I played it. I loved it.

Kirby games aren't really the kinds of games that you overanalyze and meticulously pick apart. Not because there isn't anything of substance, or that they are perfect, but because the focus of the games tends to veer away from mechanical depth, and into aesthetics.

In that regard, KDL3 is easily the game that sticks out the most on the entire SNES. The visuals are genuinely impressive by today's standards, not necessarily in fidelity, but in art direction. Kirby always has striking character designs, but they are amplified here by the pseudo-hand drawn art mimicked by the pixel art. As someone who literally just played KDL3 for the first time, I don't have to consider the context of when the game was made when determining a lot of the aesthetics, which is something I can't say for many titles on the SNES. Genuinely great stuff here, which really amplifies the whole vibe of the game.

I've tried playing other Kirby games, but have only really enjoyed my time with this and Kirby 64. I hope that I can like the other games at some point too, but I think I can directly credit my disinterest in the other games to their lack of focus. Kirby doesn't really compete with other games in the same genre when it comes to raw gameplay, so the focus shouldn’t be on the gameplay, at least in my opinion.

This isn’t to say that Kirby has bad gameplay, but it's far from the most interesting thing the games offer, mostly due to Kirby being a franchise aimed for less experienced players. The other titles I’ve played seem to get right into the action and neglect building atmosphere. You can see the shift in focus directly in the power-ups as well, which have far more moves in the other games. Kirby controls tighter, the general speed of gameplay is increased, the list goes on and on of other small changes. In other 2D platformers, I would welcome those changes, but from what I’ve played of these other titles, they don’t have as engaging second to second gameplay, or as varied level design. Once again, Kirby is aimed at kids, so it makes sense that they can’t ramp up the difficulty, but this is precisely why I’ve found myself falling head over heels for KDL3 and K64.

Genuinely great games that don’t overstay their welcome, have enough interesting ideas to fill out the whole run time, and leave a lasting impression on me are few and far between. Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is able to achieve this with a much shorter run time, the unique gameplay gimmick inherent to all Kirby games (his copy ability), and the incredible atmosphere the game builds. I’m glad KDL3 turned out so great, and I look forward to playing the third and final game directed by Shinichi Shimomura in the future.

This game genuinely holds up to modern Kirby titles, especially the 2D ones. There aren't many abilities, but that is made up for by the 6 animal companions you can find and ride in different levels, which all give each power ability a new, unique spin. The levels are hit or miss, but the ones that hit truly hit. The bosses are a joy, and BOY that final boss is really fun. The controls are okay, not perfect, but still a really nice and obvious improvement over Dream Land 1&2. This game EXCELS when it comes to the personality of the characters though. Not only are the creatures unique and fun (they even get upset/sad when you choose other creatures over them, it's heartbreaking), but the side characters and enemies you encounter along the way are SO cute and fun. You can just feel the love the team poured into every crevice of this wonderful game.

No Maglor though 0/10

The only thing this game has going for it is its crayon aesthetic which really fits Kirby’s world well. But everything else makes this a slog. Kirby moves around stiff and slowly, there’s only a few copy abilities and they’re all not that great, same with the animal friends who sometimes feel more like a hindrance than a power-up. Levels are long, repetitive and annoying, and then getting the true ending requires solving vague tedious puzzles in each one. Just an overall dull Kirby game.

Kirby Series Ranked

One of the more visually unique looking Kirby games and, in my opinion, one of the best to play cooperatively!

It's extremely easy but, also really comfy, it's a game that wants you to have fun and nothing else!

I do think that Crystal Shards does a lot of what this game attempts to do but better, but this one's still unique enough to give a playthrough!

Kirby's Dream Land 3 es la tercera entrega en la trilogía de Kirby's Dream Land, y presenta probablemente el mejor apartado gráfico y artístico de Super Nintendo, junto con una banda sonora memorable, como es de costumbre en la saga de la bolita rosa.

Sin embargo, Dream Land 3 resultó demasiado lento para mí. El movimiento de Kirby en este juego es quizá el más lento de toda la saga, y esto solo puede remediarse a través del uso de alguno de los animales, que sirven de montura/powerup en la saga desde Dream Land 2. A diferencia de Dream Land 2, controlar únicamente a Kirby no resulta satisfactorio en este juego, y por ende no fui capaz de terminarlo -apenas finalicé el primer mundo-.

