This isn't Mario Kart. Equal parts racing, fighting, and mini games, Kirby Air Riders is an interesting, engaging, and often wild game.
I received a copy of this game for the purpose of our review. All opinions are my own.
Kirby Air Riders Review
Equal parts racing, fighting, and mini games, Kirby Air Riders is a bizarre (compliment), engaging game. It takes the single-button GameCube racer and updates it with sleek graphics, customization, and chaotic Kirby fun. Imagine if Smash Bros met Kirby and you would have an idea of what you're getting into with Air Riders. There are various game modes, an insane amount of unlockables alongside vehicle customizations that will have you wanting to show off your garage to all your friends. It's still fairly simplistic in terms of gameplay and while that makes it easy to pick up it also results in a slight letdown, as it gets in its own way with those limitations. However, if you enjoyed the original and are a Kirby fan in general, this game has a lot to offer whether you're playing solo or online with friends.
Kirby Air Riders is a game with multiple modes that does not resemble any other kart game out there. These pieces shouldn't work together as well as they do but that's part of the fun of Kirby, physic-defying action that results in a lot of fun. There are three main modes, with plenty of options to choose from there. City Ride, Top Ride, Road Trip, and Air Ride. My favorite was Road Trip, but I will get more into that in a second. What threw me off the most was I wanted to play this like Mario Kart (a game I'm exceptionally good at if I can brag for a minute). This is NOT Mario Kart, not even a little bit. But years of playing have conditioned me to play kart racers a specific way. So it was a bit of a learning curve for me to adjust, despite it being fairly simple in terms of controls.
Mechanically, it is a two button game, with the sticks used to move the vehicle in the desired direction and activate a Quick Spin. B button is used for your Boost Charge, inhaling enemies, and spitting them out. Y Button is to activate your Special, an attack ability unique to your rider. While this simplistic approach to the controls leaves out any guesswork, I do think it would have benefitted from one more button. Tying the Boost to the Inhaling/Spitting out enemies can slow you down and make it so you're using one when you want to use the other. Getting the timing down takes some getting used to, as does drifting around corners, or navigating vehicle specific traits like how the Swerve Star only can turn while simultaneously braking. The machines themselves are always in motion, so your main job is to keep them level using the inverted controls (up to go down, down to go up).
Air Riders includes more than 20 vehicles that handle differently. The riders themselves (harking from all points of the Kirby verse) also come with their own stats and a special “Final Smash” type special move. Kirby for instance wildly swings a sword around to knock opponents off the course. Another throws curry at other riders and then there is a hamster named Rick who will ditch his transportation in favor of running the rest of the race. Only a few are available at the start of gameplay, but everything is unlocked as you keep playing, no matter the mode you choose. Like I mentioned, this isn't Mario Kart, a game that I think is far easier to just pick up and play. Air Riders will take some getting used to and fortunately there are lessons to take that will give players an in-depth guide to the game. And unlike some tutorials, it won't “pass you” until you actually get it right. Something that might be frustrating at first (like come on let me race!) but definitely proves helpful when you try your hand at an actual race.
The track designs throughout the various modes are really well done and incredibly detailed. Some feel like a roller coaster, while others take you on an adventure into the wild. There are returning courses that are simpler as they maintain the original design while the new ones add twists, turns, and opportunities to catch major air. There are also surprises that pop up to keep things fresh as you zoom along, from boss encounters to finding spare parts to supe up your machines, there are actually a lot of things to do within each race. Plus with so many items and achievements to unlock, Air Riders is perfect for replayability. Even after 15 hours on the game, I still have over 150 to unlock. And being a completionist means I have to get them all!
Air Ride is a straight race to finish against the computer or online friends. The goal is to dive, dodge, and fight your way to the finish line. Meanwhile, Top Ride takes the camera to the sky, giving you a bird's eye view of the mini-races on courses inspired by the main tracks. It is an homage to the original game and was my least favorite mode to play. But fans of the GameCube game will surely love it if only for the throwback feel. Then there is City Trial, a party mode with two phases. There is a lot going on here. In one phase you're searching for new machines and power-ups to increase your capabilities. In the other, you're putting them to the test in anything from a straight up race to a demolition derby. In order to wind up victorious, all the variables need to be considered– what are your opponents driving? What is their gameplay style? This also was a component in the original game and its unpredictable nature makes it exciting to play. Basically, if you ever played Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, this is like Smash Run.
My personal favorite mode though is Road Trip. It's a single-player story mode that picks different events and criteria from the other three game types to create micro challenges as you go on your trip. Each time you come to a new highlighted point, you are allowed to pick one of three challenges. Completing it will earn you a power-up which in turn stack to take your machine from basic to epic. It's another way this game echoes Smash Bros. Ultimate. As this feels like World of Light or Classic Mode. It's fairly quick (about 90 minutes for one run through) that allows you to unlock a slew of rewards while racing around Kirby history. Yes, longtime Kirby fans are going to appreciate all the little fun nods and easter eggs scattered throughout the levels.
Verdict
Ultimately, Kirby Air Riders features a lot of things to do and see, which can seem overwhelming at first but quickly draws you in for “one more race.” It's crazy, chaotic, and fast-paced, which means it never gets boring. There is a slight learning curve for longtime Mario Kart players but fans of the original GameCube game as well as those just looking for a new kart racer will appreciate that it feels very different from Mario. With four different modes, mini games, and a plethora of unlockable content, there is literally something for everyone in Air Riders.
Kirby Air Riders is available now wherever Switch games are sold.
Leave a Reply