Super Kirby Clash

Super Kirby Clash is a 2019 freeware action role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch. It was developed by HAL Laboratory and Vanpool, and is a game in the Kirby series. Super Kirby Clash features microtransactions and is a sequel to Team Kirby Clash Deluxe for the Nintendo 3DS, which is an expanded version of a minigame from Kirby: Planet Robobot for the same console. The game received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic.

Gameplay


Super Kirby Clash is an action role-playing game where players control Kirby and his team, who must fight an array of different bosses. There are four Kirbys in the game. One Kirby is controlled by the player, and the others can be controlled by CPUs or other players. The player can choose a role for their Kirby, as well as a weapon and suit of armor, and interact with the notice board to begin a fight. The role options allows the player to utilize a sword, hammer, offensive spells, or healing.

The game features microtransactions allowing players to purchase necessary Gem Apples to progress, but Gem Apples can be acquired in other ways, and no purchases are required to complete the game. Players can ring the adventurer bell to receive gifts from other players.

Plot
At the start of the game, a large number of monsters threaten the realm, and Kirby must fight them. Kirby forms a group of fellow Kirbys, named Team Kirby, to stop the threat. They advance through the realm, slaying monsters, until they encounter Parallel Nightmare, the mastermind behind the threat. Team Kirby defeats him and he flees to the Empyrean.

Team Kirby advances towards the Empyrean while vanquishing more monsters, and they eventually arrive. As they do, they encounter what they think is Parallel Nightmare, and fight it. They realize that this is not Parallel Nightmare, but instead Taranza. They proceed to the Decisive Battlefield, where they encounter Parallel Nightmare again. As they prepare to fight him, he summons the dreaded King D-Mind to fight them. King D-Mind turns on Parallel Nightmare, and flings him away, before being defeated by Team Kirby.

The threat appears to be over, but the monsters return, stronger than before. Team Kirby kills more monsters, and discovers that Parallel Nightmare survived. They chase him to another realm called the Dreamscape and defeat him again. Parallel Nightmare summons a powerful warrior called Aeon Hero to fight them. Aeon Hero kills Parallel Nightmare and engages Team Kirby, but loses to them after a long battle. After the battle, peace is restored.

Development and release
Super Kirby Clash is a sequel to Team Kirby Clash Deluxe, which is an expanded version of the Team Kirby Clash minigame from Kirby: Planet Robobot. The game was developed using the same engine as Kirby Star Allies. Hal Laboratory co-developed the game with another company, Vanpool.

Super Kirby Clash was released on September 4, 2019. Later that month, Nintendo held a Tetris 99 Maximus Cup themed around the game. The rewards, obtained for getting more than 100 points, were a Kirby-based theme in Tetris 99 and ninety-nine Gem Apples in Super Kirby Clash. In December 2019, the game reached four million downloads, prompting HAL Laboratory to host a temporary twenty-percent off sale on the game's Gem Apple currency.

Reception
The game received a 74 on Metacritic. Mitch Vogel of Nintendo Life praised the role-playing mechanics and roster of familiar characters and comparing the game to the Monster Hunter series, but they disliked the online functionality, citing input lag as a major flaw. The game was listed by IGN as one of the fourteen best free-to-play games on the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo World Report stated that it was a fun game, and easy to play for young children, but they also said to "just go play Kirby: Star Allies". A Kotaku reviewer disliked the microtransactions, but enjoyed the game's cute visuals.