Kirbyhas just celebrated its 30th anniversary with the release ofKirby and the Forgotten Land.This game, which is mainly afresh and new take on theKirbyfranchise, does follow a series-long trend. While the trend is nothing game-changing, it serves as more of an Easter Egg for eagle-eyed fans, dating all the way back to 2005.
The trend thatKirby and the Forgotten Landfollows is apparent when looking at the names of the game’s major areas. Putting together the first letter from each of the game’s areas — like Natural Plains and Everbay Coast — actually spells out a message that is indicative of the game’s theme. As stated, this trend stretches back to 2005’sKirby: Canvas Curse,so it is interesting to see developer HAL Laboratory continue it nearly 20 years later.
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Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Hidden Acronym
Kirby and the Forgotten Land’sadventuretransports Kirby to a whole new dimension. to finally return home, Kirby must travel across six worlds and one final area: the Natural Plains, Everbay Coast, Wondaria Remains, Winter Horns, Originull Wasteland, Redgar Forbidden Lands, and the Lab Discovera. These areas all have fitting names, ones that are completely indicative of the types of levels within.
Taking the first letter from the first word of each area (as well as the second word from Lab Discovera) actually spells out NEW WORLD. There is not a more fitting acronym to describeKirby and the Forgotten Land, as it takes place in, well, a new world.Forgotten Landis by no means the firstKirbygame to contain an acronym like this, and it will most likely not be the last.
Kirby’s History of Acronyms
Kirby’sfirst acronym dates back to 2005’sKirby: Canvas Curse,in which the levels, minus the last, spell out RAINBOW. This is fitting, as players control Kirby in this spin-off by drawing rainbow-colored lines to roll across. The rainbow theme continues in the game’s 2015 sequel,Kirby and the Rainbow Curse.While not an acronym, the levels are named after all the colors of the rainbow (though not in the typical ROYGBIV order).
Continuing chronologically, 2011’sKirby’s Return to Dreamland’sworlds, save for the first and the last, spell out CROWNED.Kirbythen received a 20th anniversary collectionin 2012 titledKirby’s Dream Collection Special Edition,which contains three bonus levels that spell out HAL, after series developer HAL Laboratory. Next up, 2014’sKirby Triple Deluxehas a world-name acronym that spells out FLOWER, consistent with the game’s flower-themed adversaries.
Finally, the two mainlineKirbygames precedingForgotten Landboth contain acronyms. 2016’sKirby: Planet Robobot’sareas all spell out PROGRAM, befitting of the game’s scientific, robotic themes. The first words from the levels in 2018’sKirby: Star Alliesworld of Planet Popstar spell out FRIEND. The game is centered on allies, so FRIEND fits perfectly.
That is a complete breakdown of hidden world-name acronyms within theKirbyseries. Interestingly enough, this trend may only work in English, though. The first katakana character taken from each area inKirby and the Forgotten Landspells out ネーワホーレラデ, which seemingly does not translate, unless another type of pun or acronym is present that is specific to Japanese. Regardless, it is nice to see HAL Laboratory continue this trend over the course of many years, despite many fans likely not noticing it.
Kirby and the Forgotten Landis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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