During Nintendo’s recentKirby Air RidersDirect, Masahiro Sakurai himself took the opportunity to provide a deep dive into everything players can expect this November, including every new playable rider. While options were extremely limited in the originalKirby Air Ride, that’s no longer the case.
InKirby Air Riders,you will have up to 12 different riders to choose from, or 15 if you take into account Kirby’s different color variations. Although most of them are characters you’ll already be familiar with, Sakurai did reveal some less notable characters that will be playable inKirby Air Riders,and I must say that they may have Kirby beat.
12Kirby Comes In 4 Variations
Utilize Kirby’s Other Colors To Get A Unique Special
It’s a given that Kirby is one of the availableriders inKirby Air Riders, as it is aKirbygame, but what makes this particular selection special is the color variation. Rather than being just a cosmetic option,Kirby’s different color options, which include Pink, Blue, Red, and Yellow, each have their own Special.
While Kirby is usually the only one who’s able to use the Copy Ability, that’s no longer the case inKirby Air Riders.Every player on the roster can now utilize Copy Abilitiesto keep things balanced.
The traditional Kirby’s Special is the Ultra Sword, Red Kirby’s is Burn, Yellow Kirby’s is Crash, and Blue Kirby’s is Snow Bowl. So, if you do opt to race as Kirby, your choice won’t be as simple as picking your favorite color, as you’ll also need to discover which of these specific Specials is preferable to you.
11King Dedede Is Coming In Swinging
Don’t Get Crushed By King Dedede’s Signature Star-Studded Hammer
While King Dedede might not be everyone’s favorite character, especially if you frequently encounter him inSmash Ultimatematches, in his originalKirbygames, he’s incredible. Like Kirby, King Dedede was one of the few options that players had the option of choosing in the originalKirby Air Ride, so it’s no surprise that he’s making his return.
As you’d expect,King Dedede is a heavyweight rider that dominates the raceway with his classic star-studded giant hammerand, just like Kirby, will come with his own Special. Jet Hammer, King Dedede’s Special, activates a secret rocket hidden in the back of your hammer that allows you to jet forward ahead of the other racers around you.
10Meta Knight Is Soaring Through The Raceway
Forget Driving, Take Flight On The Tracks With Meta Knight’s Dark Wings
As the last of the three playable characters inKirby Air Ridethat is making a comeback inKirby Air Riders, Meta Knight isn’t one to overlook. While he may not be as new and exciting as some of the others on this list, Meta Knight has gotten quite the upgrade inKirby Air Ridersand will no doubt still be a popular nostalgic choice for players.
In addition to slashing at other racers with his sword,Meta Knight’s Special, Knight Wing, will allow him to spread his wings and soar down the tracks at incredibly high speeds. Given that Meta Knight is a fan-favorite character for fans of theKirbyfranchise, there’s no doubt he’ll also be a popular selection.
9Cappy Is Tossing Its Hat Into The Race
There’s More To This Mushroom Cap Than Meets The Eye
Is that agyroid fromAnimal Crossing? Nope, it’s Cappy!With his protective mushroom cap, Cappy is ready to barrel through obstacles and racers alike. Although Cappy was present in the originalKirby Air Ride, it mainly just served as an obstacle on the tracks, so it will be fun to see this character hop into the driver’s seat.
With its Special, Booster Cap, Cappy will remove its mushroom cap and activate a jet-like propulsion that allows Cappy to rush ahead of other racers in a steady burst. From the looks of it, it appears to be somewhat similar to King Dedede’s Jet Hammer Special, but with a lightweight rider.
8Chef Kawasaki Is Cooking Up Something Special
Throw Your Opponents Off Course With A Spicy Surprise
If the Dash Food inMario Kart Worldwasn’t enough racing-related grub for you, perhaps you’ll be interested in what Chef Kawasaki is cooking up. From theKirby Air RidersNintendo Direct, we know thatChef Kawasaki will recover an extra amount from food items, but that’s not all that food can be used for.
With his Special, Superspicy Cooking, Chef Kawasaki is preparing some spicy curry dishes for his opponents that will treat them to a real flaming surprise. Given that this talented chef isn’t as widely featured throughout the franchise as some of the others on this list, you may or may not recognize him at all, which means now is the perfect time to see what he’s all about.
7Gooey Is Unlike Any Other Rider
Utilize Gooey’s Tongue In Unique Ways To Deal With Opponents & Obstacles
When it comes to a character I was not expecting to see on this roster, Gooey is certainly an odd but pleasantly surprising selection.This tiny glob utilizes its long, wiggly tongue to get rid of obstacles on the course, and is a great oddball addition that looks like a ton of fun compared to some of the more traditionalKirbycharacters.
In the Nintendo Direct, we see Gooey snatching up enemies with his tongue as well as balancing on it to spin through obstacles. So, while Gooey’s Special move has yet to be explicitly revealed, it’s no doubt going to be something related to its tongue, given everything else we’ve seen so far.
6Bandana Waddle Dee Is A Kirby Classic
Use Your Spear To Gain An Advantage In Races
In addition to Kirby, King Dedede, and Meta Knight, Waddle Dee is yet another classicKirbycharacter that has appeared in some way in nearly every Kirby game in the franchise. ForKirby Air Riders, Bandana Waddle Dee was the chosen variant to be featured as a rider, and it’s no surprise as to why.
With its spear, Bandana Waddle Dee can utilize its Special, Spear Cyclone, which allows it to spin the spear wildly and use it as either a shield when placed in front or a propeller when raised. Although it might’ve been nice to see a less present character take up this slot in the roster,Kirby Air Ridersjust also wouldn’t feel complete without just one classic Waddle Dee.
5Keep An Eye On Waddle Doo
You’ll Want To Stay Out Of Waddle Doo’s Line Of Sight
While Waddle Doo isn’t nearly as recognizable as its traditional Waddle Dee counterparts, this tiny menace can still stir up just as much trouble. Like Gooey, Waddle Doo’s Special has yet to be revealed, but there’s no doubt it will have something to do with its giant eye.
Fromfootage Nintendo has shared ofKirby Air Riders, we know thatWaddle Doo is capable of using its eye to fire off an arc of optic blasts at both opponents and obstacles in its path, so you’ll want to keep an eye on this little guy if you see him creeping up on you in a race.
4Knuckle Joe Is Ready For A Fight
Don’t Get Too Close Or You’ll Face The Consequence Of Knuckle Joe’s Fists
Knuckle Joe was another pleasantlysurprising reveal forKirby Air Riders. While he’s been present throughout several games in theKirbyseries, he’s had almost just as much presence throughoutSuper Smash Brosas well, as an assist trophy and spirit, which isn’t surprising given that he’s a natural-born fighter.
Keeping that in mind, Knuckle Joe isn’t someone you’ll want to get too close to on the raceway, ashe’s inclined to throw punches at other riders who invade his space. If that initial hit doesn’t make opponents take a hint,he can also charge up a flurry of punches to fire off.
3Susie Is Prepared To Show You Who’s Boss
Don’t Overlook This Adorable Entrepreneur
While originally starting as an enemy, Susie eventually becomes yet another one of Kirby’s allies throughout the series.Despite her adorable appearance, she’s not someone you’ll want to underestimate. Susie is the president and CEO of Haltmann Works Company and isn’t afraid to prove just how great she is.
While playing as Susie,you’ll have the ability to deploy a propeller that will allow you to take off and gently float through the air.Although her approach might not be as aggressive as some of the other riders, that also makes her the perfect option if you’re the type of racer who likes to sneak up on those ahead of you.
