It’s easy to look at Kirby Air Ride, and now Kirby Air Riders, as a surface level mascot racer à la Mario Kart. Being compared to such a genre-defining legend isn’t a bad thing, mind you, but oftentimes it feels almost dismissive. That may feel especially pronounced now that the Nintendo Switch 2 is confirmed to get Kirby Air Riders just five months after Mario Kart World launched with the system. Even Masahiro Sakurai got in on this, noting the similarity right out the gate before spending approximately 45 minutes dispelling it.
So yes, in the sense that it’s a racing game with iconic characters from a platforming series (including some surprising common enemies turned playable Riders) and some degree of randomness thanks to items and such, it’s like Mario Kart. But it’s also so much more, and much of that is thanks to its Air Ride Machines.
Unlike MK, what you’re driving is probably the single most important choice you make for a race or City Trial. Every single one has a distinct style within the games’ limited control scheme. Plenty were showcased during today’s Kirby Air Riders Direct, the majority of them returning from the first game:
Returning Air Ride Machines in Kirby Air Riders
- Warp Star
- Kirby’s iconic ride – it’s well balanced with no outstanding strengths or weaknesses.
- Winged Star
- A machine that’s slower on the ground, but glides really well.
- Wagon Star
- Eschews the series’ whole boost mechanic in exchange for better base stats across the board.
- Shadow Star
- An offensive terror, letting you deal more damage to others with its spin attack.
- Turbo Star
- High top speed in exchange for weaker turning.
- Bulk Star
- Boosting is effectively your “fuel” for this high-durability bruiser of a machine.
- Swerve Star
- Boosting makes you stop on a dime, keeping you from cornering but rewarding you with precision control and high speed.
- Slick Star
- Handling is more slippery, but makes up for it with some slick speed and unique characteristics all its own.
- Rocket Star
- Blast off based on your boost! Just be sure to keep charging to make the most of it.
- Compact Star
- Exclusive in City Trial, this weakling should be ditched for another ride ASAP!..it is cute, though.
- Wheelie Bike
- A bike-type machine with good handling but a weaker glide.
- Rex Wheelie
- Another bike-type, this time going all in on top speed and durability!
You’ll notice that the last two are a bit different. In Air Riders, machines are classified by their “type” to create some unified families of characteristics and visual design. In the original Air Ride there were just the two types, star-type and bike-type. Along with new machines in those groupings, at least one all-new type was revealed:
New Air Ride Machines in Kirby Air Riders
- Paper Star
- A star-type machine that flies well and has great acceleration, but is flimsy when it comes to durability.
- Tank Star
- Keep speeding forward even while boosting! It might take some time to get used to this hefty ride.
- Chariot
- A two-wheeled, stable choice. It’s unlike any past machines, and can handle tight turns.
There are sure to be even more machines in the final game. Notably, neither of the Legendary Air Ride Machines, Hydra and Dragoon, were shown in the direct. With how integral they are to giving the gameplay its distinct feel, perhaps even more so than playable characters you should be on the lookout for what other rides make their way in Air Riders on the way to its November 20th launch date.
Kirby Air Riders Switch Gallery
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Written by Ricky Berg
When he isn’t writing for Nintendo Wire, Ricky’s anticipating the next Kirby, Fire Emblem, or if the stars ever align, Mother 3 to be released. Till then he’ll have the warm comfort of Super Smash Bros. to keep him going.
