Kirby and the Forgotten Landproved to be a huge success for HAL Laboratory, selling a lot of copies and showing the pink puffball’s copy abilities can translate well into a true 3D platformer. TheKirbyseries has long been known for its kid-friendly nature and interest in adapting to various genres, leading to a number ofspin-offs that rival Nintendo’sSuper Mariofranchise. A number of spin-off titles have come to Switch, andKirby’s Dream Buffetis the latest announcement.
Unlike a lot of spin-offs that are larger renditions of sub-games from mainline entries, such as prior Switch releasesKirby Fighters 2andSuper Kirby Clash,Kirby’s Dream Buffetis an original concept being compared toFall Guys. It features four-player matches in which various Kirby colors roll into balls and make their way through obstacle courses with the goal of eating the most food. In some ways the game appears to be pulling from HAL Laboratory golf gameKirby’s Dream Courseon NES, butDream Buffet’s reveal trailer also deepens the connection betweenKirbyandSuper Smash Bros.
RELATED:Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Successor Could Do More with Present Codes
How Kirby’s Dream Buffet Uses Master Hand
Kirby’s Dream Buffetlooks to be light on story, with its reveal trailershowing Kirby ready to enjoy a nice strawberry shortcake before getting shrunk to a miniscule size by some kind of magical, possibly cursed fork. Unlike the similar set-up toKirby: Squeak Squadin which the puffball’s adventure is kickstarted by a stolen cake, this becomes an opportunity for Kirby to eat even more by comparison.
When the racing gameplay begins, fans should immediately notice that Master and Crazy Hand are floating above the cake-based obstacle course to tell Kirbys and agroup of Waddle Deeswhen they can cross the starting line. The duo of floating gloves reappear at the end of a race to provide fanfare and clap for whichever Kirby wins by consuming the most food. Though many viewers will gravitate toward the mechanics on display, such as howDream Buffetinterprets the series' staple copy abilities, the Hands' presence speaks to a long-standing connection between franchises that could offer an insight into how this spin-off operates.
RELATED:Future Kirby Games Should Imitate Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Waddle Dee Town
Master and Crazy Hand Have History With Kirby
Master Hand first debuted inSuper Smash Bros.on N64, acting as the final boss in that game’s single-player “Classic” mode. However, the character is perhaps most notable for its appearance in the fighting game’s intro sequence, during which it gathers a collection of Nintendo toys and rearranges items on a desk to bring a child-like imagination to life. Master Hand counts down to begin aSmash Bros.match, and this animation is replicated forKirby’s Dream Buffet.
The gloved character became something of a mascot for theSuper Smash Bros.series, reappearing in every subsequent game - with Crazy Hand introduced inMeleeas a harder variant that uses more unpredictable moves. Their roles would expand over time, withSmash 4introducing Master Coreand a pair of game modes headed by Master and Crazy Hand, followed bySmash Ultimatemaking Master Hand playable in the World of Light story.
As theSmash Bros.franchise was created by HAL Laboratory, spearheaded byKirbycreator Masahiro Sakurai, there has always been some crossover. A lot of Master Hand’s attacks are similar to those of Wham Bam Rock fromKirby Super Star’s Great Cave Offensive, and both Hands would become bosses inCapcom subsidiary Flagship’sKirby and the Amazing Mirror. When Master Hand appears as a mid-boss inAmazing Mirror, Kirby can absorb him to gain his “Smash” ability that replicates moves from the fighting game.
This was Master and Crazy Hand’s most significant appearance in aKirbygame prior toDream Buffet, though they were also collectible stickers inKirby: Planet Robobot. While this new inclusion could just be fanservice that pays homage to HAL’s history, one could argue Kirby shrinking for a racing game with obstacle courses based on real-world objects is uncannily reminiscent of Master Hand buildingSmash Bros.stages. Whether this becomes an actual plot point in the spin-off remains to be seen, but regardless it shows that the Hand duo has a lot more potential now thatSmash Ultimateis finished with development.
Kirby’s Dream Buffetreleases for Nintendo Switch in summer 2022.
MORE:Why Nintendo Showing Off One Game At A Time May Be A Good Strategy
