Kirby’s Dream Course was released for the SNES in 1994 when the Kirby franchise was barely two years old. HAL Laboratory had a more generic mini golf game in mind but decided to rebrand its project after the new Kirby IP’s success. That move paid off; Kirby’s Dream Course received positive reviews for its creative take on mini-golf, which made the most of Kirby’s signature Copy Abilities. Sadly, Kirby’s Dream Course hasn’t gotten a sequel yet. HAL Laboratory ought to change that as a part of Kirby’s 30th anniversary celebration, providing Switch users with a sequel to the original Dream Course nearly 30 years after the fact.
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Potential in Kirby’s Dream Course 2
The original Kirby’s Dream Course tasked players with knocking out Kirby enemies and claiming stars scattered across each course until the course’s hole appeared. When knocking out certain enemies, Kirby could gain a Copy Ability which players can use to affect their movement. That’s one major way in which Kirby’s Dream Course 2 could improve on its predecessor. The Kirby franchise has invented a ton of new Copy Abilities since 1994, meaning a Dream Course sequel could incorporate these new abilities into its courses, resulting in a totally different gameplay experience from the original game. Copy Abilities like Ghost and Spider could inspire a multitude of new movement options.
The Switch also deserves a Kirby’s Dream Course sequel because it’s the perfect platform for Dream Course. The original Dream Course had 2-player multiplayer, which is ideal for the Switch, since two players can each pick up a Joy-Con and hop into multiplayer games whenever they like. Of course, Dream Course 2 would also be a perfect opportunity to expand on the original game by bumping up the maximum player count. The hectic star-stealing gameplay of Kirby’s Dream Course could be even more exciting with four players.
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Good Timing for Another Kirby’s Dream Course
Although the original Kirby’s Dream Course is nearly 30 years old, it’s still relevant thanks to Nintendo Switch Online. Kirby’s Dream Course appears in NSO’s ever-growing game library, offering fans of all ages a look back at one of Kirby’s first major spinoffs. Switch users who’ve already had their fill of the original Dream Course through NSO make up a strong market for a sequel. Even beyond Dream Course’s NSO presence, however, the Kirby anniversary generally makes now a good time to revisit one of the franchise’s earliest titles. After all, franchise anniversaries are all fueled by nostalgia.
It’s hard to say how much hope there is for a second Kirby’s Dream Course game. HAL Laboratory supposedly once had plans for a sequel on the N64, but the Kirby title was canceled. More than 25 years later, HAL hasn’t revisited the concept, but opinions of Kirby’s Dream Course remain positive, both in retrospect and among those playing it for the first time on the Switch. Whether HAL and Nintendo have considered Dream Course 2 or not, there’s definitely an opportunity for the game right now. The Switch is the perfect platform for another Kirby’s Dream Course, and the evolution of the Kirby franchise offers lots of ideas for a Dream Course sequel to work with.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land releases March 25, 2022, for Nintendo Switch.
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