Nintendo’s Kirby franchise has seen evergreen success for three decades and there’s still no end in sight for the adorable platforming series. Some of Nintendo’s properties have fallen by the wayside over the years, but there’s also been copious Kirby content that isn’t afraid to take risks. Kirby and his various supporting players have even progressively invaded the Super Smash Bros. franchise.
The latest entry in the series, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, for the Nintendo Switch, is an extremely fulfilling experience that throws Kirby into new territory. There are a lot of things to love about Kirby’s Switch adventure, and there’s an especially unique roster of enemies who make their mark.
10 Togekuki Looms Over Kirby And Gets In His Way
The many worlds that Kirby visits on his adventures are full of unique creatures. Togekuki is a special oddity that’s evolved in some interesting ways. The enemy is a spiked head that sits atop a mighty totem-like vine and initially, Togekuki functioned as more of an obstacle to overcome than an enemy who actively attacked Kirby.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land brings Togekuki back, but this time the enemy sways back and forth so that it can actually threaten Kirby to a greater extent. Togekuki also carries the Needle ability and its design continues to stand out even if it’s not the most exciting or dangerous enemy.
9 Blade Knight’s Sword Has Become A Signature For The Series
New Kirby titles introduce original abilities and enemies, but there are certain staples that have been around since the beginning. Blade Knight is an enemy that’s typically one of the first creatures that Kirby encounters and the Sword ability Kirby acquires from him is a strong video game weapon in Kirby’s arsenal.
Blade Knight makes the transition over to Kirby and the Forgotten Land and he continues to sport his simple yet effective suit of armor and sword. Blade Knight isn’t as exciting as the game’s new characters, but he’s always a welcome presence.
8 Bernard Is Ready For Adventure And Has The Equipment To Prove It
Bernard is one of the many exciting new enemies who make their debut in Kirby and the Forgotten Land. The character, whose name seems to be a reference to a Saint Bernard, bears a resemblance to a shaggy canine who is dressed for a jungle journey.
Bernard has a powerful gun that fires a steel ball, plus he's savvy enough to take shelter behind obstacles when he's on the defensive. He also provides Kirby with the Ranger ability, which allows the puffball to wield his mighty projectile weapon.
7 Tortuilding Is A Massive Monstrosity Of Animal And Architecture
Kirby and the Forgotten Land pits Kirby up against some of the largest enemies he's ever faced and Tortuilding is perhaps the most extravagant example. This intimidating oddity is a giant tortoise whose shell is a huge building.
There's a smaller version of Tortuilding named Tortorner, but the larger creature is considerably more impressive than its counterpart. Tortuilding cannot be inhaled due to its size and defeating it revolves around the destruction of its "shell." This is also no easy feat and requires a very specific ability on Kirby's part.
6 Buffahorn Attacks His Target With Frightening Speed
Buffahorn is another one of the many new animal enemies that inhabit the Forgotten Land and he's one of the more persistent members of the game's Beast Pack. Buffahorn charges at Kirby and packs a serious punch, plus this threat has enough health that retaliation is often not Kirby's best means of defense.
The most efficient strategy is to exploit Buffahorn's charging and have him run off a cliff to his doom, as morbid as that may seem. Inhaling Buffahorn doesn’t yield any abilities, which emphasizes the fact that he’s more of an enemy to avoid than to conquer.
5 Fleurina Tries To Consume Kirby With Her Whirlwinds
Fleurina makes for an entertaining enemy who acts as a decent challenge in several of Kirby and the Forgotten Land's levels. The swan foe frantically flurries across areas using a tornado tactic that's fun to counter against, but even more enjoyable to take control of as one of Kirby's new abilities.
Fleurina is technically a mid-boss in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, so her appearance is a little more extravagant as a result. However, with the way that the Kirby series operates it's very possible that Fleurina will be relegated to normal enemy, or even ally, status in future Kirby titles.
4 Digguh Could Give Knuckles A Run For His Money
Digguh is introduced in Kirby and the Forgotten Land, but he's such a natural fit that it feels like he's been in the franchise for years. The busy enemy looks like a mole and it loves to burrow and make use of its efficient claws.
It has a striking design and it wouldn't feel out of place in the Super Mario series or even as a Pokémon. Digguh makes its mark in Kirby and the Forgotten Land and the Drill ability it possesses is a crucial tool in the new game.
3 Sillydillo Turns Kirby Into His Prey
Sillydillo stands out because they are a loose cannon, and countering this foe requires some unpredictable battle tactics. Sillydillo has decent offensive maneuvers that don't just force Kirby to stay on the move but make him more likely to fall into the foe's cage trap. This extra element of danger is just challenging enough and makes this a standout encounter.
Sillydillo is one of Kirby and the Forgotten Land's bosses, so he poses a significantly greater challenge than the standard enemy. The boss' design is so strikingly unusual for the Kirby series that it still deserves to be singled out.
2 Gorimondo Is A Giant And Brutal Threat Who Pushes Kirby To Its Limit
Gorimondo is another Kirby and the Forgotten Land boss who terrorizes the Natural Plains area, but he's an antagonist on a different scale than most characters in this series. This ape towers over Kirby and he is so huge he even wears a cage around his neck, containing an imprisoned Waddle Dee — though it doesn't slow him down any.
Gorimondo keeps Kirby busy via a number of powerful projectile attacks, making for an extremely satisfying boss battle that still feels grounded.
1 Awoofy Sets A Delightful New Standard For Forgotten Land’s Enemies
Kirby's franchise is full of cute enemies. The Awoofy are meant to be one of the Forgotten Land’s most prevalent enemies and the equivalent of Dream Land’s Waddle Dees. However, these canine creatures are truly endearing and destined to become fan-favorites.
Some of the larger threats in Kirby and the Forgotten Land are actually menacing, but the Awoofy are never frustrating and make for a welcome presence. With any luck, Awoofy stuffed toys aren’t far away.