I’d describe it more like the Event Mode with a large focus on the spirits (which are like the Stickers from Brawl with an RPG leveling system and Tamagotchi-like elements). Most of the fights are with spirits, that recreate an element of that character (Bomberman being a Link who favors down specials, Snorlax being King K Rools who will just stand there in a stamina battle, etc.). The spirit will join you after you have defeated it, which you can equip to help it help you in battle. Certain Spirits can also affect the world you travel (Kapp’n lending you his boat, etc.). There are no side scrolling sections in World of Light (at least what I’ve seen so far),