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I finally feel like I’ve played enough hours to write my Kirby Air Riders review, so that’s exactly what we will be discussing. I never did own Kirby Air Rider on the (paid link) GameCube but it’s a game I heard about pretty often. When this game was announced, plenty of people were very exciting and I just had to give it a try for myself. What followed was a lot of multiplayer matches that had a ton of laughs. Now, I get to dive in and talk about how the game really was. Let’s begin.
Gameplay
The whole draw of the game is racing and it delivers with a variety of ways to play. You can play Air Ride or Top Ride. Air Ride are normal races, going X amount of laps around the track and trying to come out on top. You choose your track or go random to have the game choose for you and then go for it. The unfortunate part about this is that there are no cups in singleplayer nor local multiplayer.
Then with Top Ride, you see the game from the top down and choose which way your character goes by either Free Control or Steer Control. It’s a fun way to play that doesn’t take up much of your time. All of this is done automatically, meaning all you have to do is steer. The Air Ride, which are the vehicles, actually run on their own. You’re just trying to make it to first place. It takes a bit of time to get used to but it’s a lot of fun afterwards.
You can go online to join a variety of match types. These are fun and enjoyable with new events being added. There’s City Trials, which is one big mini game to enjoyable, trying to get the vehicle you want and rack up enough powerup within a time limit for the final mini game that decides the winner. Last but not least, you have Road Trip, which is a solo journey. This is a fun and enjoyable experience that varies in difficulty.
Graphics
Kirby Air Riders looks nice on the big screen and off. Regardless of how you play, you’ll get to enjoy many sights along with character models and Air Rides. Personally speaking, I quite enjoy the models for the characters but I also won’t say I was overly impressed with the graphics either. They don’t look as nice as (paid link) Mario Kart World in my opinion, review for that here, but they definitely are appreciative at the same time.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is full of familiar Kirby songs from games past. It is the perfect mixup of catchy songs to hum and enjoy as you try to beat your opponents to the finish line. You should absolutely go check it out yourself here but one of my favorite courses, due to the melody, is Celestial Valley.
Controls
Whether you are playing in handheld or docked, the controls feel spot on. We knew, more or less, what we were getting into. The game has simple, for the most part, controls but they work very well. I’ve played with my (paid link) JoyCon sideways, I’ve played with both of them and I’ve played with the (paid link) Pro Controller. They work very well no matter what you choose.
Replayability
Between playing online, playing local multiplayer and having a whole story mode essentially, the replay value is strong. You can revisit the racetrack time and time again. We still do, alternating between Air Ride and Top Ride. You also can’t forget City Trials so yes, this game has plenty of reason to come back.
Scores
Gameplay: 8/10
Graphics: 9/10
Soundtrack: 9/10
Controls: 8/10
Replayability: 9/10
Overall:
Conclusion
Kirby Air Riders is a fun racing game that has plenty to offer to new players and old. It may not quite be for everyone and that’s okay. The people who do enjoy Kirby games should absolutely give it a try to see if it’s for them and the ones who already own it, I hope you continue to have a good time! You can pick up new copies over on (paid link) Amazon or you can get copies, like (paid link) this one for $50 on eBay.
If you’re looking for other Switch 2 games to play, here are my recommendations for single player titles as well multiplayer titles. You can also check out our Buyer’s Guide if you’re just starting out. Until next time, happy gaming!
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