In Kirby Air Riders, expression is more fun than racing

"The game, out now for the Nintendo Switch 2, is the follow-up to the quirky Kirby-flavored kart racer released in 2003 on the GameCube. It features Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai's round, pink, utterly charming child participating in short races where the main feature isn't so much about how fast you go, but how well you can manage the winding courses while fighting the cutest rogues' gallery ever committed to polygons."

"Unlike in other kart racers, Air Riders has no acceleration button. Instead you're automatically propelled forward, requiring you to negotiate the track with the brake button that you can use to drift around corners. You can also use the brake to charge your kart (known as a "machine") for an extra boost of speed at the expense of halting all forward momentum while you charge up."

Kirby Air Riders launches on Nintendo Switch 2 as a follow-up to the 2003 GameCube kart racer. The game centers on Kirby, Masahiro Sakurai's round, pink, utterly charming character, competing in short races against a cute rogues' gallery. Racing relies on automatic propulsion with no acceleration button; players use the brake to drift and to charge machines for brief boosts at the cost of forward momentum. The title includes a variety of machines with distinct properties and emphasizes negotiating winding courses and machine management over pure top speed. The experience foregrounds creative expression and customization within race contexts.

Read at The Verge