Kirby and the Forgotten Land may differ from traditional Kirby games in a lot of ways, but it also preserves quite a few important Kirby traditions. Mouthful Mode belongs to a long franchise history of gimmicks and special mechanics that are exclusive to a specific Kirby game, and its use of King Dedede as a false antagonist is highly familiar to fans of the franchise too. Kirby and the Forgotten Land also introduces a new friend for Kirby, like many of the games do. At the start of the game, players meet Elfilin, a cute and friendly creature resembling a chinchilla who helps Kirby find the kidnapped Waddle Dees.
As Kirby and the Forgotten Land's plot unfolds, players learn that there's much more to Elfilin than meets the eye, and he ends up having an important role in resolving the story. By the end of the game, though, he's on good terms with Kirby, in spite of fears that Elfilin would betray Kirby by the game's end. That positive relationship opens the door for more Elfilin appearances. His friendship deserves to be cherished, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land bestows Elfilin with a unique power that could spice up future games. Spoilers for Kirby and the Forgotten Land ahead!
Why Elfilin Would Be a Good Companion
Kirby and the Forgotten Land players eventually learn that Elfilin is one half of an alien being called Fecto Elfilis who tried to invade the Forgotten Land long ago using portal-creating powers. At the end of the game, Elfilin finally makes use of the same powers to close a massive portal to Planet Popstar created by Fecto Elfilis, and shortly afterwards, he opens a new portal to reunite with Kirby. Elfilin's ability to open portals across the universe seems like a great jumping-off point for a Kirby and the Forgotten Land sequel or some other future Kirby game. Rather than exploring one world, players might find themselves teleporting across various intergalactic systems with Elfilin's help, imitating the journey of Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Elfilin's journey throughout Forgotten Land also makes him a unique character worth preserving. Fans expected Elfilin to be a secret traitor like Marx or Magolor, but while he did turn out to be affiliated with Fecto Elfilis, he wasn't willingly part of the villain's plans. By the time players complete Forgotten Land's post-game, Elfilin manages to absorb the last of Fecto Elfilis' life force, making him a positive vessel for the former villain. Elfilin's complicated relationship with a former Kirby enemy and his unwavering dedication to helping Kirby make him a compelling character with plenty of narrative potential in a future game. Perhaps Kirby could help Elfilin revisit the place he came from someday.
What's Next for Kirby and Elfilin?
Whether Elfilin has any hope of returning remains to be seen. In a recent interview, HAL Laboratory stated that the Kirby timeline isn't very concrete, meaning it's unclear when Kirby and Elfilin have actually met in the grand scheme of the Kirby franchise. That means the next game has about even odds of happening well before Kirby and the Forgotten Land or well afterwards. It's unclear if Elfilin will be able to appear in the next Kirby game, and fans may not know his fate for a long time, considering how new Forgotten Land still is.
Hope remains that Elfilin will become a bigger part of the franchise, though. Games like Kirby Star Allies have found ways to give past friends and enemies new appearances, so maybe the same will happen for Elflin. While it would make sense if Elflin wanted to stay in the Forgotten Land to protect his newfound friends, it would also stand to reason if he decided to travel with Kirby for a while. Regardless of the form of his next adventure, his unique powers and mysterious backstory give him more than enough reason to return someday.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is available now on Nintendo Switch.