Kirby and the Forgotten Landmay differ from traditionalKirbygames in a lot of ways, but it also preserves quite a few importantKirbytraditions. Mouthful Mode belongs to a long franchise history of gimmicks and special mechanics that are exclusive to a specificKirbygame, and its use of King Dedede as a false antagonist is highly familiar to fans of the franchise too.Kirby and the Forgotten Landalso introduces a new friend for Kirby, like many of the games do. At the start of the game, players meet Elfilin, a cute and friendly creature resembling a chinchilla who helps Kirby find the kidnapped Waddle Dees.
AsKirby and the Forgotten Land’s plot unfolds, players learn that there’s much more to Elfilin than meets the eye, and he ends up having an important role in resolving the story. By the end of the game, though, he’s on good terms with Kirby, in spite of fears thatElfilin would betray Kirbyby the game’s end. That positive relationship opens the door for more Elfilin appearances. His friendship deserves to be cherished, andKirby and the Forgotten Landbestows Elfilin with a unique power that could spice up future games.Spoilers forKirby and the Forgotten Landahead!
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Why Elfilin Would Be a Good Companion
Kirby and the Forgotten Landplayers eventually learn that Elfilin is one half of an alien being called Fecto Elfilis who tried to invade the Forgotten Land long ago using portal-creating powers. At the end of the game, Elfilin finally makes use of the same powers to closea massive portal to Planet Popstarcreated by Fecto Elfilis, and shortly afterwards, he opens a new portal to reunite with Kirby. Elfilin’s ability to open portals across the universe seems like a great jumping-off point for aKirby and the Forgotten Landsequel or some other futureKirbygame. Rather than exploring one world, players might find themselves teleporting across various intergalactic systems with Elfilin’s help, imitating the journey ofKirby 64: The Crystal Shards.
Elfilin’s journey throughoutForgotten Landalso makes him a unique character worth preserving. Fans expected Elfilin to be a secret traitor like Marx or Magolor, but while he did turn out to beaffiliated with Fecto Elfilis, he wasn’t willingly part of the villain’s plans. By the time players completeForgotten Land’s post-game, Elfilin manages to absorb the last of Fecto Elfilis' life force, making him a positive vessel for the former villain. Elfilin’s complicated relationship with a formerKirbyenemy and his unwavering dedication to helping Kirby make him a compelling character with plenty of narrative potential in a future game. Perhaps Kirby could help Elfilin revisit the place he came from someday.
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What’s Next for Kirby and Elfilin?
Whether Elfilin has any hope of returning remains to be seen. In a recent interview, HAL Laboratory stated thattheKirbytimeline isn’t very concrete, meaning it’s unclear when Kirby and Elfilin have actually met in the grand scheme of theKirbyfranchise. That means the next game has about even odds of happening well beforeKirby and the Forgotten Landor well afterwards. It’s unclear if Elfilin will be able to appear in the nextKirbygame, and fans may not know his fate for a long time, considering how newForgotten Landstill is.
Hope remains that Elfilin will become a bigger part of the franchise, though.Games likeKirby Star Allieshave found ways to give past friends and enemies new appearances, so maybe the same will happen for Elflin. While it would make sense if Elflin wanted to stay in the Forgotten Land to protect his newfound friends, it would also stand to reason if he decided to travel with Kirby for a while. Regardless of the form of his next adventure, his unique powers and mysterious backstory give him more than enough reason to return someday.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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