En otro momento me gustaría retomar Kirby's Dream Land 3, pero por ahora mi nota es 4.5/10.

it's fine, it's kinda on the same level as super star for me, it would seem the SNES wasn't great for kirby games in my opinion... a step back from kirby's adventure for sure.

the levels weren't as fun, the overall pacing of the game was much, much slower. and i feel like unless you really epxlored every nook and cranny to try and help out all the little dudes of each level, there isn't much point? idk, it just felt like there was no incentive to me. the little animal buddy dudes changing up your abilities was super cool however, i liked that aspect a lot.

maybe if the game's level were better this would've been more fun to play through but i felt done with the game after the 2nd world personally.

music and visuals were as fun and bouncy as always for a kirby entry. the visuals were especially unique for a SNES title, sorta reminiscent of yoshi's island.

overall not a terrible package, just not terribly fun to me. would recommend to more hardcore kirby fans rather than... well, me. someone who isn't particularly into kirby.

On most accounts, Dream Land 3 is a better version of Dream Land 2. The story is nearly identical but is now presented on a wider scale, there are more new animal friends (plus a single new copy ability lol) which means more new ability combos, the coloring book art style is absolutely adorable, most of the collectables aren't a pain in the ass to get this time, and the final boss is even better and more existentially horrifying than before!

Where Dream Land 3 falters however, like Dream Land 2, is still the level design. Don't get me wrong, it's nowhere NEAR as obnoxious as Dream Land 2's level design, but now its morso just kinda bland. As of writing this review I've already forgotten most of the levels, they've already left my head like rain off of an umbrella. Not to mention this might be the stiffest controlling Kirby game to date. I very much do NOT like how this game controls which is rare for this series. Really ironic how Dream Land 1 is still my favorite of the Dream Land trilogy despite having the least amount of content. It's also the one I have the least amount of problems with so what does that say

Every animal Buddy here is amazing. In many ways they are their own games. They change the feel and affect what puzzles you get. Their moves and properties are slightly different and then get modified by Kirby’s powers. It’s great and the biggest boon to this game. The minute I realized using rock with Nago the cat is drumming me and using rock with Rick is rolling? It changes your play style and that moment to moment gameplay change is what I love. Especially when you can carry powers in new levels from previous ones with previous animals not found in the new level. I wasn’t good enough to do that all the time but it was always a sense of success when that happened. Seriously can we just praise that using pitch is literally Kirby using him like a remote control ?!?! Gosh is this design work charming as hell.

I will admit , that the levels themselves feel not too memorable. Well let me rephrase the locals in the first 2.5 worlds aren’t anything I will remember but I will remember the objectives. See the additional piece that Kirby Dreamland 3 has is hidden objectives. At the end of each stage there is a person or item that will reward you if you did the hidden objective. It feels so rewarding if you did it by accident or just based on the level select icon you could figure it out. But admittedly so, it’s very esoteric. It gives them replay value , and you start playing with the eye open to look for moments or things that seem fishy. I like this more than collectibles (I mean you get a collectible but it’s not the same). Instead you feel like you are solving a puzzle than just being extremely skilled. I will say puzzles as worlds evolved felt more and more confusing, and I didn’t feel compelled to do 100%, but I can also see a small itch to try.

The detriment to this game has a lot to do with speed. Kirby is slow, and at first I felt that the critique that the game being slow was bad was unwarranted, I am starting to understand why they exist. In world 1&2 going T the speed/pace of Kirby movement is actually something that synergizes with the puzzle elements of the levels. I would go slowly and just kinda look for opportunities with the expectation that the game won’t be challenging in just completion. Instead going for 100% would be challenging . This worked until levels 3 and beyond. Certain obstacles to just finish the level without the puzzle required nimble platforming skills, and that felt like it was working against how Kirby moved. The animal buddies help increase the pace but sometimes feel like interruptions to certain platforming challenges . This Interference vibe persists with how I began to feel with the copy abilities by . The copy abilities outside of 2 of them really slow you down and the animal buddies open it up but in later portions of the game with more challenging platforming or more tricky enemy placement, it feels like going solo no power was not just viable but more flexible and rewarding.

Lastly, Ado is amazing. The final boss battles are challenging and memorable. This is a neat game with neat ideas with a stronger second half. However the nitpicks pile up and I can’t sense whether or not doing this again will be satiating , and 100% is not my thing.