Kirby is one of the most instantly recognizable mascots in video games for many reasons. There is his unique form, his childlike innocence, and there is also his bottomless appetite. It felt inevitable that Nintendo would return to Kirby’s insatiable appetite for a video game premise and what the publisher came up with was Kirby’s Dream Buffet. It’s a fun multiplayer party game, but it doesn’t last long.
Bottomless fillings
Kirby’s Dream Buffet is the pink puffball foray into a Fall Guys-style battle royale and it’s something that combines a handful of ideas. Four players enter Grand Prix mode and go through different stages. The two main ones involve a simple race to the finish, where each Kirby has to eat as many strawberries as possible. What’s interesting is that while the winner is ultimately determined by the number of strawberries consumed, eating a lot also affects a Kirby’s weight and their overall speed. Larger Kirbys can roll faster, but lose their ability to hover and save themselves from steep falls. That evens the playing field a bit, giving players who have fallen behind more of a chance to catch up over the course of each Grand Prix.
Another thing that gives players a chance to catch up is a multitude of Kirby copy skills. Handy powerups like Tornado and Stone can be used in each mode, allowing racers to trip everyone in the lead. Copy skills also fit into other components of the Grand Prix, including random mini-games that feel like they’ve been pulled from the Mario Party stack. In addition to the main objective, these mini-games will focus on strawberry consumption. However, it’s the final stage of any Grand Prix that I’ve found can change opinions about the entire game.
The final stage is a Smash Bros.-esque Battle Royale, free for everyone, where it’s every Kirby for himself. Over my time with the game, I’ve seen Kirbys lose massive leads because they couldn’t understand the combat mechanics. While it’s possible to perform the same strategy as eating the falling fruits that fill the arena, it takes one player quite adept at combat to make a Mario Party-esque comeback and make the previous stages nearly unreadable to make. Veteran players will probably understand the concept, but the casual crowd I played with quickly became annoyed by that final stage.
buffet line
Those not sold on Kirby’s Dream Buffet’s Grand Prix as a whole can play the individual components with four players. However, the game’s charm starts to wear off after a few days, which is a shame as this game has a Kirby shell of unlockable items. Unlockables include various Kirby colors, cosmetic items, decorative items for the interactive main menu, music tracks and much more. However, there are a whopping 135 Gourmet Ranks and it’s hard to imagine anyone sitting at this dining table long enough to reach that point.
While the game’s appeal feels limited, it doesn’t feel like any of the other watered-down Kirby experiences I’ve seen on Switch like Kirby Fighters 2 or Super Kirby Clash. This feels much more like something friends or a couple can do on a Saturday night, crack open some ice cold drinks and have fun playing. If nothing else, the online component is solid and I’ve had fun competing against virtual opponents, although it should be noted that this is also the only way to experience the game with four people. Local play is limited to two players unless a second Switch (with its own copy of the game) is available, which is a shame.
diet guys
Kirby’s Dream Buffet is often compared to games like Fall Guys and it’s easy to see why, as it’s all about racing cute mascots through a sugary landscape in the name of healthy competition. It ultimately feels like a narrower take on that idea, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. I’ve had a lot of fun with it for a while and it’s something I can see myself going back to in the future. I just don’t expect to become addicted to it in the same way a strawberry shortcake or a chocolate donut would.
It’s not the best Kirby game out there, but it’s definitely better than I expected. It doesn’t have the same staying power as a game like Mario Party or WarioWare, but if nothing else, it’s a tasty appetizer.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch digital code provided by the publisher. Kirby’s Dream Buffet is now available on Nintendo Switch for $14.99 USD. The game is rated E.
0 Comments