Kirby by way of 3D Mario, replacing scattered power-ups with RPG-lite upgrades, some of which are ludicrously overpowered (the big sword that blocks all damage?) and others being simply, enjoyably ludicrous (a kind of suicide vest, duel-wielding pistols). Reasonably fun and imaginative, even if it rips off Mario Odyssey with the inanimate object possession and incongruously “realistic” setting, and shares that game’s same problem of over-cluttered busyness. Both suffer from the degradation of a corporate brand that once felt strange and singular (Kirby Super Star felt like it had been developed under the influence of LSD) and has now had the edges sanded off to appeal to a broader market. Also Kirby just isn’t as much fun to control as Mario, though he (?) is cuter, and this is the first mainline game in the series I’ve played that doesn’t feel insultingly easy. The boss fights might repeat themselves too much but there’s a care taken with attack variety and telegraphing that (hilariously) evokes Dark Souls, Kirby’s slow-mo dodge being an improbably cool cherry on that particular cake. My favourite in the series is still the golf one (Dream Course) - not sure if that’s controversial...