DLC REVIEW: ‘Star-Cross World’ DLC Simply Adds More Kirby Without Much Shake-up

The cute, demonic puff-ball, Kirby, has been a Nintendo staple for over 30 years now. Even if it’s hard to revolutionize a Kirby game, Kirby and the Forgotten Land found a way to pull it off, even if it was subtle. Now, for the Nintendo Switch 2, the Star-Crossed World DLC has come along with the Switch 2 upgrade release. A 3D level-based game set in detailed environments, and letting Kirby take in and manipulate different objects was just the thing to make an excellent entry in the series for the modern age.

Star-Crossed World is like a good dessert you asked for seconds of. It’s great, but more of the same. While Kirby and their little friend Elfilin explore more of the Forgotten Land, a meteor lands in the nearby ocean. Its impact reveals a dark heart protected by Starries, little fairy-like creatures.

That same impact spread those Starries across the Forgotten Land. The dark heart is exposed with a looming threat trying to escape it. Kirby and Elfilin take it upon themselves to find all the Starries and build back the shell, protecting this land from whatever extraterrestrial danger that now threatens it.

The Star-Crossed World DLC adds new levels based on levels you’ve already played.

The story itself is quite basic. That was to be expected of a Kirby game, until the base game proved a good story could be made out of something so child-like and so carefree. This means that the new side plot adds little to the overall Forgotten Land adventure. It’s more of the same. You find little starries in each of the levels, and then head to the boss once every level’s been beaten. 

Kirby and his pals already travel galaxies in their other games. It’s a shame that the Star-Crossed World DLC doesn’t give more of a taste of what space could bring in this grittier universe. The same carries to the newly added levels.

In total, there are twelve new levels added with Star-Crossed World. That may seem like a lot, until you quickly realize that they’re mostly reused levels from the base game with some variations. Literally, since to access the levels, you go back to about two different areas per land and just select an alternate pathway. 

The levels are reshuffled, but they offer new ways to consider how to platform across them.

What is impressive, though, is how these levels have changed. The star’s impact has spread a crystalline structure throughout these areas. It slightly changes how you’ll navigate the levels by adding ever-expanding platforms that spawn from interacting with new crystal flowers. 

Beyond that, there’s not much new to level design. Even enemies aren’t changed too much except for a new crystalline look. There are even the same minibosses returning, but now with crystals growing out of them. Nothing really changes in their mechanics, except that they hit a little harder. 

The weakness of the story is especially highlighted by its never definitively saying if this “corruption” is actually harmful. All the creatures seem to be at peace with it. There aren’t new changes to their behaviors—they’re not more aggressive, larger, or look hurt by the crystallization process. Exploring more of this, like they did in the base game, would’ve added an interesting layer.

There are no new copy abilities, but the new spring Mouthful mode pairs well with the level design.

There are no new copy forms or new upgrades for current forms. The only new updates when it comes to gameplay are a couple of new Mouthful mode forms. The one that is used the most is the spring. This pairs pretty well with the spawning platforms.

The later levels especially find ways to create fun challenges that require quick reflexes and fast movements to bounce between moving platforms. Mouthful mode was a highlight of the base game, yet the fact that this is the only area expanded is disappointing. 

The true highlights in Star-Cross World are its final boss and the music. The bosses in Kirby and the Forgotten Land were excellent—great variety, fun attack patterns, and heavily reliant on the quick dodging mechanic for extra damage. The new boss introduced in the DLC shakes things up by simply being tougher, accompanied by beautifully stunning visuals throughout the three-stage boss fight. 

The music helps the DLC feel like a culmination for Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

The music also supplements the serene nature of the crystallized areas. They become increasingly reminiscent of a peaceful winter wonderland with the help of the ambiance and sound effects. The music complements all this with more slow-paced orchestral pieces. It gives the whole DLC a “last hurrah” feel, like Kirby has done it, and this new threat isn’t as big as it seems, even if the Starries are slowly changing the Forgotten Land.

If you haven’t played Forgotten Land yet, the Switch 2 edition that includes the DLC makes an already fantastic game even better. Especially when paired with the Switch 2 enhancements. It’s like adding an extra layer to a delectable 3-layer cake; it’s more of the same, but that’s not a bad thing. It may not be worth it on its own. 

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is just more Kirby. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is up to you and how much you liked the base game. As a DLC, though, it’s very weak, with very little new besides more levels, more collectibles, and a new boss fight.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is available now on Nintendo Switch 2.