Kirby's Dream Buffet received mixed reviews from critics, with criticism being largely directed toward its repetitive gameplay and online mode. Many reviewers compared the game to Fall Guys both before and after its release.
The player characters can be controlled by human players or artificial intelligence,[5][8] with the latter having four difficulty levels.[9] As characters consume strawberries, they increase in size and speed,[5][10] though hovering becomes more difficult.[11] Players can defeat enemies and use food power-ups on each stage to attack one another or expand their lead.[8][10][12] For instance, chili peppers give characters a speed boost, while doughnuts temporarily turn them into wheels.[5][9] The game can be played locally with up to two players (four if more than one console is used) and online with up to four players,[1][2][5][9][12] with the lattermost option requiring a Nintendo Switch Online account.[13] Matches can be randomized or played in private lobbies.[5][9]
There are three types of rounds, each with several different stages:
Race: The stage is laid out like a race track.[5] The first, second, and third players to reach the goal are granted 50, 20, and 10 additional strawberries, respectively.[8][14]
Minigame: Mixed events that typically take place on a small stage, wherein players have 20 seconds to gain strawberries while avoiding obstacles.[2][5][7][12][13]
Battle Royale: Similar to in minigame rounds, players compete on a small stage with abilities and strawberries dropping over time. Players can steal others' strawberries and earn bonuses by knocking opponents off the stage.[1][2][5][8][12]
Rounds can be played separately or in the main game mode, Gourmet Grand Prix, in which players compete in a race, a minigame, another race, and then a Battle Royale.[4][5][9][12][15] Afterwards, 40-strawberry bonuses are given out depending on random statistical conditions,[9] such as collecting the most strawberries, knocking down the most barriers, hovering for the longest amount of time,[5][8][14] or defeating the most players.[13] The player with the highest strawberry count wins the game.[2][12] Another game mode, Free Rolling, allows players to test out Kirby's abilities and customize their character.[4][5][9]
After completing individual rounds or a Gourmet Grand Prix, players are awarded points to raise their "Gourmet Rank". There are 135 ranks in total, and each time the player's rank increases, they unlock a new costume, color, stage, or music track that can be used for customization.[5][8][11][12][13] In online matches, every player can customize their character, while in local matches, only one player can customize their character.[1] Players can also unlock "Character Treats", cookies based on characters from the Kirby series, which can be displayed on a cake.[1][2][5][16]
The game's official release date was revealed in a new trailer shown during the Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival on August 11, 2022,[28][29] which also revealed that standard Copy Abilities would be replaced with food power-ups.[30][31][32]Kirby's Dream Buffet was digitally released worldwide for the Nintendo eShop on August 17, 2022.[1] On the same date of the game's release, it was announced that both the Tokyo and Hakata-ku branches of Kirby Café would begin selling a dessert inspired by Kirby's Dream Buffet on September 1.[33]
Despite not featuring a typical storyline, Kirby's Dream Buffet was adapted into a light novel in which a witch's magical fork grants Kirby's wish to eat even more snacks, shrinking down Kirby, King Dedede, Meta Knight, and other characters, thus beginning a race to the Gourmet King's throne on a snack mountain.[34] The book was released on December 14, 2022, in Japan.[35]
Tetris 99's 31st Maximus Cup event, which ran from December 15–19, 2022, featured a new theme that could be unlocked by earning a total of 100 event points. The theme included art, music, and tetromino designs inspired by Kirby's Dream Buffet.[36][37]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2022)
Kirby's Dream Buffet received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[38] The gameplay was widely compared to that of Fall Guys. Additionally, several reviewers likened the bonuses given out at the end of rounds to the post-game awards in the Mario Party series,[9][12] with Nintendo Life's PJ O'Reilly also comparing the items to those in the Mario Kart series.[5]
Nintendo Life liked the visuals and remarked that they were "pretty impressed with how smooth things run". Destructoid enjoyed how players grew physically bigger the more successful they were, "thus becoming a more obvious target". Nintendo World Report criticized the minigames, describing them as "overly simple". TouchArcade felt the game was lacking content, saying, "you'll likely have seen all that's worth seeing in a single session". Digital Trends criticized the game's online mode, while Eurogamer complimented the races.[2]
Sales
The download card for Kirby's Dream Buffet sold more than 7,000 units within its first week of release in Japan, making it the sixth-best-selling retail game of the week in the country.[41][42]
^ abcSwalley, Kirstin (August 19, 2022). "Review: Kirby's Dream Buffet". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
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