Kirby Air Riders: The Definitive Review of the Sequel GameCube Fans Waited 20 Years For

Over twenty years after the release of the legendary Kirby Air Ride on GameCube, HAL Laboratory and the brilliant Masahiro Sakurai have joined forces to bring the wildest and most adrenaline-fueled concept ever born in the Dream Land universe back to the track on Nintendo Switch 2, with Kirby Air Riders. This new game is born and developed as a natural evolution of its predecessor, presenting itself not as a simple remaster, but a true reinterpretation and reinvention of the "air racing" concept. A title that focuses entirely on frantic action, speed, and customization, with a strong emphasis on multiplayer and accessibility, while also offering some deeper tactical elements compared to its predecessor.

Simplified Driving and Power-ups: Is Kirby Air Riders' Gameplay Ageless?

Kirby Air Riders' gameplay remains faithful to the title's philosophy and is based on two important pillars: immediate accessibility and tactical depth, which in plain words means "easy to learn and at the same time difficult to master." Vehicles move automatically, and all you have to do is manage the vehicle's direction, brake, dodge, spin, activate boosts, and special attacks. All very easy in words, were it not for the fact that behind all this apparent simplicity lies surprising technical depth.

Each vehicle has different parameters and characteristics, such as glide, weight, speed, steering, boost, defense, and energy. Each character has unique stats and a personal special move. Furthermore, each rider can also absorb abilities from enemies, such as fire, sword, and bomb, to gain temporary advantages during races. Some abilities merge with the type of vehicle being used, creating spectacular and devastating combinations. Kirby Air Riders is pure arcade adrenaline, thanks to that feeling of unbridled speed combined with a more dynamic and spectacular track design which, however, precisely because of this excessive speed, in some races and modes, the action can become chaotic, leading to difficulties in readability and visual fatigue, but overall the control response is incredibly fluid and clean. Moreover, thanks to a simple but intelligent game structure, the learning curve is well-calibrated, and can satisfy both casual players and the most competitive veterans.

City Trial is Back: The Mode That Justifies Buying on Switch 2

The game features a large number of modes, some inherited from the 2003 title, others totally new or revisited and expanded. Let's list them:

Air Ride Mode: The classic track racing mode, where you choose a Rider and a Vehicle, competing against other players/characters. As mentioned earlier, the vehicle moves automatically, and all you have to do is control the direction, brake, activate the boost, attack, and try to finish in first place. It's the most accessible mode for new players, perfect for getting into the game's arcade rhythm immediately. This mode supports local and online multiplayer for up to 16 players.

Top Ride Mode: A top-down view mode already present in the original title and returning here with many improvements, including dynamic environmental effects. Controls are simplified to the maximum: just steering, drifting, and boosting. Allows up to 8 players online or locally. In our opinion, one of the most fun and well-executed modes, perfect for those who love fast races, visual chaos, and competition.

City Trial Mode: The largest, most hybrid, and competitive mode that combines free exploration and mini-events. A highlight of the original game, you'll need to collect items, power-ups, and parts of "legendary" vehicles to best prepare for the ensuing final event. It definitely offers a more strategic component, where it's up to you to decide how to use your time, whether to power up your vehicle or disrupt other players. It can be played both solo and in multiplayer. True video game chaos.

Online / Multiplayer / Lobby: Not a true mode but an excellent online hub system to challenge Riders from all over the world. There's also the "Box" where up to 32 players can gather to choose race modes, interact, and set up matches.

Road Trip: The game's narrative mode, representing the first major novelty compared to its predecessor, where you embark on a long journey. The reasons for this long odyssey will be revealed through cutscenes as you progress through the story, and we will say absolutely nothing about them in this review to avoid spoilers and leave the surprise to you. The structure is hybrid, moving between travel moments, where you choose your path and challenges to face, and racing or battle events. Narratively, this mode doesn't appear as a grand epic tale, but rather as an almost forced context to connect the various game modes and unlock an incredible amount of items.

In terms of atmosphere, the vibes are typical of the Kirby world: vibrant colors, incredible characters, lightness, and immediate fun. The choice to include a "story" mode is commendable, as it expands the context and serves, as mentioned earlier, as a gateway to the various modes and types of experience even for players less accustomed to arcade racing titles. We won't dwell further on this mode, obviously to avoid spoiling the surprise, but we can tell you that you won't be disappointed.

The Tracks and Aerial Challenges: All the Variety of Kirby Air Riders

The game features a monstrous amount of content: from the many unlockable vehicles, all customizable with stickers, paint jobs, items, and trail effects, to a myriad of missions and challenges to complete that will always reward you with prizes: from backgrounds for your license to items for your vehicle. One of the most anticipated new features is the "My Vehicle" section where you can build and modify your own Air Ride starting from basic models. Each vehicle has slots for components to add such as rearview mirrors, wings, lanterns, and more, and in addition to this, you can also customize the style and color of the vehicle, with special stickers and paint jobs. And, as if that weren't enough, we can sell our newly created gems online through the dealership, and we can also buy new vehicles ourselves. The "Extras" section also includes an incredible list of missions (750), the amiibo corner, and the "driving school," useful for getting familiar with the driving controls. In the "Collection" section, we will have the opportunity to interact with our "Garage," replay our races, view our personal records, and shop in the "Mile Shop," where your shopping impulse will have free rein.

Performance and Graphics on Switch 2: A Next-Gen Leap?

Visually, Kirby Air Riders is a true spectacle. The levels shine with vibrant colors and sharp textures, with dynamic lighting that changes in real-time during races, and everything runs wonderfully with a stable 60fps framerate even in multiplayer. The aesthetic blends the typical Dream Land style with a more modern fantasy look, and the speed effects, such as air tunnels and waterfall vortices, are particularly well-crafted and spectacular. Vehicle physics have been completely revised, with each Air Ride reacting realistically to bumps, jumps, and hits, while maintaining the arcade feeling that has always characterized the series. The soundtrack, curated by Hirokazu Ando and Jun Ishikawa, alternates energetic orchestral pieces with electronic remixes of classic Kirby Air Ride tracks. The sound effects are extremely detailed: the engine roar varies depending on the type of vehicle, and each special move has a unique timbre.