Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Star-Crossed World Delivers Stunning Upgrades and New Content

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World elevates HAL Laboratory’s beloved 3D platformer to new heights, introducing a wave of fresh content and visual upgrades exclusively for Nintendo’s highly anticipated hybrid console successor.

Building on the original release—already praised for its innovative level design and family-friendly gameplay—this edition is a vital update for both newcomers and long-time Kirby enthusiasts. In this expanded adventure, Kirby and his companion Elfilin kick off their new journey as a massive, heart-shaped meteor crashes onto the planet.

The impact scatters mysterious crystal shards and unveils a volcanic island, setting the stage for a dazzling cosmic threat.

Players soon encounter Astronomer Waddle Dee—a uniquely outfitted new character—who has long studied the secrets of the universe.

Expressing concern, the Astronomer warns that the fallen meteor could be the legendary Star of Darkness, an artifact said to bring a world-ending calamity if not contained. To avert this threat, Kirby and his ally must reunite the scattered Starries to rebuild the Sealing Crystal and prevent the Star of Darkness from awakening.

The storyline, while accessible, is seamlessly integrated with the new features introduced in this edition, providing both continuity and innovation in gameplay. HAL Laboratory, renowned for its imaginative use of Nintendo hardware, chose to enhance rather than overhaul the core game.

Instead of a full remix in the style of expansion packs like New Super Luigi U, Star-Crossed World adds twelve "Starry Levels" and an intense final boss, providing meaningful but focused downloadable content.

Importantly, these stages are woven directly into the main progression—appearing on the world map at fresh meteor sites—making exploration fluid and natural for players revisiting the adventure or embarking on it for the first time. Each region now boasts two Starry Stages, each hiding ten Starries that must be rescued.

Clues are distributed through stage missions, reminiscent of the collectible-driven challenges involving Waddle Dees from the first release.

The Starry Stages themselves remix existing locations, now transformed through whimsical environmental changes caused by blooming Starryflowers—sometimes creating crystalline walkways, or even parting and crystallizing the sea, all showcasing the upgraded graphics whether in handheld or docked mode. To streamline navigation, HAL Laboratory introduces Star Guide Waddle Dee in Waddle Dee Town.

This helpful character can instantly transport Kirby to the next uncompleted Starry Stage—a simple but much-appreciated addition for players. The action intensifies, as the mysterious crystal's power augments the Beast Pack with new abilities and a broader move set.

Challenging new enemies debut, including the formidable Galactal, heightening the difficulty without overwhelming the player.

Star-Crossed World debuts three inventive new Mouthful Mode transformations: Spring-Mouth Kirby for high jumps, Gear-Mouth Kirby for wall climbing, and Sign-Mouth Kirby for sliding and spinning attacks.

These abilities inject fresh strategy and humor into the already dynamic platforming. Collectible fans will find even more to do, with 85 additional figurines available from Astronomer Waddle Dee’s Gotcha Machine EX, and a new boss rush challenge in The Ultimate Cup Z EX mode.

This content rewards both completionists and those seeking new gameplay challenges. Perhaps most notably, Nintendo delivered on the promise of improved visuals, confirming that Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition now runs at a smooth 60 frames per second—double the original Switch release—displayed at 1080p in Handheld Mode and 1440p in TV Mode.

The enhanced frame rate makes the adventure feel more vibrant and responsive, though minor issues like object pop-in and environmental blur still appear, reminding us of the hardware's growing pains. In summary, Star-Crossed World is a robust update and an essential addition to Kirby’s platforming legacy, delivering new, meaningful content and technical fidelity well-suited to the Nintendo Switch 2.

For returning fans and first-timers alike, it’s a chance to experience one of HAL Laboratory’s finest adventures, dazzling at its best.

With this release, Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains a shining example of Nintendo’s commitment to reimagining classics for the modern era.

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