STACK #253 November 2025

GAMING FEATURE

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THE HERE AND NOW Fast forward 22 years and it’s time for an Air Ride revival, with the coming of Kirby Air Riders . It marks the long-awaited return of Masahiro Sakurai to the world of Kirby as a director – his last game as such in the franchise was actually Kirby Air Ride . Wisely, this update – releasing exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 – doesn’t mess with the established formula much, but it does add more adorable Kirby goodness. A larger, more diverse range of characters – a total of 16 - is one of the first things that fans of the original will notice, bringing some new and unique abilities to the game. These dig deep into Kirby lore, with lesser-known characters the likes of Cappy, Bandana Waddle Dee, and Starman all featuring. This means a larger range of machines to select from, too. While the classic control scheme is present, there are alternative options that give players more button options for functions such as boosting and inhaling the abilities of your competitors. Basically, two buttons need to be mastered instead of just one. Additional abilities arrive too, including the Star Slide, which is a starry form of classic racing game drafting.

GENRE: Racing MULTIPLAYER: Yes

FORMAT:

When you think of Nintendo’s lovable pink glob Kirby, thoughts don’t usually turn to racing games. But that’s just what we get this month with Kirby Air Riders , a direct sequel to the original Kirby racer, Kirby Air Ride . Words Amy Flower IN THE BEGINNING In 2003, Kirby fans were in for a different THINK PINK!

Ride was a traditional 3D racing mode in which players controlled Kirby – or other characters - on various Air Ride Machines across assorted tracks. Each machine had distinct stats such as speed, handling, and acceleration, which affected gameplay in much the same way as in typical karting games. Top Ride was a more arcade-styled mode. Played from a top-down perspective, it offered tighter and more chaotic races on smaller tracks. It was fast, colourful, and rewarded those with quick reflexes. City Trial, meanwhile, dropped players into a large open city to freely explore, collect power ups, and upgrade their machines within a time limit. Once that exploration phase finished, players competed in a randomly selected event – maybe a drag race, battle royale, or aerial challenge. While Kirby Air Ride received mixed reviews upon launch, it has since garnered a strong cult following and is now considered an underrated gem of the GameCube era.

kind of treat, as the fast-paced Kirby Air Ride , developed by HAL Laboratory, was unleashed on the Nintendo GameCube. Directed by longtime Kirby curator Masahiro Sakurai, it marked our pink pal’s first and then only major racing game entry on a home console. It delivered accessibility via simplicity of controls. This simplicity came via an easy to get to grips with one-button control scheme, where players used a single button to brake, charge boosts, and perform other

Enhanced Air Ride allows up to six players competing, while City Trial mode gives us larger maps, and more players than the original – up to 16. Both are playable locally or online. What returning fans will most

actions, making it easy for newcomers, while still offering challenge for experienced players to truly master. The game featured three main modes – Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial. Air

notice is how the power of the Switch 2 has allowed the developers to go nuts with the eye candy. From dazzling effects to the sheer speed that can be reached when you get a good run of boosts, it’s one impressive light show. Whether you tackle it solo or it becomes your new favourite party game, the charming Kirby Air Riders will be bringing a whole lot of joy to racers this month.

AN ACCELERATOR? WHERE WE’RE GOING WE DON’T NEED AN ACCELERATOR!

• Kirby Air Riders is out Nov 20

One of the key differences between Kirby Air Riders and typical racers is that there’s no accelerator. Instead, your chosen character rides its vehicle on rails, leaving time to strategize with such things as boosts, glides, and attacks – and to master all-important balance.

IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LOVE THESE:

Mario Kart World, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World

10 NOVEMBER 2025

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