Out of nowhere, Kirby Fighters 2 appeared on the Nintendo Switch’s eShop, without a real announcement, it’s hard to build up the hype for the title; so we decided it was time to check it out. It’s up for sale at a rather low price but that doesn’t mean you won’t have any fun with it. Time to jump in!
Kirby’s Smash Bros.
The moment you start playing Kirby Fighters 2, you’ll notice the resemblance with the Super Smash Bros. and that’s no surprise if you know HAL Laboratory developed this title. It’s pretty clear they got access to the Smash Bros. engine in order to make this cute little fighter. Just like in Smash, you battle on small arenas, all taking inspiration from the vast Kirby franchise, but there are some crucial differences. Instead of kicking the enemy out of the frame, you’ll need to deplete their health to secure the crown. On top of that comes the biggest difference of Kirby being the main fighter in this one. With some crazy new abilities and some well-known side characters, this game is all about Kirby and its friends. With a roster of 22 fighters in total, there’s a fighter for everyone here. And although it sounds rather impressive, most of those fighters are different forms of Kirby, each with a different ability. Unlike you would suspect, those abilities really change the way you fight with your favorite pink blob and there’s a lot to discover in the game.
Fight for victory
Although you might think a Kirby transformation doesn’t really alter the style of fighting, it certainly makes a huge difference. Some abilities will enable you to attack without ever getting too close to your enemies, while others will force you to fight as close as possible. My personal favorites range from the classic Sword Kirby to the new Wrestler Kirby, and even the Jo-Jo Kirby had some abilities I certainly was fond of. I like the way the pink blob changes his fighting style with each ability and offers something new to the table each and every time. The wrestler outfit offers some of the more action-packed up-close battles and this offered a welcomed change to the way Kirby usually fights. And that’s where this little game is all about, it’s all about fighting, even the Story Mode is just a classic fighting mode in disguise.
In Story Mode, you’ll fight your way to the top of a tower where you’ll have to face your iconic enemies, but be aware, the road to the top is filled with challenges. In this mode, you’ll attack and defeat wave after wave of enemies, always unlocking new special abilities or buffs along the way. It’s important to note that your health doesn’t get filled completely after each battle so you’ll have to come up with the right strategy if you ever want to reach the top. In order to help you out, the game throws you some helpful extras during your quest for victory. It’s a fun mode for sure and it even gets better when you invite a friend over to play the story in co-op. If you play on your own, the computer does a more than decent job in controlling your partner but nothing compares to real couch co-op of course.
A lot of fun
Besides the story mode, there’s a lot of fun to be found in this little game, most of the other modes consist out of reworked classic fighting modes that are best enjoyed with friends. As said in the beginning, the game resembles Super Smash Bros. a lot and the same goes for the amount of fun. You’ll be fighting with different Kirby characters on recognizable and originally created stages. Everything about the title just screams fun and fan service. The stages all take inspiration from the long-lasting Kirby franchise and it’s fun to see how much freedom and creativity the team took to give them all a different layout and style. It really takes all the things that make Smash so successful and use it with a Kirby skin. The only real downside I have is the lack of other modes, it’s a fighter pur sang and besides that, there isn’t really something worth doing. It’s one of those games that are most enjoyed in short sessions with friends but it won’t become your newest addiction, for that, it simply lacks the content. Of course, for its selling price, it’s more than fair and it truly offers more than enough fun for its money.
Conclusion:
Kirby Fighters 2 is a fun fighting game in the Kirby franchise and offers a lot of fun for its smaller price. It’s not the biggest game out there and it’s best enjoyed during short sessions but if you’re able to invite over some friends, you’re certainly in for some fun!
