Masahiro Sakurai is one of Japan’s most notable video game designers, and his creative vision has always been unique and different. In a world where AAA games launch unfinished, build hype for unnecessary sequels, and rely on day one patches, Kirby Air Riders might just be a breath of fresh air. Say what you will about Nintendo, but its games always have a certain level of polish.
Sakurai’s previous title was Super Smash Bros Ultimate for the Switch, and while consistent DLC makes sense for a fighting game, Kirby Air Riders won’t follow in its footsteps. In the hour-long Direct for the game, Sakurai said the following about expansions and DLCs for the new Kirby game
“Just so you know, we’re not planning any DLC. Everything is here. Also, I’m not planning on making this an ongoing series. I’ve thrown everything I have into this game from the start. So I hope you don’t miss this opportunity.”
The Hype Train Continues
There is definitely a lot of sudden hype around Kirby Air Riders. That’s mainly because, as we get closer to the full release, Sakurai and Nintendo keep on dropping more details. If you’re truly interested in buying the game, consider watching the hour-long Direct above, as it breaks down basically everything there is to offer.
Sakurai has always been one to pander to fans in some way, and the following words reflect that idea well:
“I do believe the passionate support from fans was a big reason why this game was made. You have to spend time and money to make games, so those wishes aren’t always granted.”
The overall simplicity of this game is what I find really interesting. In another Overview trailer, Nintendo talked about the simple one-button control philosophy. The B button controls your brake, drift, and Boost Charge mechanics, working differently based on contextual inputs. While steering with the left analog stick, the B button will serve different purposes depending on whether you’re slowing down, turning, or just stopping to charge boost.
On top of this, the included modes are simple too. There’s a City Trial mode that features different challenges in a stadium setting, a more traditional Grand Prix mode in the form of Air Ride, and the return of the top-down Top Ride mode. However, the most interesting one just might be the Road Trip mode. This is a properly structured story mode that features iconic Kirby characters from previous games.
