Couldn't wait for "Kirby's Air Ride," so I played the City Trial in "Air Ride" and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still find it enjoyable today.
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/897/G089768/20251029046/
Writer: Okudosu Kumada | 2025/11/07 03:00 (UTC)
With the release date of Kirby Air Ride just two weeks away—November 20, 2025!
Every time new info drops, my heart races. Before I know it, I’m counting down the days on my fingers. At this moment, when “Kirby’s Air Ride Direct 2 2025.10.23” was released, packed with so many different gameplay elements, I bet a lot of people exclaimed out loud: “Wait—is this really just one game?! Please let me play it already!”
As one such person, what I’m most eager to see is how City Trial will evolve in this new installment.
City Trial, the multiplayer mode featured in Kirby Air Ride’s predecessor for Nintendo GameCube, Kirby’s Air Ride, involves racing through city streets on air bikes, collecting power-ups to upgrade your machine, and finally settling the score at the stadium. As previously announced, it returns as one of the main modes in Air Ride. Furthermore, various aspects have been significantly enhanced—and now, with up to 16 players per match and team battles available! I can’t wait to see what chaotic mayhem awaits.
Back in 2003, when Air Ride launched, I was a kid who would spend endless after-school and weekend hours completely devouring City Trial. Now, with the anticipation building, all I can think is: “I just want to play City Trial already!” Yes, it’ll be available during the online trial event on November 8th—“Kirby’s Air Ride Try Ride”—but honestly… I can’t wait.
…And before I knew it, I’d pulled out my Nintendo GameCube and was playing Air Ride again.
※ The screenshots of Kirby’s Air Ride shown below were captured while playing on the original Nintendo GameCube. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.001 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
After playing City Trial again after many years, I realized something:
“This mode is still incredible—even now.”
Before starting, I’d thought, “Surely nostalgia must be coloring my memory,” but that wasn’t the case at all.
In this article, I’ll jot down what struck me while replaying Air Ride’s City Trial anew. For longtime fans, it may spark memories ahead of Air Ride. For newcomers discovering City Trial for the first time, perhaps these thoughts will give a hint about what kind of fun awaits. Even just that much would make me happy.
Randomness and the Stadium: Why You Keep Playing
The reason City Trial remains fun even today lies in one essential element—the game’s win condition itself changes randomly every time.
You race through the city collecting power-ups, upgrade your air bike, then face off at the stadium. The entire flow is enjoyable on its own—but what keeps it endlessly replayable is that each session unfolds differently.
The base playtime is 5 minutes, but you can adjust it between 3 to 7 minutes depending on preference. Back in the day, I’d set it to 7 minutes just to pack as much fun into one round as possible—surely many kids did too? Thumbnail image for Gallery No.003 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
Players gather power-ups scattered across the city, swap bikes with different stats, and sometimes even sabotage opponents to strengthen their own machine. But here’s the twist: the stadium match condition changes randomly every time—will it be a race, a battle, or a distance contest? No one knows until play begins.
For example, even if you’ve maxed out speed and acceleration, a flight-distance contest will be impossible if your flying ability is low. Conversely, if you’ve focused on flight but the final match turns into combat, insufficient attack or defense stats could spell trouble.
And that unpredictability brings tension and a thrilling sense of “I can still win if I don’t give up!”
Even if you didn’t collect many power-ups, you can stay motivated with the thought: “As long as I win in the stadium!” Likewise, even when things are going smoothly, knowing the final match could go any way keeps you from slacking off until the end.
This mix of one-shot comebacks and steady progress is rewarded—there’s no doubt that this mode isn’t just “luck-based.” The balance between luck and skill is perfectly tuned.
Sometimes a hint appears mid-game—the “Stadium Prediction”—telling you which stadium awaits. But even those hints can be wrong. After years away, I encountered one again and actually exclaimed: “This is just pure luck!” Thumbnail image for Gallery No.006 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
Furthermore, the sheer variety of stadium rules adds to the mode’s appeal.
Speed, flight height, number of enemies defeated—each is a completely different kind of gameplay. Back then, it felt like playing multiple games within one title—and that was exciting.
The goal changes drastically with each playthrough, giving every session a fresh experience. Revisiting Kirby’s Air Ride made me realize: this structure is the true essence of City Trial. No wonder I’d lose track of time and end up playing for hours back then—I now fully understand why.
Events Spark Small Dramas in the City, Play by Play
When talking about City Trial, you can’t overlook the role of events.
Randomly during gameplay, the city might suddenly be shrouded in fog, power-ups might turn soft and bounce around like jelly, or all sorts of strange occurrences unfold.
