Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s $20 Switch 2 version upgrade is the most expensive of the upgrade options that have been afforded to various Switch games that can be played on Switch 2. Most of the upgrades have been free (e.g. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) and the upgrades to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are $10 each or included as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. The distinguishing factor here is Kirby’s upgrade includes a significant batch of new content, but the question remains – is it worth it?

Kirby and the Forgotten Land ran at 30 FPS on the original Switch, which is a detail I had to confirm with some light internet research. The game ran so smoothly in my memory that I was fairly certain it always ran at 60 FPS. I share this detail not to make myself and my memory look foolish, but to say that it was never a game where I was wishing it ran at a higher frame rate. It plays well and looks wonderful. On Switch 2, with this upgrade, the game now runs at 60 FPS with a higher resolution, which is great! I will always embrace those extra 30 frames. But it is not a game changer for Kirby in the same way it arguably is for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It is simply a game improver.

Which means for me, it all comes down to the extra content. Star-Crossed World includes a new boss rush mode and adds 12 levels to the game that are dispersed throughout the campaign. If you’re playing through the game for the first time, you will periodically encounter the new levels as you are playing. If you’re like me, however, you can jump into your old save and just go straight to the new content.

 

These Star-Crosed Worlds locations, as is the case with all of the levels in Forgotten Land, are good. They’re well-designed and have a handful of new mechanics. Enemies are stronger (but still not particularly challenging) and there are a few new mouthful modes, which are all worthwhile additions. The levels are technically remixes of locations Kirby previously visited, but they all venture away from the original versions so quickly and wildly that they all do feel wholly new.

It all culminates with an impressive and suddenly challenging final boss fight, which has become a Kirby calling card for the last few franchise entries. Kirby has a fine, not-particularly-challenging time making his way to the final boss, and when he finally gets there, it turns out Kirby must defeat god and it’s going to take more attempts than any other element of the game has required up to that point. To be clear, this is not a complaint. Star-Crossed World’s final boss is no exception and it’s a highlight.

 

The “problem” with all this added content, and I am using quotes because it is unfair to refer to it as a problem, is it all lines up with the quality of the main game and ultimately doesn’t feel necessary. The new mechanics don’t quite set it apart enough from the main game to make the levels required destinations. Forgotten Land did not feel short on content or in need of new levels. I have no complaints about getting more – I like playing Forgotten Land – but it all just feels a little steep for the price of admission. Despite being good, it all just ends up making it a hard recommendation for returning to, what is in my opinion, the best Kirby game to date. And if you skipped the game on Switch and are interested in playing on Switch 2, I am sorry the price ($79.99) is so high.

Cronos: The New Dawn releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on September 4. It is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2, which has the potential to be an impressive feat. Watch the video below for an extended look at how the Switch 2 version of the game performs.

To read Game Informer's review of the PlayStation 5 version of Cronos: The New Dawn, follow the

After a seemingly interminable wait, a sort of mythology has grown up around Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight sequel. Its release at the beginning of the busy gaming season has captured a lot of attention, but for the most part, there hasn’t been much in the way of critical evaluation. That’s because the developer chose not to provide advance codes to inform day-one launch reviews. Alongside many fans around the world, we’re just getting started today on running the game through its paces. 

After several hours, the first few bosses, and a whole lot of jumping and needle slashing, Silksong has already proven itself to be a great deal of fun – especially for fans of significant challenge and skill-play layered into their Metroid or Castlevania games. At the same time, newcomers who have been swept up into the fervor of this heavily memed launch may be shaking their heads a bit, wondering what the big deal could be. Based on its early hours, Hollow Knight: Silksong is a relatively straightforward adventure of platform jumping, collectible power-ups, and precision combat – why are people so incredibly excited? But look a little closer, even in these earliest parts of the game, and the focus on gameplay quality, gorgeous presentation, and thoughtful design is apparent, and helps to back up the strong sentiment. 

If you are indeed a newcomer, I’ve encountered no reason why you might need to delay your playthrough of Silksong to first play the original – other than that the original is, indeed, quite excellent. But the story here, focused on a warrior named Hornet trying to figure out why she’s been abducted to a distant kingdom, doesn’t lean heavily (so far) on prior knowledge of the franchise. 

Even after playing the game’s predecessor, I’ve been struck by the vibrant artistry of Silksong’s presentation. The biomes you explore are all wrapped in natural trappings of leaves, rock, and fire, but they also carry a weight of lived-in spaces for the odd, anthropomorphic bugs that exist there. Old machinery, scattered bells, and ruined structures add a melancholy history to the game world that is a great joy to navigate. 

The gorgeous orchestral score is often contemplative and flowing, accelerating in pace as big battles begin, but always flowing and satisfying to listen to. Compared to the insistent beats and angry industrial sounds of so many modern games, it’s a welcome aural departure. 

Combat in the early hours is very straightforward, primarily focused on single slash attacks of Hornet’s needle-sword and occasional thrown weapons. Likewise, traversal and navigation starts out very simple and slow. Still, the protagonist’s impressive agility begins to shine early on with the addition of dash ability – the first of many movement skills that help the game move faster and give increased flexibility to the player’s explorations. 

