Kirby Fighters 2

A charming, breezy brawler Kirby Fighters 2 is a solid gateway fighting game hampered by limited modes and the occasional difficulty spike.

As just a mode in another game, the original Kirby Fighters was an interesting diversion. As a stand-alone title, Kirby Fighters 2 has to work a lot harder to pack a punch, even at $19.99. It’s curious, cute, and lacking much definition, just like its namesake character.

Kirby Fighters 2 has the right stuff buried underneath its foundation: you just have to dig to get there. With a few tweaks here and there in terms of unlocks and the way content is delivered, it could have been a much stronger package for both solo and party play. As is, you're going to have to put in some work.

Given that it arrived with practically zero fanfare, Kirby Fighters 2 is a surprisingly brilliant Smash Bros.-style spin-off that simplifies its big brother's control system but still offers a healthy amount of depth with its 22-character roster. Its Story mode, in particular, is a clever and compelling way to make each battle feel important, and that mode alone lasts long enough to make it a worthwhile purchase for solo and co-op gamers.

While Kirby Fighters 2 is fun for a night with a co-op partner, there's little entertainment beyond that. There are better Kirby games out there. Try those instead.

Kirby Fighters 2 is an adorable, polished brawler that is sure to make you smile - but not for long. The game is great while you're unlocking and using new abilities, but you'll soon be forced into repetition after repetition while playing, and that'll suck the fun out of things. Good for young gamers and less experienced players, but there are better options.

For a title that dropped out of nowhere, Kirby Fighters 2 is filled with all the charm of the average Kirby title but without a world map to explore.

When it comes down what truly matters, I can be a dingus mushroom and wear an eggshell for a hat. That alone makes Kirby Air Riders one of the best spin-off games a platformer’s ever had.

Kirby Fighters 2 is a joyful and an easy going game, that's a little bit on the conservative side in terms of the design choices. Its the perfect choice for old time Kirby fans, and also young players, who is not yet ready to partake in epic showdowns of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Kirby Triple Deluxe had a side game where you got to play with different Kirby abilities in a Smash Bros-like setting. The following year, Nintendo released a small game in the form of Kirby Fighters Deluxe which was focused on that side game. Fast forward to today and Nintendo out of nowhere revealed and launched Kirby’s Fighters 2. Is Kirby Fighter’s 2 worth the purchase? Did I enjoy my time with the game? Or was Kirby Fighters 2 a cheap cash-grab? Read on in order to find out.