Kirby Air Riders Reviews Are Mostly Happy With The Racer's Return

"The Nintendo GameCube's Kirby Air Ride seems to have become more popular in people's memories than it was on its 2003 launch. The racing game from HAL Laboratory and Super Smash Bros. legend Masashiro Sakurai was received with a collective "meh," reviewers frustrated by its simplicity in a world where Mario Kart ruled. This seems to have done little to dampen excitement around the game's very belated return, this time in the hands of Bandai Namco and Sora, complete with Masashiro Sakurai at the helm. And it seems to have worked out a lot better 22 years later, with Kirby Air Riders winning over a majority of critics."

"The game's current Metascore of 78 isn't what Sora or Nintendo would have been hoping for, but it's a fair reflection of the 57 reviews in so far (Nintendo did not supply Kotaku with review code), with its vast majority of 7s, 8s and 9s. Funnily enough, 78 is exactly where Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment landed earlier this month, a number that has only snuck up to 79 since its release. Also aligning is each game's harshest review, with both getting a huge outlier score of 4 out of 10 and verbal kicking from the anonymous critic at the UK's Metro Game Central. ( Metro is owned by Associated Newspapers, the same company that owns the Daily Mail.) Meanwhile, I suspect that had Julia Lee's review on had a score it could have weighted things up significantly, given she describes the game as "everything I could have wanted and more." Siliconera's Jenni Lada was equally jubilant, with a 10/10 score and the declaration that she likes it more than Mario Kart World!"

"Most took a more moderate view, however, a huge number of the reviews beginning by their confusion that that is of all GameCube games should be the one picked for a modern revival, but pleasantly surprised by the results. "This is a chaotic and frenzied racer, there's no doubt," said Nintendo Life's PJ O'Reilly, "but it's got depth for those who wish to l"

Kirby Air Ride received a lukewarm reception at its 2003 launch but grew in nostalgic standing over time. The modern revival, developed by Bandai Namco and Sora with Masashiro Sakurai involved, produced broadly positive critical response. The game holds a Metascore of 78 based on 57 reviews, with most scores in the 7–9 range. A few outliers dragged scores down, including a 4/10 from Metro Game Central. Several critics praised the game enthusiastically, while many others expressed surprise that a GameCube title was chosen for revival but found depth and chaotic fun in the final product.

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