Talking Point is Kirby Informer’s column where our staff and readers can respond to trending questions and topics! Be sure to join the discussion in our comment section below or head on over to our social pages and share your thoughts with us there!
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Can you all believe it's been almost a month since the release of Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe on Nintendo Switch?
While Kirby fans were all eager to play a second round of the pink puff's iconic Wii adventure, it would be an understatement to say that the remaster's new content is what enticed us to dive right back into the 2011 mainline title most. Since its initial leak and official announcement, Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler has been a leading subject around Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe discussions alongside the multiplayer wonderland of Merry Magoland.
Before Return to Dream Land Deluxe was released, it felt like every Kirby fan could not wait to see what this epilogue chapter featuring everyone's favorite trickster entailed. Magolor was finally getting his big spotlight--what was there not to be excited about?
It's been quite some time since all of us behind the scenes at Kirby Informer first finished the Magolor Epilogue, but has this bonus chapter lived up to our expectations, or was it just a simple distraction made by HAL to satisfy a few more hours? Did the epilogue chapter make us like the character more, or did it fail to change our perspective of him?
This is the Kirby Informer's staff's thoughts on Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler--and full warning we have a lot to say in this talking point entry!
DISCLAIMER: Spoilers for the Magolor Epilogue ahead!
Editor, Marc Kaliroff
I have a confession to make. I know readers and my fellow writers will not be too happy hearing this revelation, but I have never been a fan of Magolor since he debuted--or at least, I never understood the immense hype behind the character and why he was receiving so much love over the years. I always enjoyed Magolor's design and the idea behind his story, but I always perceived him as a "Marx replacement", so to speak. That's not to discount Magolor's fanbase, every character has their reasons for being loved, but I personally have always needed something to further get me to like the Lor Starcutter's captain more. For so long I have wanted to love Magolor the same way other Kirby enthusiasts do.
When we first learned of Return to Dream Land Deluxe's epilogue chapter, I figured that the extra mode would at the very least allow me to build a greater affinity for the character while having some fun, but I never expected it to absolutely change the way I saw Magolor. This extra incentive to replay Kirby's classic Wii adventure has given me more than what I initially wanted, and I'm happy to say it's something I have already beaten a second time just for fun--I'll even go on record to say that I think this is one of the best extras any Kirby remaster has included thus far.
Between its light RPG elements and lore-heavy ending, Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler completely blew away my expectations. By the time the credits rolled, it made the titular villain-turned-hero one of my favorite Kirby characters to date. For a story about a fallen trickster seeking penance in a painful world, this epilogue does numbers for Magolor in his entirety as HAL Laboratory really gave him a proper placement within the larger Kirby lore. Besides, this epilogue does open up a future for his return--perhaps not as a playable character, but certainly as a returning entity for Kirby to interact with in the mainline games and definitely spin-offs.
I still love Meta Knightmare Returns the most out of every Kirby extra mode where you do not take control of the pink puff, but the Magolor Epilogue certainly gives my personal pick a run for its money. Magolor, you're a cool dude now in my book.
Staff Writer, Aurora
Magolor Epilogue exceeded my expectations tenfold. It was absolutely everything I had hoped for and more, from the plot and assisting worn-out Magolor in escaping the dimensions he had become trapped in, to the stage designs and the redesigned bosses, and more. I enjoyed exploring each stage and each area, gathering Magic Points to aid ragged Magolor in upgrading his magical skills. Seeing Magolor as a discordant sliver of his past self in the beginning and then becoming a stronger version of his previously dreary self as the story progressed was a sight to behold.
Traversing through the various dimensions and elements, seeing faces that seemed familiar yet were slightly jarring, Magolor really lived up to his title of Interdimensional Traveler. Getting to fight an abundance of enemies and facing off with distinct bosses made it feel like an otherworldly, supralunar journey.
The final boss was fantastic as well. Everything about the environment, atmosphere, and design just fit. The varying ethereal tones and imagery really cemented this. The final boss' design alone is now one of my absolute favorites from the series as a whole. His attacks, movements, and patterns were enough to prove himself a formidable opponent. The battle as a whole left me in a state of wonderment. It was amazing to see Magolor atone for his misdeeds and make his triumphant return. Not only that, but having various theories confirmed at the very end, almost all at once, left me speechless. I also have to acknowledge the stellar work that Yuki Shimooka and Hirokazu Ando did on the Epilogue soundtrack. It was certainly the icing on the already-delicious cake.
All in all, I believe HAL did an amazing job with Magolor Epilogue. They truly went above and beyond with Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and Magolor Epilogue is proof of that. Instead of the typical one-to-one videogame remakes and remasters that we usually see, there was a ton of new content, and again, Magolor Epilogue is proof of that. You can tell just how much love and passion were put into it, and frankly, that's one of the only things I could really ask for from HAL.
Staff Writer, Sean Douglass
I loved the Magolor Epilogue. Absolutely loved it. Although I feel a bit predictable saying so, since it’s almost like the game was tailor-made for me. It’s a 2D adventure with a long movelist, rewarding progression systems, and even some nonlinear elements, starring one of my favorite characters in video games. If HAL had an algorithm (HALgorithm?) that looked at my interests and created a game for me, it probably would’ve produced something more or less like this. But all that aside, looking past the obvious elements that would appeal to me, I also think this is just generally a very, very well-made video game. This may be the best subgame in the Kirby series, and it’s one of the most fun and creative new takes on the general Kirby formula HAL has ever devised.
