Kirby's Dream Land 3

Kirby returned to the Super NES in 1997's Kirby's Dream Land 3, a Nintendo/HAL Laboratories co-production. The game is a sequel to the Game Boy hit Kirby's Dream Land 2 and not to the last Super NES outing Kirby Super Star. The powerups and abilities available resemble those from KDL2 and not KSS, and the animal friends from KDL2 return along with three new pals. The biggest change from previous games is the style of animation used in this title. Backgrounds, levels, and characters are drawn in a pastel/scribble type of sketch in a less refined style as would later be seen in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. This soft look detracted many players, and as such the game was never as big a hit as it could have been.

As mentioned above, Kirby and his animal friends Rick the Hamster, Coo the Owl, and Kine the Fish are back in an all new adventure. An evil force led by King Dedede has invaded Popstar and it's up to Kirby and friends to sent the villain packing. Evil tentacles made of negative energy have enveloped each of the six realms on the planet, and Kirby must progress through each one to bring happiness and joy back to the sad inhabitants of the land. It is possible to complete each level and finish the game without bringing happiness back, but the game will not truly be complete without doing so. Restoring joy involves completing a somewhat secret objective in each level. A tone will sound when Kirby nears someone or something that needs help. Sometimes the job to be done is as simple as not stepping on the flowers and sometimes Kirby must do something more direct, such as defeating Metroids that have invaded one level. At the end of each level is a sad Popstar resident. If the Popstarian cheers up and smiles, then Kirby has met the objective. If not, he has failed. Usually the secret objective is hidden away in a special room, making finding each secret a chore unto itself.

Joining the party are new animal friends Pitch the Bird, Chu Chu the Octopus, and Nago the Cat. Just as in KDL2 animal pals combine with special powers to give Kirby unique abilities. Let's have a look at the list of powers...

• Kirby
  • Broom - Kirby sweeps up. This isn't particularly useful.
  • Cutter - Kirby throws a boomerang cutter. Also destroys rounded blocks with horizontal lines through them.
  • Fire - Kirby becomes a raging fireball. Also destroys solid ice blocks.
  • Ice - Kirby becomes encased in frozen air. Also destroys ice blocks with holes in the center.
  • Parasol - Allows Kirby to float to the ground and protects him from overhead dangers. Also destroys blocks that resemble logs.
  • Spark - Kirby becomes a living electric spark. Also destroys blocks that resemble computer chips.
  • Spike - Spikes protrude from Kirby's body. Also destroys blocks that resemble the five-side of a die.
  • Stone - Kirby becomes a heavy rock. Also destroys blocks that resemble cobblestones.
• Kirby + Rick the Hamster (Can walk on ice without slipping)
  • Broom - Rick wields a long handled duster.
  • Cutter - Kirby becomes the boomerang cutter.
  • Fire - Rick spews flame breath.
  • Ice - A powerful snowman attack.
  • Parasol - Kirby turns into a ball and is balanced on top of the parasol.
  • Spark - The duo are able to shoot lasers.
  • Spike - Sharp spines pop out of Rick's back.
  • Stone - Rick becomes a large boulder which Kirby can roll along the ground.
• Kirby + Coo the Owl (Can fly)
  • Broom - Coo turns into a feather duster for swiping at enemies.
  • Cutter - Coo shoots three feathers.
  • Fire - Coo divebombs the enemy in a flaming swoop.
  • Ice - An ice swoop atack.
  • Parasol - Coo spins 'round at top speed and becomes whirling tornado.
  • Spark - Lightning shoots straight down below the duo.
  • Spike - Kirby becomes pointy, providing protection from hazards below.
  • Stone - Kirby turns into a stone and the duo drop to the ground.
• Kirby + Kine the Fish (Can swim with ease)
  • Broom - A broom pops out of Kine's mouth.
  • Cutter - Kine spits a sonic wave.
  • Fire - Kine spits a fireball (ineffective underwater).
  • Ice - Kine becomes encased in an ice block.
  • Parasol - Kine sticks a parasol out of his mouth.
  • Spark - Kine spits a lightbulb out of his mouth (useful for lighting dark rooms).
  • Spike - Kine becomes sharp with spikes.
  • Stone - Kine turns into a rock.
• Kirby + Pitch the Bird (Can also fly)
  • Broom - Kirby swings Pitch like a golf club and causes a blue blob to go flying in an arc motion.
  • Cutter - Kirby throws Pitch like a boomerang.
  • Fire - Pitch becomes a fireball and flies in a loop.
  • Ice - Pitch blows icy breath.
  • Parasol - Kirby swings the parasol like a golf club, launching Pitch.
  • Spark - Pitch becomes a remote controlled electric zapping machine.
  • Spike - Kirby can use Pitch's beak as a sharp stabbing tool.
  • Stone - Pitch becomes a rock and falls on to the baddies.
• Kirby + Chu Chu the Octopus (Can stick to ceilings)
  • Broom - Kirby and Chu Chu ride the broom like a witch.
  • Cutter - Kirby swings Chu Chu like a blade.
  • Fire - Kirby breathes hot air into Chu Chu, causing her to float like a hot air balloon.
  • Ice - Kirby makes snowballs and Chu Chu tosses them.
  • Parasol - The duo spin around like a top, bashing into baddies.
  • Spark - Chu Chu shoots laser beams.
  • Spike - Spikes shoot from Chu Chu's tentacles.
  • Stone - Chu Chu swings rock-Kirby around and around and around.
• Kirby + Nago the Cat (Can triple jump)
  • Broom - Kirby becomes a bodyboard for Nago to slide along the ground.
  • Cutter - Nago shoots out blades at a 45 degree angle.
  • Fire - Kirby breathes fireballs.
  • Ice - Nago shoots out ice and rockets into the air.
  • Parasol - Nago uses the parasol as a pogo stick.
  • Spark - Nago's fur brims with static electricity.
  • Spike - Nago uses Kirby to shoot spikes horizontally.
  • Stone - Nago uses rock-Kirby as a shield.

There are also several mini games for Kirby to play, such as "Find The Eel", "Which Gordo Was Thrown", and others. Winning a game nets Kirby a prize, such as 1-ups and Maxim Tomoatos. Something else that extends replayability for this game is that second player can join the fun as Kirby's blobby friend Gooey. Gooey has all the same moves as Kirby and can be controlled by either another player or the CPU. Gooey can join the fun when the A Button is pressed on Controller 2. There's a lot going on in KDL3 and luckily there's a save game system to record your progress. The game is saved automatically after each level is completed. The game also records the percentage completed, and obviously 100% is a perfect score.

Kirby's Dream Land 3 is one of the underrated games from the Super NES era and would be Kirby's last traditional 2D side-scrolling platformer until the 2002 Game Boy Advance release Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land. Give KDL3 a try and you won't regret it. The game is usually available in the usual used game places (eBay, used game shops, etc.) as well as being available on the Internet in ROM format. Typically it's the Japanese version that you'll find online (seeing as how that version lacked a level of copy protection that the American version sported), but don't let some non-English text stop you from enjoying some Kirbyriffic fun.

---

References:
Playing the game
http://www.classicgaming.com/kirby/games/dreamland3/dreamland3.txt
http://www.classicgaming.com/kirby/games/dreamland3/abilities