History YMMV / KirbysReturnToDreamLand

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Magolor thanking Kirby for his help in fixing Lor Star cutter and him stating to hope that they could be friends forever is this as of ''Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition''. While this line was originally implied to just be him sucking up to Kirby to help him get the Master Crown, Magolor's actions in ''Dream Collection'' (he built Kirby an entire theme park as an apology for duping him) make the line genuine.

* CriticalDissonance: Several professional critics at the time of the original game's release gave it middling ratings; they saw it as SoOkayItsAverage at best, with the main criticisms being that [[ItsEasySoItSucks it was too easy]] and [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks it didn't do anything new]] compared to ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' or competing Wii platformers ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' and ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns''. General audiences and ''Kirby'' fans, however, loved the game for being [[GenreThrowback a return to Kirby's roots]] and for [[FranchiseCodifier defining the series' modern formula]] after its AudienceAlienatingEra in the mid-2000s. Hindsight has been more favorable to ''Return to Dream Land'', with it being credited for paving the way to the series' future successes like ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand''.

* CriticalDissonance: Several professional critics at the time of the original game's release gave it middling ratings; they saw it as SoOkayItsAverage at best, with the main criticism being that [[ItsEasySoItSucks it was too easy]] and [[ItsTheSameSoItSucks it didn't do anything new]] compared to ''VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn'' or competing Wii platformers ''VideoGame/NewSuperMarioBrosWii'' and ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns''. General audiences and ''Kirby'' fans, however, loved the game for being [[GenreThrowback a return to Kirby's roots]] and for [[FranchiseCodifier defining the series' modern formula]] after its AudienceAlienatingEra in the mid-2000s. Hindsight has been more favorable to ''Return to Dream Land'', with it being credited for paving the way to the series' future successes like ''VideoGame/KirbyPlanetRobobot'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand''.

* ItsTheSameNowItSucks: Many critics claim that making the game too much like ''Super Star'' and ''Adventure'' brought it down. This is mainly because this game didn't do anything new, compared to the [[AppealToNovelty visual breakthrough]] that was ''[[VideoGame/KirbysEpicYarn Epic Yarn]]'', despite the game being made as an intentional throwback to Kirby's roots.

* TaintedByThePreview: Some fans of the original game have cried foul towards ''Deluxe'''s visual changes, such as having the game in a more cel-shaded style, even though it allows 60 FPS, and the decision to change Dedede's design to his ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' redesign.

* BreatherBoss: Plot-wise, Metal General, who comes in between the climactic fights against the Grand Doomer and Landia. [[spoiler:This was made up for in Extra Mode, where he got the greatest changes, becoming a Sequential Boss with HR-D3. Its appearence pretty much strips him of his Breather boss status in Extra Mode.]]

*** It also plays during the first phase of the [[FallenHero Galacta Knight]] boss fight. Knowing that Galacta was one of the four heroes of yore that [[spoiler:sealed Void Termina]], and that he was thought to be too powerful, it really drives in that Galacta was feeling betrayed by those he was trying to protect.

* TaintedByThePreview: Some fans of the original game have cried foul towards ''Deluxe'''s visual changes, such as having the game in a more cel-shaded style and the decision to change Dedede's design to his ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' redesign.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Some fans of the original game have cried foul towards ''Deluxe'''s visual changes, such as having the game in a more cel-shaded style and the decision to change Dedede's design to his ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' redesign.

* EightPointEight:
** IGN and Gamespot's scores of 7.5 got this reaction.
** Also, [[http://www.negativeworld.org/article.php?id=6814&pagenumber=1 a fan review]] on gaming site ''Negative World'' gave the game the Trope Name's score... but, oddly enough, it was written by ''Matthew "Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily" Taranto'', '''of all people.'''

** Dedede's redesign in the Deluxe version has been frequently called "VideoGame/ClubPenguin Dedede".

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Some fans of the original game have cried foul towards ''Deluxe'''s visual changes, such as having the game in a more cel-shaded style and depicting Dedede with his ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' redesign as opposed to the ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''-esque design he had in the original game.

** Dedede's redesign in the Deluxe version has been frequently called "Club Penguin Dedede".

* TheyChangedItSoItSucks: Some fans of the original game have cried foul towards ''Deluxe'''s visual changes, such as having the game in a more cel-shaded style and depicting Dedede with his ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand'' redesign as opposed to the ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar''-esque design he had in the original game.

* TheyChangedItSoItSucks: Dedede's artstyle in the Deluxe version is in the same style as his Forgotten Land depiction. While some people are okay with it, some feel like it's a weird change, especially with combining his bright color scheme.

* FanNickname: Thanks to ''LetsPlay/TheRunawayGuys'', Magolor has gained the nickname “Sinister [[Series/SesameStreet Elmo]]”.

