Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe will introduce a new copy ability for the pink marshmallow, Nintendo has revealed. That's fantastic news indeed for anyone who might have previously believed Kirby wouldn't copy enough of his enemies when Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe arrives later this year.
Kirby hasn't always had the ability to copy enemy abilities, which he accomplishes by inhaling and ingesting them, but the ability dates all the way back to Kirby's Adventure on the NES. Since then, Kirby games have often introduced new mechanics to separate one title from the next, with new moves typically available. As previously revealed, Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe will feature a new mecha copy ability, proof that even remakes and ports within the series have room for more of the copying that has so long defined the overall series.
Nintendo has now announced that Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe will also feature a second new copy ability: sand. The ability allows Kirby to assume a variety of useful shapes that should make it easier to go toe to toe with some of the game's toughest adversaries. Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii already featured numerous abilities ranging from Leaf to Tornado to Ultra Sword. Counting the previously announced new mecha ability and now the sand ability, that total climbs past 30. That's another strong showing for a franchise that already boasts one of the best platformers for Nintendo Switch.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land broke the franchise sales record, selling 5.27 million copies worldwide by November. Kirby has never had quite the sales success enjoyed by Mario and Link, but the games continue to perform well thanks to their cheerful aesthetic and the way the encourage experimentation. It seems unlikely Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe will match that level of success, especially since it is a remake, but the Switch has a healthy audience that means more gamers might be ready for further adventures with Kirby.
For parents who seek something they can enjoy with their kids, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is one of the best Nintendo Switch games for kids and parents to play together. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, based on a four-player game for Wii, could hit that same mark. The addition of new copy abilities should also keep the experience fresh, even for those who may have played the game on Wii when it released in 2011. With so much Kirby goodness recently released and on the way, it has perhaps never been a better time to be a fan of the series.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe launches February 24 for the Nintendo Switch.