Kirby Air Riders: A New Racing Adventure on Nintendo Switch 2
More than two decades after the original Kirby Air Ride made its debut on the GameCube, Kirby Air Riders is set to grace the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 20. This significant announcement was made by Director Masahiro Sakurai during the Nintendo Direct on August 19, accompanied by an in - depth preview of the upcoming racing game. Sakurai remarked, "It basically is like Mario Kart."
The Return of a Fan - Favorite Director
The sequel holds the distinction of being the first Kirby title helmed by the much - adored Sakurai since the original. During the Nintendo Direct, Sakurai humorously lamented, "Oh dear, why is making a game so hard?"
Expanding on the Original
Kirby Air Riders builds upon the 2003 original with an array of enhancements. It introduces more characters, modes, and novel controls. Beyond the single - button boost of the original, Sakurai noted, "This time we’ve added a second button. Unfortunately." While the original game offered various Kirby variants, Air Riders welcomes new additions such as Chef Kawasaki, Knuckle Joe, and lesser - known characters like Starman. All these characters can utilize copy abilities similar to Kirby. Each character also possesses a special move, which can be used to increase speed, attack rival racers, or activate unique abilities, such as transforming into a giant snowball. The game supports up to eight local human players or 16 online.
Hands - on Experience: A Different Racing Vibe
Following the game's announcement, WIRED had the opportunity to test a demo in New York. Despite Sakurai's initial comparison to Mario Kart, Kirby Air Riders presents a distinct gameplay experience, more akin to a frenetic, hyper - energetic sibling. Unlike Mario Kart World, where developers aim for players to quickly understand the game mechanics, Air Riders demands more finesse to master its skills. Players do not need to manually accelerate; they move forward regardless, sometimes into enemies, walls, or other obstacles. To win a race, one must time boosts effectively, break through enemies to obtain power - ups, and master track drifting.
Game Modes: Beyond Traditional Racing
City Trial Mode
In addition to traditional races, Air Riders features the City Trial mode. Here, players must rapidly upgrade their rides by gathering power - ups, stealing new machines, and attacking opponents. Random field events offer opportunities to participate in short races and battles. Players have only five minutes to upgrade their machines as much as possible before entering the Stadiums, the venue for main competitions.
Stadium Competitions
During WIRED's demo, the City Trial and its Stadiums were the focal points. The five - minute window to upgrade your machine, whether by collecting power - ups to enhance flight, speed, and durability or by switching to a new vehicle, passes in a flash. The entire experience is fast - paced and dynamic, with items strewn across the map for players to grab before their competitors, and vehicles scattered throughout. Even if you find a preferred vehicle, another player can steal it by crashing into you. Sufficient damage to your machine will force you to acquire a new one.
Diverse Stadium Games
Stadiums host four different games for players to vote on, each tailored to different machine types. A battle - focused match renders a lightweight, high - flying machine as ineffective as wet paper. Over - investing in a tank - like machine for a competition to fly the farthest is as futile as attempting flight with a rock. Other games, such as an eating competition where players strive to collect as much food as possible, seem more accessible to all.
Development Teams and the Game's Identity
Developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora LTD, the teams behind Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, instead of the long - time Kirby developer HAL Laboratory, the Kirby Air Riders demo leans less towards a traditional racing game and more towards a competition of power - building and out - maneuvering opponents.
Sakurai's Multifaceted Journey
Sakurai, the creator of both Kirby and the Super Smash Bros. series, has been involved in several projects in recent years. After concluding work on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, he ventured into the world of YouTube. Over two years, he published over 250 videos on his channel, "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games," focusing on game development. In the finale episode, he revealed that he had been working on a new game, which was later confirmed to be Kirby Air Riders.
Place in the Switch 2 Lineup
Kirby Air Riders joins a relatively sparse first - party launch lineup for the Switch 2. It is the second major racing game for the console this year, following Mario Kart World. Sakurai acknowledged the similarity between the two games when asked to work on Air Riders but emphasized that "the appeal of the game is not actually the races." Instead, Air Riders shines through its diverse modes that offer more than just a straightforward dash to the finish.
Future Announcements
Nintendo is anticipated to disclose more details, including the game's price, later this year. A hands - on demo will be available at PAX West in Seattle from August 29 - September 1.
