Kirby's Dream Land 3 (1997). Play online
Game Info
4.2 / 5
- Platform
- SNES
- Genres
- Action · Platformer
- Multiplayer Options
- Split Screen
- Multiplayer Game Modes
- Cooperative
- Player Perspective
- Side view
- Developer Companies
- HAL Laboratory
- Publishers
- Nintendo · Gradiente
- Release date
- 27 November 1997
- Languages
- 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 English
Summary
Kirby's Dream Land 3 (commonly called Dream Land 3) extends the classic SNES platformer with pseudo‑high‑resolution graphics that blend colors between pixels, thanks to the SA‑1 chip. Players guide Kirby across vibrant stages, walking, swimming and floating while using the inhale, Star Spit, Air Gun and copying enemies’ powers for both offense and puzzle solving.
The game’s Animal Friend system deepens gameplay. Gooey, a blue blob, can be controlled by a second player or the computer, and six unique companions alter Kirby’s movement: Rick the hamster gives a high‑jump and wall‑scaling; Coo the owl lets Kirby fly against strong winds and inhale mid‑air; Kine the sunfish improves underwater swimming and inhaling; Nago the cat provides a triple‑jump; Pitch the bird offers varied copy‑ability while limited in flight; and ChuChu the octopus can cling to ceilings and grab items. Swapping friends is often required to clear platform puzzles.
Critically the title scored 66 % on GameRankings and earned a spot at 62 on IGN’s Top 100 SNES games, marking the final Nintendo‑published SNES release in North America.
Storyline
On a peaceful day on Planet Popstar, Kirby is fishing with his buddy Gooey when a mysterious dark cloud rolls in, shattering the planet’s rings and spreading across the world. Coo quickly warns them that Popstar is in danger, and the trio sets off to protect their home in Kirby's Dream Land 3.
The game features two possible endings depending on whether the player gathers every Heart Star. Without a full collection, Kirby first battles King Dedede, who is possessed by Dark Matter, then faces Dedede again after Dark Matter reveals itself. After defeating Dark Matter, the credits show a looming orb with a single red eye—Zero, the leader of the Dark Matter Army.
If all Heart Stars are collected, Kirby still fights Dedede, but then confronts Dark Matter armed with the Love‑Love Stick, forged from the gathered stars. This leads to a showdown with Zero himself. Defeating Zero restores peace to the universe, ending the adventure on a hopeful note.
Edited by Maya Carter
