it could get better…and then it did.
Star Crossed World adds two new levels per area of the existing map, all of which fall on existing levels, meaning you can relive your favourite memories and even see the environments from fun new perspectives. The same existing enemies from the base game return, with some crystallised accessories to match their new terrain - making me even less willing to fight my poor baby Awoofies, now that they have little crystal tiaras. Every single Awoofy is a precious sleepy sweetheart and I will consume anyone who suggests otherwise. Don’t try me.
Mid-bosses from Forgotten Land also return with some hard-hitting crystal forms, and a new boss with no health bar enters the ring, whose only sign of defeat is the cracks in his crystalline shell.
Star Crossed World has fulfilled all of my hopes and dreams, justified my bankruptcy at the hands of my Switch 2, watered my crops and fixed my depression. Every night I count crystalline Awoofies until I fall into a dreamy sleep of Kirby and Elfilin travelling the sparkling sky on their cosy star glider. Do not expect to hear from me for the near future - Kirby is calling me.
If you want to have a look at Fiona's original thoughts, make sure you have a look at original review.
A copy of KIRBY AND THE FORGOTTEN LAND + STAR CROSSED WORLD on Switch 2 was provided to SIFTER for the purpose of this review.
