Frankly, going back to the Gameboy feels like it hurt this title, as I believe it to be the weakest entry in the series, or at least the weakest mainline game. The strange hitbox tomfoolery is back in full form, the Animal Buddies feel like they could have been fleshed out a bit more, and the hunt for the main collectibles to fight the final boss is the most obnoxious and tedious it's ever been in the franchise, with incredibly strict and specific routes to follow to obtain each one. Combine that with relatively bland level design by Kirby standards, and you've just got an unremarkable game. One of the only titles in the franchise I'd call "mid".