What impressed me the most, though, is how the developers have perfectly married such a range of tones and emotions into this short-form experience. Through subtle animations and often wordless storytelling, Magolor becomes an expressive, vulnerable, and emotionally complex character in a way I don’t think I’ve ever quite seen from a Kirby game. With Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and now the Magolor Epilogue, Kirby games have been increasingly willing to explore moments of pain and loss, and they've expertly pulled it off. Even small moments, like watching a once-proud Magolor wipe away a tear before refocusing on the task at hand, can become striking intrusions into Kirby’s normally blissful, utterly escapist world. But the humanity it breathes into these characters makes me love them and root for them even more than I already do.
With these somber overtones, the game then sees fit to have Magolor offer silly commentary on all of his skill upgrades. It’s entirely unnecessary, but this dialogue is pitch-perfect, and it turns Magolor into an endlessly entertaining, and often hilarious, guide through his own redemption story. I was laughing to myself and screenshotting quotes all the way through--something I did not expect from one of the heavier Kirby games--and it can't be understated how much Magolor's disarming humor further elevates the whole experience.
There’s so much more I could say about this game, and I haven’t even mentioned its inspired combo system (that I hope to see return in some capacity for future Kirby games). It may be short, and it had me wishing for a full-fledged Kirby Metroidvania, with even more characters, skills, and nonlinear possibilities. But for what it is, it’s an amazingly well-executed side dish. There are some big releases I’m looking forward to on the horizon, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6. But I wouldn’t be surprised if, come the end of the year, the humble Magolor Epilogue ends up being my favorite game of 2023.
Staff Writer, Dani
When Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe was first announced, one of the first things I hoped they'd include was some kind of Magolor playthrough. Magolor has always been one of my favorite characters since his debut in the 2011 Wii title. To get a glimpse into what became of him after the events of the story was something I was really excited to see. He is a character that I really grew to love, and it was always somewhat sad to see what ultimately happened to him because of the influence of the Master Crown.
I jumped right into the Magolor Epilogue after completing the main story. From the moment the opening cutscene began, I knew this was going to be something special. The sad scene of Magolor being defeated and ascending into another dimension nearly had me in tears. In the original Wii title, there was really no closure with Magolor. He was just gone--not counting him still hanging out in the Lor and appearing in other titles, of course. Were we about to get our long-awaited closure on what happened to this charming rogue magician?
The Magolor Epilogue was a very fun and interesting game mode that kept me glued to my Switch. After the events of Story Mode, poor Magolor has lost all his powers (as well as his fancy outfit), so you'll have to earn your powers back as you travel across the various dimensions. Going for as many combos as I could and earning platinum medals for every stage was exhilarating. I also really enjoyed Magolor's witty commentary as you powered up his various skills. It was nice to see the little guy hadn't lost his sense of humor. The Ordeal Rooms were a nice test of skill to overcome as you become more powerful and I really enjoyed playing the boss battles with Magolor's arsenal of skills and moves--it's simply entertaining to create Black Holes and throw Gem Apple bombs!
Finally, after chasing down Magic Points across dimensions, Magolor was stronger than ever, and I was prepared to face the final challenge. After the Fruit Fragments form a Gem Apple seed, you are then thrown into battle against a Crowned Doomer. But it was the True Final Boss that left me completely speechless. Now stronger than ever, Magolor takes on the very evil that once tried to claim him. The fight against the Master Crown was truly breathtaking.
You really get to put the abilities that you and Magolor have honed over the course of your time together to the test in this dramatic and intense showdown. This battle's climax left me utterly speechless. After the final fight was over (and I wiped a few tears from my eyes), I was treated to a beautiful credits sequence that told how Magolor arrived at the Dream Kingdom and started his journey toward redemption.
I'd be lying if I said the ending didn't have me crying once again. It was really satisfying to see Magolor find his way after having lost himself so deeply, especially for me, as I have always had a soft spot for him. I was so proud and happy for him! It was just so incredible to see him hit rock bottom, fight his way back up, confront the monster he once became, and find redemption. We finally got the long-awaited closure for our favorite egg and I couldn't be happier. I truly loved every moment I spent with Magolor in this charming epilogue and I'm looking forward to his future as he continues his happy life as the manager for Merry Magoland and more! It's safe to say that the Magolor Epilogue met my expectations, if not exceeded them... Bravo, Magolor!
Staff Writer, Gigi
After the incredible Heroes in Another Dimension and Isolated Isles: Forgo Dreams, I had high expectations for Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler and they were certainly met. The new bosses, even if most were familiar, felt pretty unique and creative, the combo system and the skill upgrades made the gameplay more engaging, and the music was top-tier. On top of all that, we got more lore and, thankfully this time, actual confirmations of details we have wanted to know rather than mostly vague hints--which I hope marks the start of a new trend going forward! I'm still very neutral to Magolor like I've always been, but I am just glad now that his arc is more complete without key facts about him revealed exclusively outside Kirby games.
****** What do you all think of Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler? Let us know in the comments below or be sure to join in on the conversation over on our social media pages!