Happy birthday Kirby! 33 years ago, Kirby was first created by Masahiro Sakurai, made his first appearance in Kirby’s Dream Land, and nobody could have foreseen his popularity. The pink puffball would go on to headline 30+ games, as well as become one of the original 12 characters of the series Super Smash Bros.
Some of the games I vividly remember playing are Kirby 64: Crystal Shards and Kirby Tilt ‘n’ Tumble, a game that was very ahead of its time. Kirby 64 was a standard platformer for me that I enjoyed without too much difficulty, while introducing me into the world of Kirby. Tilt ‘n’ Tumble, however, felt… impressive. I remember getting the game when I was about six and was in awe that my Game Boy was tracking when it tilted and that Kirby was moving in accordance. I also had to flick up the Game Boy in order to jump, which for releasing on the GB and in 2000, felt pretty revolutionary. Tilt ‘n’ Tumble was the first Game Boy Color title to have motion controls, and to top it off, the cartridge was pink to match its protagonist. Everything about it felt like magic.
Source: Kirby Fandom Wiki
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the latest title in the series to release, to critical acclaim. I’m currently playing through it and I’m having a blast, while thinking pretty strategically. It’s so satisfying to beat a level having found all the achievements within, but it’s fun going back to find what I missed. Forgotten Land’s story isn’t over however, as a brand-new story titled Star-Crossed World will release on the Switch 2 version later this year on August 28th. We also received a tease of the next installment in the franchise, a sequel to the Wii title Kirby Air Ride! Kirby Air Riders, directed by Masahiro Sakurai, releases on Switch 2 later this year, 22 years after the original.
Kirby is also the star of both a manga and anime series, titled Kirby of the Stars: The Story of Dedede Who Lives on Pupupu, and Kirby: Right Back At Ya! I didn’t read the manga, unfortunately, but I did watch the anime! The series mostly consists of Kirby fighting against Dedede’s many hired monsters of the week, all while working together with his new friends to take down the real enemy: Nightmare. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but it also has its moments. It spawned the iconic meme of Kirby falling in a pit and screaming, which I always find hilarious.
We’ve covered games, manga and anime, but Kirby’s influence reaches beyond digital and print. Kirby is widely popular here in the West, but he’s especially popular in Japan. He’s so popular that in fact that in 2016, Nintendo opened a series of pop-up restaurants themed after him. While these pop-ups were only temporary, the plan was always to create permanent locations, and to this day, there are currently three permanent Kirby Cafés in Japan. Food and drinks are inspired by characters and items from the games, such as a Kirby burger or a cake that’s shaped as the Kirby Car. Reservations are required for each Kirby Cafe and they sell out months in advance, so if you’d like to visit one, make sure you get your reservation ahead of time!
Kirby is beloved worldwide, and his legacy over the past 33 years is incredible. What are your favorite memories with Kirby? Let us know over on Twitter and celebrate with us!
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Written by Roberto Diaz
Embark on a gaming odyssey with a passionate player deeply immersed in pop culture. Roberto not only conquers virtual realms but also dominates the pop music scene, turning life into a harmonious adventure filled with gaming triumphs and cultural insights.
