Not only that, but it often gets overshadowed by Kirby’s Epic Yarn. For the record, both these games were released for the Wii. I personally don’t understand why this entry gets so much praise as I thought it was good, but nothing great. Meanwhile, Return to Dreamland is arguably my favorite game from the storied franchise (though other entries are close).

It truly feels like a return to Dreamland and lives up to its moniker quite well. Yet, what makes the game so great? I will attempt to sum it up in just a few paragraphs so you can get back to more important matters.

Classic Gameplay

I will be the first to admit that the Kirby series needs a change. However, at the time of this game’s release, it had been a minute since the world enjoyed the classic gameplay provided by the pink furball. This entry feels like a celebration of what made the original classics so compelling. You just run from side-to-side as Kirby with amazing copy abilities destroying everything in your path.

But, in this entry, neat secrets were added and some epic boss fights were added (just take a look at the true final boss). Side mini-games (the series has been known for this) were also included to mix things up from the main story mode.

The Soundtrack

If there’s something that most Kirby fans can agree on, it’s that the soundtracks are always amazing. In Return to Dreamland though, the score was as good as it ever gets in gaming. Indeed, it’s that darn good. From the catchy opening to the ominous caves to the utterly breathtaking final boss music, it doesn’t get much better than this (unless your name is David Wise).

Somewhat Difficult in Parts

No, this game is not that difficult. However, for a series that often gets maligned for being way too easy, this entry is at least somewhat hard in certain spots. Full completion of the game, for instance, can be a little tricky. True Arena is also ridiculous (granted you don’t use Tornado), but that isn’t part of the main story mode.

Actually Good Co-Op

So many games don’t do co-op gameplay well. For those who have tried, that is not the case with this game. Up to four players can play at any given time and while the game gets easier this way, it does provide all-out fun for all involved. Kirby has become the master of this over the years, but this may be the most refined.

I am convinced now, this game is a classic. It’s one of the better games on the Wii platform, so pick it up if you haven’t yet. If you can find someone else to play with you, it will be even better.

However, Kirby games are typically not hailed as some of the best video games of all-time and rightfully so. Most of the time, they do provide joyful entertainment for gamers of all ages, but never hit that next-level echelon of Nintendo titles. That said, the franchise has always catered toward the younger demographic, which has consistently led to less-than-difficult entries.

Today, seeing that I truly believe the franchise is in desperate need of a resurgence (as the last truly great game, in my opinion, was Kirby’s Return to Dreamland), I want to discuss my hopes and dreams for the next mainline entry in the series. To note, I do not believe any of this will come to pass, but there is a great deal of potential for HAL Laboratory to make an epic Kirby game. Hey, a man can dream, right?

A 3D Platformer

Right from the word go, I am proposing a huge shift in the franchise. All platforming Kirby games follow a similar structure of eviscerating your foes from left to right (rinse and repeat). This formula can certainly work when there are different wrinkles thrown in. But, I can’t help but feel mentally-drained with this type of experience that the franchise tends to deliver.

What about a complete shift into the third dimension? Many gaming characters have made the transition from 2D to 3D successfully (some not so much) and this could be one of the most invigorating alterations to the series.

Now, the new game does not necessarily need to implement sandbox-style gameplay (though that would be amazing) as that might be too much of a haul. The ability to simply control Kirby in a 3D environment is good enough for me.

More Immersive and Difficult

I completely understand if HAL Laboratory is reluctant to add a difficulty spike in their next Kirby game as, again, this is not something that is seen in the series. Yet, a more immersive and difficult experience would be a major welcome sight.

Past games have typically added one or two tough challenges to test gamers’ skills, but there is never a consistent increase of difficulty in the games. Now, let’s be real here for a second, I am not suggesting the next title needs to be as mind-numbingly hard as F-Zero GX as that would be absurd.

All I am asking for is a new entry that actually requires skill to beat (at least the main story mode).

Prominent Roles for Side Characters

In past Kirby games, HAL Laboratory has always hit the mark with their cooperative gameplay. Hence, this is why the franchise can be enjoyed by all members of the family. This has also allowed fan favorites such as King Dedede and Meta Knight (my personal favorite) to be playable for other users.

What if, however, in the next game, these types of side characters had prominent story-based missions and gameplay? In addition to switching up the experience, it also allows these characters their time to shine. The lore of the franchise could be expanded on so much with a game of this magnitude.

RPG Elements

For the record, I have never been a big fan of RPGs, but have always been intrigued by video games that possess RPG elements. Adding this type of dynamic adds a much-needed depth and can add hours and hours of replay value.

Elements such as character progression, leveling up copy abilities, and even greater emphasis on storytelling could be a shot in the arm for the franchise. This one is definitely a long-shot, but it is impossible not to get excited about the affects it could have.

There is a reason I stated that these are my dreams for a new Kirby title. All this is probably just wishful thinking as we will probably continue to get the same old Kirby games for years to come. I am not saying I do not enjoy them, but I know that the franchise could truly be something epic if HAL Laboratory just took a chance.