I just beat Kirby's Return to Dream Land (Deluxe) for the first time, and damn
I'd like to talk about my experience with the endgame, if you don't mind...
The day before, I'd gotten quite frustrated with the long, challenging levels in the final world. It really was a Dangerous Dinner! I got all three done, but I was mad at myself for once again having to skip a dimensional rift segment and just for struggling so much in general. Everyone says Kirby games are easy -- baby games, even -- but I can still have a hard time with them. Actually, Kirby games' so-called easiness make them the only platformers I can actually beat by myself. My reflexes and hand-eye coordination are absolute shit. I struggle with pretty much any game that involved dodging or the like, I knock things over and drop things and bump into everything all the time, I make so many typos whether I'm using a phone or an actual keyboard... As a wee child, I had to go to physical therapy to, among other things, learn how to button a shirt...
Look, what I'm saying is that I'm really, REALLY bad at platformers, and I adore Kirby games for being platformers I know I can play. But I was just so frustrated at myself for being bad at a "baby game" that I didn't take on the boss that day.
Today, I woke up feeling much better, and earlier this afternoon, I picked up my Switch, determined to beat the final boss.
(as a note, I didn't have the Helper Magolor thing on, I never have, but I do like to take a souvenir energy drink with me into every level)
First, I took on Landia with the Wing ability. I love Wing, so that was great right off the bat. And Landia would split into four, giving me more targets, so thank you, Landia! I beat it my second try, with a shred of health left. Instead of a triumphant jingle, a dance, Kirby just stood there, and Landia lay motionless on the ground as the screen faded to black.
And as I watched the following cutscene, something occurred to me: Kirby gained nothing from either of the Halcandra boss battles. There was no ship part to be taken -- the bosses were just in the way of Magolor's plans (and, well, attacking us lol). And on that note, Kirby and his friends never really got anything out of beating the five bosses on Popstar, either. We were just helping Magolor fix his ship. We went through level after level and ran through collapsing dimensional rifts and fell into pits and were crushed by walls and swallowed by giant eels while frantically swimming away from giant floaty spike balls and died and died and died all to help Magolor, and how did he repay us? By turning on us, vowing to conquer our home!
I thought about this as I did that awesome Another Dimension shooter bit. I love shooter segments, so it really pumped me up for the final fight! And by the time I'd reached Magolor himself, I was out for blood.
It took me two tries, but I kicked his ass in the end, and it felt incredible.
Take that, Magolor! With the power of friendship, this spear I found, and lots and lots of violence, I have defeated you and saved Planet Popstar!
I know this post was all over the place, but I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I had with this game, even when I was frustrated. I love Kirby games so much :D
Now I'm so psyched for the Magolor Epilogue!!
