Kirby going open world so soon after Forgotten Land feels so unexpected, yet makes so much sense. Considering experimental 3D Kirby gameplay (under Kumazaki’s leadership) started with Blowout Blast, Battle Royale and Star Allies’ final boss, before being perfected via a linear 3D platformer with Forgotten Land, it makes sense that releasing another linear 3D platformer would feel slightly iterative at best and derivative at worst.

Also, I can’t believe they brought back the Super Abilities from Return to Dreamland! Here’s hoping they feel less situational like in Return and Hypernova in Triple Deluxe, and more iterative like the Robobot Armor.

Considering the leitmotifs of the Super Ability theme from Return to Dreamland, and the fact the windmill from Cookie Country features prominently, I’m fully expecting this to expand upon Another Dimension from Return, Star Allies, and Magalor Epilogue.

That new character was captured in a bag similar to the Animal Friends in Dreamland 2, so here’s hoping they appear alongside some Dark Matter bosses!