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Kirby Air Riders Switch 2 Game's Video Reveals Modes, Characters, Theme Song, November 20 Release

Nintendo's Direct livestream on Tuesday for Super Smash Bros. game director and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai's Kirby Air Riders sequel game revealed modes, characters, machines, stages, and the November 20 release date for Nintendo Switch 2. The stream also reveals and previews the main theme song "Starlit Journey."

Unlike the original GameCube game, Kirby Air Riders features multiple playable riders from throughout the Kirby franchise: Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, Bandana Waddle Dee, Chef Kawasaki, Cappy, Magolor, Gooey, Waddle Doo, Knuckle Joe, Susie, and Starman. Each of the characters has their own special moves, except for Kirby, who has four. Any character can utilize copy abilities, including Fire, Sword, Cutter, Bomb, Wheel, Mike, Cutter, Jet, Steel Ball, and Plasma. All characters can ride a variety of machines, such as the Warp Star, Winged Star, Wagon Starm Wheelie Bike, and Battle Chariot. The machines may change depending on the rider.

The main modes are Air Ride and City Trial. The Direct did not confirm the Top Ride mode from the original GameCube game to return. In Air Ride, up to six riders race against each other on various courses like Floria Fields, Cavernous Corners, Cyberion Highway, and Mount Amberfalls.

In City Trial, up to 16 players freely roam around on a giant floating island named Skyah that has multiple different biomes within. Each player starts with a Compact Star with the goal of finding better machines and powering up within a 5-minute time limit. During this time, events can occur such as the appearance of Dynablade or Kracko. After five minutes, the players engage in one final Stadium activity using the machines and stats they have acquired. Stadium events include Gourmet Race, Kirby Melee, Air Glider, Drag Race, Target Flight, Dustup Derby, and Skydive. Unlike the original game, the 16 participants can choose which event they would like to play between four choices.

The game supports online play and up to 8-player local wireless.

Bandai Namco is developing the game. Sakurai previously collaborated with Bandai Namco for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo Wii U/3DS and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

The game is a sequel to the 2003 Kirby Air Ride racing game for Nintendo GameCube. The game used only the A button and control stick. In comparison, the sequel uses the control stick and two buttons: the Y button for specials and the B button for nearly everything else.

Sakurai teased in a 46-minute finale special for his YouTube channel about game development last October that he had received a request to write a game proposal in July 2021, which he had finished at lightning speed. He was able to move forward with production with a target timeframe starting April 2022, but he needed time to assemble a team. Thus, he started planning his YouTube channel about game development during that time. He stated that assuming he is able to get the game made, it should be announced "sooner or later."

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World, the Switch 2 edition of its Kirby and the Forgotten Land game, will launch on August 28. Nintendo released the original game for Switch in March 2022.

Source: Kirby Air Riders Direct stream

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Disclosure: Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc., is a non-controlling, minority shareholder in Anime News Network Inc.