Kirby's Dream Course is an example of the very best in Japanese game development. It came out in the mid-90's when Nintendo was at its high point and the Japanese economy was also at a high point. It was a time when there was a lot of money in game development in a nation that had plenty of money. Investors had both the means and inclination to invest in risky game ideas in a way that has not existed since then.
And it was in that context that this strange game concept was not only green-lighted, but thoroughly developed into a game with high production value. Kirby's Dream Course is packaged as a pseudo-golf game, but it's more accurate to call it a physics-based 3D puzzle game. The open-ended gameplay is challenging, but not frustrating, as is the case in any great puzzle game.
Levels can get fairly complex, with harmful obstacles, conveyor belts, rotating tiles, vector changing tiles, water, spin, special powers, and the always-present bottomless edge of each level. But this complexity is presented within a brilliant user-interface that makes playing and learning the game effortless. The graphics are likewise wonderfully simple. Each level is constructed with tiles and basic shaded shapes that are easy on the eyes and entirely functional. Nothing in the level is there just for show. The functional nature of the graphics takes the headache out of trying to ascertain which parts of the screen to focus on. It is all much appreciated and makes Kirby's Dream Course a pleasure to play.
The highlight of Kirby's Dream Course is the multiplayer. Like every other part of the game, the multiplayer has a high production value. There are dedicated multiplayer courses, additional tiles, voluntary player-handicaps, and attack moves that are wholly offensive. The special powers of the single-player portion are elevated into weapons in multiplayer that not only strike blows against your opponent, but also take valuable strokes from them.
The multiplayer is clearly meant to be more fun than competitive. There is no such thing as dominating a multiplayer game. The turn-based nature of the gameplay means that the other player is always a sitting duck when your turn comes, and likewise for theirs. Consequently, attacks are usually paid back in kind with satisfying revenge. It is a shame that the multiplayer portion of Kirby's Dream Course is limited to 2-players. Being turn based, it could have easily been expanded to 3 or 4 players. But that's a small critique for an otherwise great game. Highly recommended.