Some events help players; others hinder them—some are just “entertainment.” Even if they don’t affect victory directly, they energize players and shift the atmosphere of the city. That feeling of “something’s happening in the city” is one of the main reasons you’ll want to play again—and again.
I said some events were like “just entertainment,” but even ones like meteor showers aren’t just flashy effects—they’re part of what makes this mode fun and chaotic. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.010 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
When a giant flying object loaded with power-ups approaches from above, or when massive rocks that drop items upon destruction appear—players spring into action. You can race to claim the loot, or ambush other players gathering around. While the core gameplay is about quietly upgrading your bike alone, these events create a temporary goal and spark small stories in each session.
Because of this variety of mechanics, every playthrough feels like a unique story—and that’s why it sticks with you. The chaos and laughter brought by random events are all part of what makes this mode so special.
Over time, you develop your own favorite event—personally, I loved the one where fake power-ups appeared among real ones, just because of how “fake” they felt. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.012 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
And let’s not forget—City Trial’s world is simply beautiful.
Fields, forests, skyscrapers, volcanoes, aerial gardens, castles… every corner looks like a painting. Deep in the woods are Whisper Woods; on top of the volcano lives a giant dragon. These little discoveries are scattered everywhere.
Just driving around feels great—just looking at the scenery is enjoyable. Even in “Drive Mode,” just wandering aimlessly without a thought, I’d sometimes realize an hour had passed.
Of course, compared to today’s games, graphics are modest and maps aren’t massive—but that charm hasn’t faded. There’s warmth to it, and even now, looking at it, you can still think: “What a nice town.”
Whisper Woods live in the forest—touch them and they cry! Thumbnail image for Gallery No.013 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
And the setting of Air Ride, Skyar, which I saw in trailers—feels like it inherits that same charm but on an even grander scale.
If a town packed with fun and clever design elements is now expanded into a much bigger world, well… there’s no choice but to be excited. With “Drive Mode” also included, who knows how many hours I’ll spend wandering the streets this time?
Thumbnail image for Gallery No.016 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today The castle towering in the distance. When you reach its highest point… Thumbnail image for Gallery No.017 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today …a cute pink flower, matching Kirby’s style, blooms. I bet there’ll be plenty of such discoveries in Skyar in Air Ride.
Collect Parts and Fly Off! The Legendary Air Rides Are Cool
And of course, you can’t miss the Air Ride machines themselves. Beyond their differing stats, each one has a strong visual personality—riding any of them instantly raises your energy level.
Among all these machines, two stand out as truly special:
The legendary Air Rides—the “Hydra” and the “Dragoon.”
Unlike regular bikes that simply appear on the map, these are special machines that can only be completed by collecting three scattered parts hidden throughout the city. The moment an icon appears indicating a red container with parts inside—or when you finally reach it—the thrill of “Found it!” or “It’s here!” is still as strong today.
Icon spotted! That rush of excitement hasn’t changed since childhood. There’s a confirmed spot where part-containing containers appear, and I remembered that detail perfectly. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.018 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
Hydra is a heavyweight machine that pours everything into top speed and attack power—literally crushing opponents on impact. Dragoon, in contrast, glides through the air with ease and handles ground terrain just as well—a versatile all-rounder. The flight handling still feels incredible today—the performance far surpasses other Air Rides, and its cool design makes riding it incredibly exhilarating.
That said, completing a legendary machine doesn’t make you invincible.
Hydra struggles in distance contests due to low flight capability; Dragoon has no clear weakness but can still lose to opponents who specialize in one particular stat. Losing while riding a legendary machine is actually quite embarrassing.
Still, depending on the stadium rules, losing happens—this balance is part of what makes this mode so fun.
The photo shows Hydra: when all three parts are collected, it assembles with a clank, and Kirby jumps aboard! That cinematic moment still gives me chills today. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.020 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today Thumbnail image for Gallery No.021 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
…Now, a little memory: There was a tactic where you could destroy opponents’ machines one by one and reduce them all to the basic “Light Star” model (a weak starting bike) before the stadium. Against CPU players, it felt incredibly satisfying—but against human opponents, winning came at the cost of losing in friendship mode! Hydra had that kind of destructive power—though it depended on who was using it.
Because of this, I remember as a kid, once completing Hydra, I’d feel awkward and end up driving cautiously instead.
But now? With adult confidence (maybe?), I tried destroying machines during my recent CPU matches—and still… I’m not sure if I could do that against real people. It feels like the same nervous excitement from childhood again.
