Help Magolor return home in this cute side-scrolling platformer.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is now available on Nintendo Switch. We had the chance to check it out.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is an updated remake of the original Kirby’s Return to Dream Land video game that was released on the Wii in 2011.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a side-scrolling platformer that challenges players to help a friendly character named Magolor return home after their spaceship crashes on Planet PopStar, where Kirby and other characters from the Kirby franchise live.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe has two major gameplay modes: a Story Mode and a “Merry Magoland” mode. Both modes support single-player gameplay as well as multiplayer gameplay for up to four players in the same room.
The Story Mode features a series of levels that are split into themed worlds. Each level challenges players to help Kirby reach the end while avoiding obstacles and avoiding or defeating enemies. Levels also contain hidden areas to discover and collectibles to gather, and some levels feature “boss” enemies, which are more challenging to defeat.
Kirby has the ability to inhale enemies and use “Copy Abilities” inspired by those enemies. There are a wide variety of Copy Abilities to play around with, such as “Sword,” which allows Kirby to swing a sword at enemies, and “Fire,” which allows Kirby to shoot fire breath at enemies.
While we enjoyed using some Copy Abilities more than others, there’s such a wide variety of Copy Abilities available that each player should be able to find at least one that suits their play style and tastes. And while players may only be able to find a few different Copy Abilities in each level, they can switch to a different Copy Ability in between levels if they’d like to start a level with a specific one.
In addition to these main story levels, the game’s Story Mode also features a series of shorter challenge stages that will test players’ skills while using specific Copy Abilities.
Finally, once players complete the main Story Mode, they’ll unlock the new “Magolor Epilogue,” which will allow them to play as Magolor, rather than Kirby. In the Magolor Epilogue, Magolor has lost his abilities, and players will be able to reclaim and upgrade his abilities as they play.
The Merry Magoland mode, meanwhile, allows players to visit a colorful amusement park where they can play 10 different mini-games. These games focus on a variety of gameplay genres and objectives, and we were pleasantly surprised to find they’re just as fun to play as a single player (against computer-controlled opponents) as they are to play with another real person in the same room.
As players participate in these mini-games, they’ll earn character masks that Kirby can wear. They’ll also receive bonus items that they can use in the Story Mode to help them complete levels. For instance, the “Energy Drink” bonus item will refill some of Kirby’s health during a level in the Story Mode.
Lastly, players can complete 100 missions in the Merry Magoland mode by completing specific objectives in each mini-game. These missions may give players more incentive to keep playing in the Merry Magoland mode than they may have had without them being there.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is an adorable side-scrolling platformer, and we really enjoyed our time with it. While the Story Mode is fun on its own, we enjoyed the Merry Magoland mode even more. We especially appreciate the inclusion of missions in the Merry Magoland mode, as they give players more to do and are a fun test of the player’s skills.
That being said, we only tried the game’s modes with two players, rather than the maximum of four. Even with two players, playing through a story level felt a bit chaotic, and we imagine it would feel even more so if four players were on the screen at the same time. Whether or not this would be an enjoyable experience will be up to each player’s individual tastes.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe features some challenging gameplay throughout the game’s Story Mode. While players can use the bonus items they earn in Merry Magoland to help them complete levels, they can also turn on the game’s “Helper Magolor” setting for even more assistance. The “Helper Magolor” setting doubles Kirby’s health, saves players if they fall into a bottomless pit, and provides players with Copy Abilities during boss battles.
This Helper Magolor setting can be turned on and off in between levels, so players can turn it on when they need extra help (for instance, before a boss battle) and then turn it back off if they want to increase the game’s challenge level.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a fun side-scrolling platformer that offers some helpful features for younger or newer gamers while still retaining some challenging gameplay for those looking to test their skills. Plus, the Merry Magoland mode offers plenty of entertainment when players are looking to take a break from the game’s story.
We recommend picking this one up.
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Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is now available on Nintendo Switch for $59.99. Players can download a free demo for the game from the Nintendo eShop if they’d like to try the game before buying it. The demo supports up to four-player multiplayer gameplay for players in the same room.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is rated E10+ for Everyone 10+ by the ESRB.
SuperParent received a code for Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe for coverage purposes.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
