Kirbyfans are currently looking ahead toKirby and the Forgotten Land, the pink puffball’s first true 3D platformer releasing for Switch on March 25. The February 2022 Nintendo Direct revealedForgotten Landis going a step further by adding even new bizarre mechanics likeMouthful Mode, which lets Kirby transform into objectswith different purposes than his usual copy abilities. However, it’s likely Nintendo and HAL Laboratory will have even more surprises in store after that release.
This year is the 30th anniversary of theKirbyfranchise, and Nintendo’s 2021 financial report highlighted “a variety of projects” in development to celebrate. Kirby has produced no shortage of spin-offs that could fit the bill, and in 2012 fans receivedKirby’s Dream Collectionon Wii to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary. A new collection could focus on Kirby’s more popular spin-offs given mainline titles are being released through the Nintendo Switch Online service, and a duology tailor-made for Switch releases areKirby: Canvas CurseandKirby and the Rainbow Curse.
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Kirby: Canvas Curse - A DS Showcase
A lot ofKirbyspin-offs since the Nintendo 3DS era have been expansions ofsub-games present in mainline Kirby titles. For example,Kirby Fighters DeluxeandKirby’s Blowout Blastare more involved takes on side modes fromTriple DeluxeandPlanet Robobot, respectively. Many of the spin-off titles before that were more unique, from early entries likeKirby’s Pinball Landand the golf-likeKirby’s Dream Courseto the GameCube racing gameKirby Air Ride.
Kirby: Canvas Cursereleased for Japanese audiences in early 2005, about four months after the official launch of itsrelease platform; the Nintendo DS. Many in America will likely remember its TV advertising campaign in which mascots for Kirby and a giant finger designed by KCL Productions wander the world together, and this stems fromCanvas Cursebeing a showcase for the handheld’s features.
Even thoughCanvas Curseis like a tech demo with entirely stylus-based platforming and touch controls, the game also stands out for its thematic style replicating various modern art movements in reference to its central antagonist: the paint witch Drawcia. While not arecurring antagonist like King Dedede, Drawcia would be referenced in various games to follow, includingKirby: Triple DeluxeandTeam Kirby Clash Deluxe.
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Kirby’s Strange 10-Year Revival With Rainbow Curse
LikeKirby’s Dream CourseandAir Ridebefore it,Canvas Cursewas a spin-off idea that seemed to disappear, replaced by other DS touchscreen fare likeKirby Mass Attackin 2011. ThenKirby and the Rainbow Cursereleased in 2015, foregoing its predecessor’s art style in favor of claymation. This reflects its villain Claycia, a clear riff on Drawcia who winds up fitting theKirby villain stapleof being possessed by an evil entity.
Despite the visual shift, the premise behindRainbow Curse’s gameplay was similar toCanvas Cursein that Kirby becomes a ball which players guide using hand-drawn tracks. In this case the drawing was done on the Wii U Gamepad, which is perhaps the unfortunate fallout forRainbow Curse. Despite bringing back an interesting spin-off concept fromKirby’s past, the game released fairly late into the lifespan of the underwhelming Nintendo console and was likely overlooked as a result.
This is why a 30th anniversary collection paying tribute to theKirbysubfranchise with multiple entries would make sense. BothCanvas CurseandRainbow Curseprimarily took place on one screen, so any other visuals inherent to the top DS screen or the TV display could be transitioned into pause menus. The Switch also has touchscreen accessibility that goes unutilized in a majority of its biggest games, with just a few exceptions likeSuper Mario Maker 2. AKirby"Curse" collection would not only be a fun way to celebrate this anniversary, it could offer another unique take on the character beyondForgotten Landthat’s perfect for tie-in accessory sales.
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