Anyway, according to previously released info, these machines will be further evolved in Kirby’s Air Ride.
Not only are new machine types being added, but customizable features like “Your Machine” (for creating your own unique bike) and combinations with riders have also been revealed. The ability to “raise” your favorite machine personally is one of the most exciting aspects of this game.
The photo shows Kirby’s Air Ride. By the way, I’ve always loved the “Devil Star” model since childhood—simple reason: it looks cool! And since it appears in Air Ride, I can’t wait to ride it around. Thumbnail image for Gallery No.024 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
The “Clear Checker” Offers Casual Play and Deep Grinding
Another reason City Trial keeps you coming back is the “Clear Checker.”
It’s a system of achievements or challenges—like collecting 5 healing items in one session, or winning 3 times at the stadium. As you complete each task, rewards unlock: new colors for Kirby, additional stadiums, and more. While not exclusive to City Trial (it’s shared across all modes), it fits this mode perfectly.
Because outcomes depend heavily on luck—event triggers, stadium rules—it’s common to get stuck on certain tasks. When that happens, you naturally start thinking: “Let me try targeting that event this time,” or “Today I’ll go with a battle-focused machine.” This expands your gameplay in exciting ways.
Having these long-term goals means even one-off sessions feel satisfying—yet there’s also endless depth if you want to grind. The rewards are generous, and completing them becomes its own motivation. The cycle of “play around the city → fight at the stadium → complete achievements” feels natural—and your progress truly takes shape.
Back then, such achievement systems felt fresh and new—even though as a kid I just played for fun. Now, replaying it, I realize: this game was designed to satisfy both casual players and core gamers alike.
With detailed info about Air Ride’s Clear Checker now revealed in the “Kirby’s Air Ride Direct 2 2025.10.23”, I think I’ll approach it as an adult core gamer this time.
City Trial returns in Air Ride with its iconic grid-style Clear Checker—complete with rewards! (Photo captured from “Kirby’s Air Ride Direct 2 2025.10.23”) Thumbnail image for Gallery No.026 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
City Trial Is Just Plain Amazing
After replaying it after so long, my first thought was: “Ah yes—this is exactly what I remembered!”
Losing track of time while driving through the city, getting excited every time an event happens, then giving everything you’ve got at the final stadium. That flow? Still absolutely thrilling.
The 5-minute session length is perfect.
Compact yet satisfying, easy to play during short breaks—so you can feel content after just one round… but before you know it, you’re deep in a loop of multiple plays. Actually, while writing this article, I meant to check “What happened at that spot?” and ended up playing dozens of matches.
Today, game designs like City Trial aren’t rare anymore. Randomness-based multiplayer games—like roguelikes or battle royales—are now commonplace.
I myself enjoy such games often—but looking back, it was probably City Trial that first taught me the joy of randomness and replayability. I’m sure many people in my generation who love these genres were similarly “brain-burned” by City Trial (though this is just my personal belief).
This article focused on City Trial, but Kirby’s Air Ride has plenty of other modes worth rediscovering.
“Wear Ride”, which I didn’t play much back then, now feels addictive—its minimalist design and unique controls are surprisingly compelling. The fact that it’s being upgraded for Air Ride makes me even more excited.
After revisiting it after so long, I finally understood the charm of “Wear Ride.” Thumbnail image for Gallery No.030 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
Race mode (Air Ride) courses and BGM also retain their timeless charm. I’d been thinking, “I’m excited for Air Ride—but wouldn’t it be great if we could play Air Ride on Switch too?” Then I heard they’re including the original course designs and music in Air Ride. That’s when I thought: “They really know how to hit an old fan right in the heart!”
This is one of the race courses from Air Ride—the “Galaxx,” a stage and soundtrack I loved. Ah… I can’t wait to speed through that space again in Air Ride! Thumbnail image for Gallery No.031 / “Can’t wait for Kirby’s Air Ride? Played City Trial from ‘Air Ride’ and thought about why I was obsessed as a child—and still enjoy it today
Freedom, competition, chance, growth, and chaos—Kirby’s Air Ride, a game over 20 years old, still connects with today’s era through its timeless core. It doesn’t feel outdated; I can say without hesitation it’s not just nostalgia.
Inside this small sandbox called City Trial lies the essence of fun in all forms. After playing again, I’m convinced: This game is amazing. So incredibly fun!
So the release of Kirby’s Air Ride, with all its power-ups and expanded content—really, truly—I can’t wait any longer. Let’s start with November 8th’s “Try Ride” event… in Skyar!