* MagnificentBastard: [[spoiler:Upon crash landing in Dream Land, Magolor plays the innocent victim to persuade Kirby and his friends into repairing his ship, traveling with him to Halcandra, and defeating the dragon Landia, whereupon he seizes the Master Crown and sets his sights in conquering the rest of the universe, starting with Pop Star. What separates Magolor from the other one-shot villains of the series is his personable and talkative personality, going so far as to earnestly thank Kirby for his help even as he betrays him. Future games would have Magolor [[HeelFaceTurn change for the better]], and ever since his introduction most of the franchise's antagonists have dropped the GenericDoomsdayVillain shtick just to meet the bar he set.]]

** [[spoiler:Magolor himself receives a massive one in the Extra Mode. Magolor Soul is described as an EmptyShell and a manifestation of the Master Crown, implying Magolor wasn't himself. It's driven in further by [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/64/Magolor_Final_Form_Concept_2.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210511001851&path-prefix=en a concept artwork of Magolor's second form]], which implies even further that the Master Crown was controlling Magolor and which, when flipped upside down, looks like Magolor is ''crying''. Combined with the fact that Magolor genuinely appreciates the fact Kirby fixed the Lor and that, if further games are any indication, he genuinely sees Kirby as a friend, it establishes Magolor as a tragic character: he wanted power, and now he got it, but at a huge cost: his friends.]]

* HeartwarmingInHindsight: Magolor thanking Kirby for his help in fixing Lor Star cutter and him stating to hope that they could be friends forever is this as of ''Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition'': while this line was originally implied just to be Magolor sucking up to Kirby to help him get the Master Crown, Magolor's actions in ''Dream Collection'' (he built Kirby an entire team park as an apology for duping him) make the line be genuine.

** Meta Knight can use his Shuttle Loop from ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' in this game. It eats at boss HP like crazy and it's very spammable. Wing Kirby has the same ability and several air dashes that let him blow through stages nearly completely invincible, although SomeDexterityRequired.

* EightPointEight:
** IGN and Gamespot's scores of 7.5 got this reaction.
** Also, [[http://www.negativeworld.org/article.php?id=6814&pagenumber=1 a fan review]] on gaming site ''Negative World'' gave the game the Trope Name's score... but, oddly enough, it was written by ''Matthew "Webcomic/BrawlInTheFamily" Taranto'', '''of all people.'''

** [[spoiler:Magolor himself receives a massive one in the Extra Mode. Magolor Soul is described as an EmptyShell and a manifestation of the Master Crown, implying Magolor wasn't himself. It's driven in further by [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/64/Magolor_Final_Form_Concept_2.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210511001851&path-prefix=en a concept artwork of Magolor's second form]], which implies even further that the Master Crown was controlling Magolor and, which flipped upside down, it looks like Magolor is ''crying''. Combined with the fact that Magolor genuinely appreciates the fact Kirby fixed the Lor and that, if further games are any indication, he genuinely sees Kirby as a friend, it establishes Magolor as a tragic character: he wanted power, and now he got it, but at a huge cost: his friends.]]

** [[spoiler:Magolor himself receives a massive one in the Extra Mode. Magolor Soul is described as an EmptyShell and a manifestation of the Master Crown, implying Magolor wasn't himself. It's driven in further by [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/64/Magolor_Final_Form_Concept_2.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210511001851&path-prefix=en a concept artwork of Magolor's second form]], which implies even further that the Master Crown was controlling Magolor and, which flipped upside down, it looks like Magolor is ''crying''. Combined with the fact that Magolor genuinely appreciates the fact Kirby fixed the Lor and that, if further games are any indication, he genuinely sees Kirby as a friend, also make this sad for Magolor: he wanted power, and now he got it, but at a huge cost: his friends.]]

** [[spoiler:Magolor himself receives a massive one in the Extra Mode. Magolor Soul is described as an EmptyShell and a manifestation of the Master Crown, implying Magolor wasn't himself. It's driven in further by [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kirby/images/6/64/Magolor_Final_Form_Concept_2.jpeg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210511001851&path-prefix=en a concept artwork of Magolor's second form]], which implies even further that the Master Crown was controlling Magolor and, which flipped upside down, it looks like Magolor was ''crying''. Combined with the fact that Magolor genuinely appreciates the fact Kirby fixed the Lor and that, if further games are any indication, he genuinely sees Kirby as a friend, also make this sad for Magolor: he wanted power, and now he got it, but at a huge cost: his friends.]]

*** Against [[HeroAntagonist Landia]] itself, it's because of Landia's status as a HeroAntagonist; they were merely trying to ensure [[ArtifactOfDoon the Master Crown]] doesn't fall into wrong hands... [[spoiler:like Magolor's.]] It gets worse when VideoGame/TeamKirbyClashDeluxe introduces [[FallenHero Parallel Landia]], who is stated to have succumbed to [[spoiler: the Master Crown's evil]].