Kirby Is Too Stretchy Now And It Scares Me

thegamer.com:

Kirby is one of the most lovable characters in gaming, mostly because of what a cute lil floof they are. They don't really say much, but they're incredibly expressive in their body language, and therefore excellent at conveying emotion. Like a friendlier, less energetic Stitch (of Lilo & Stitch fame), you always know exactly what Kirby is feeling. Until The Forgotten Land, I also felt as if I knew what Kirby's powers were. They're a fat little dude who sucks down everything he sees, and while that seems sexual, it’s actually very innocent and fun. Kirby can also float so much it's basically flying, and can mimic the ability of whatever (or whoever) they swallow. Now though, Kirby's also stretchy. Folks, I think Kirby's a little too stretchy.

I knew Kirby was going to be stretchy here, with the trailers having shown off Mouthful Mode, but I think the memes obscured the reality of the situation. For example, I knew Kirby was going to try to eat a car, but man, he does it like, every level. Driving a car in a Kirby game is fun, and it's cool that there's an instant retry button to help you beat your best time and rescue all the Waddle Dees, but why can't Kirby just be in the car? Why do they have to eat the car?

Related: If You're Not Playing Kirby And The Forgotten Land On Easy Mode, You're Playing It Wrong

For most other Mouthful Mode stuff, eating is the only possible way. When Kirby is a set of stairs, for example, they have to be the stairs - pushing or pulling would change the game, as they need to be carefully arranged, tipped, and spat out. It's a neat gameplay gimmick and mostly works effectively, adding a new element to the levels but quickly becoming part of the regular rhythm. But to be honest, it's not just how