a very strange little metroidvania that kind of works but also kind of doesn't? i think the way it evolves abilities from nightmare in dreamland is so good. sword gets so much good stuff, and smash being an ability at all is incredible. the introduction of spray paints is such a way simple way of allowing a kirby game to feel more personal. i think its world design suffers from wanting to be a metroidvania and a traditional kirby game at the same time. there being "goal" endings in a metroidvania is dire because it means you get stuck on a doomed loop that can only take you back to the beginning of the game, with almost always nothing valuable worth finding. if it had comitted to being a metroidvania this would be a really special little title. instead of goal endings maybe we would do something a bit more dramatic and permanent to the map that allows us to finally explore areas that were previously locked off to us? maybe there are no more "one route" doors that keep us locked in a direction. maybe the AI kirbys aren't just a horrible annoying distraction! maybe the map is easier to read once you've actually picked it up? idk, there's good ideas in here, but its not swimming with confidence and the final game is weaker for it