Even with limited attack options and moveset, Silksong doesn’t hold back on early-game challenge. This is a game that requires you to watch your enemies (especially bosses) closely, as just a few hits can lead to a game over. With that said, I think Silksong’s early big fights are perhaps a tad more forgiving than some of the first fights in the original Hollow Knight – perhaps a nod to a more steady challenge curve this time around. Sight unseen, my game reviewer instincts suspect some very challenging bosses are likely lurking in the hours ahead. 

New players should be warned that Silksong (like the original Hollow Knight) leverages a system drawn from Soulslike games; you lose your core currency upon death, and it must be retrieved or lost. I haven’t found that structure to be especially punishing up to this point – but I also know that, for some players, that style of progression can be a real sore spot.  

I’m not yet sold on the “tools” system that defines what you can do as you explore. The structure is undoubtedly in place to encourage players to explore different playstyles as they move through the world, but at least in the early hours, it feels limiting only to be able to equip certain core capabilities at any one time, such as the compass that shows where your character is on the map. I’m sure my frustrations there will ease as options and equippable slots expand over the course of the game, but it’s a small feature in the early game that rubs me the wrong way. 

I’m a longtime enthusiast for “Search Action” games, a Japanese term I’ve always liked a bit more and found more descriptive than “Metroidvania”. No matter what you call them, there’s little doubt in my mind that Hollow Knight: Silksong is shaping up to be an exemplar of the form, accompanied by compelling world-building, high production values in graphics and audio, and significant challenge. And while I’m early in my playthrough, I’d be quite surprised if Silksong doesn’t match or exceed the size and scope of the prior game, which would take most players dozens of hours to complete. As such, and taking all that into account, I’m comfortable offering an early and enthusiastic endorsement even after my first day of playtime. 

The high anticipation accompanying this launch could be a letdown if you’re expecting something that will change your whole understanding of games (an unfair presumption for any project). But approach this for what it appears to be – a lovingly crafted and well-designed adventure through a mysterious and captivating world – and it seems, so far, well worth the price of admission.

If that opinion changes, or my enthusiasm increases even more as I play, I’ll share that as soon as I can. Keep an eye here for our final Game Informer verdict and review of Hollow Knight: Silksong. We’ll have that ready once we’ve experienced the complete game over the coming days.

They said it couldn't be done. They, of course, being the wider internet's video game meme culture. Hollow Knight: Silksong has been a beautiful dream for the last half-decade, but today (after some hiccups with everyone rushing and overloading the servers), the dream is a reality.

Game Informer's Alex Van Aken muscled his way through the online stores to get Silksong downloaded and played the first 40 minutes for your enjoyment. You can check out the video below.

Much like the rest of the world, we are starting our review playthrough of Hollow Knight: Silksong today, so you will have to keep an eye out for our full thoughts to be online soon.

Season four of Marvel Rivals is officially known as The Heart of the Dragon, and it's introducing one character fans of the (super) hero shooter have been hoping for: Daredevil. In the cinematic reveal trailer, he faces off against Angela, the long lost sister of Thor and the other character joining the roster. You can check it out for yourself below.

The trailer shows the two characters seemingly acting as representatives of Heaven and Hell. This is a particularly interesting take on Daredevil, as his stories, especially in the recent live-action series, traditionally focus on street-level crime with minimal super powers. In this trailer, he also seems to unleash energized punches and a powerful devil form. It's hard to tell what his canonical abilities are, versus what are stylized visuals for the animation, but Marvel Rivals sometimes provides original takes on characters and their origin stories, so it could go either way.

"The Timestream Entanglement has drawn the Seven Capitals together, forming the Heart of Heaven. After Knull’s fall, Hela is imprisoned in the An'Hay-Zhidi, where Dizang—Devil of the Eighth City—dares her to atone for her sins," the video description reads. "But Angela will not forgive her betrayal. She arrives in the Heart of Heaven demanding Hela be handed over, yet its guardian refuses to surrender someone under his protection. Justice will be served and a debt will be paid."

In a following, more detailed video, the developers at Netease confirm that Angela would be a vanguard, using her ichor to form weapons and a shield. She'll also get a team-up with Thor, who will be able to throw a thunder spear which he can jump to, dealing damage upon landing. Other team ups are adjusting as well: Magik and Black Panther are losing theirs, but Magik is getting a tether ability as a part of the team up between Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange, while Black Panther is joining the team up between Namor and Hulk.

Season four will also bring other, more minor new features. A new arcade hub will hold new and returning modes like big brain blast, clone rumble, conquest, conquest (annihilation), and doom match, along with free fight, which removes limits on duplicate heroes. You'll also be able to mark your preferred heroes into a favorites tab, other players can see custom ultimate effects, and, hilariously, they're adding a slow walk setting to the PC version of the game because they "heard how much you like slow walking for superhero aura farming."

Lastly, they announced that rank placement matches are coming to the game eventually, but won't be ready in time for season four. Players have expressed frustration that each season resets them so far down the competitive ladder that it's frustrating to have to fight through lower ranks with less skilled players to get back to their standard challenge, and placement matches are a possible solution to that.

Angela and the rest of Marvel Rivals season four come to the game for free a week from Friday, on September 12.