Stepping back into the pixelated world of Lolo and Lala is always a treat, and the third main installment on the Nintendo Entertainment System, Adventures of Lolo 3, delivered a fantastic, challenging conclusion to the NES trilogy. Released by HAL Laboratory, this game took the core puzzle formula players loved and layered in new twists, enemies, and a grander quest. If you spent hours guiding these adorable protagonists through tricky rooms, number three probably holds a special, perhaps slightly frustrating, place in your retro heart.
The Story So Far (Or, How Did We Get Here?)
The plot in Adventures of Lolo 3 escalates the stakes. This time, it's not just one person kidnapped; the Great King's son has gone full villain, turning Lolo and Lala's friends into stone! Our heroic duo must once again venture through perilous lands, solve intricate environmental puzzles, and confront the royal brat to save everyone. It’s a simple premise, but it sets the stage for a truly epic puzzle adventure across various themed areas.
What Made Lolo 3 Different?
While the core gameplay of collecting Heart Framers and using abilities like eggs and bridges remained, Adventures of Lolo 3 introduced some notable changes that kept the formula fresh and challenging:
- New Hazards: Crumbling bridges were a major addition, requiring careful planning as they could only be crossed twice before disappearing forever. This added a temporal element to puzzles.
- New Enemies: The underwater dwelling Moby was a memorable (and often annoying) foe. If you crossed its line of sight, it would pull you towards it, often into danger.
- Quality of Life: Pressing the Select button now gave you a "give up" option, restarting the room without costing a life. This was a welcome feature for those moments you knew you were stuck or made a mistake early. The Start button brought up the overworld map or, crucially, revealed the password for your progress.
- Unlimited Lives: Unlike previous games, Lolo 3 offered unlimited lives. This might sound easier, but the difficulty was simply shifted to the complexity of the puzzles themselves, encouraging experimentation without the fear of a game over.
Players could also choose to control either Lolo or Lala on the overworld map, though their dialogue in tutorial rooms was the only real difference.
The Puzzle Gauntlet
Adventures of Lolo 3 was packed with content. The game featured 17 levels containing a staggering 100 puzzle rooms. On top of that, there were nine boss rooms and ten training rooms spread across the map, often hidden within large tree icons. The sheer number and variety of puzzles meant you were constantly facing new challenges and learning how different enemies and objects interacted. The difficulty ramped up steadily, culminating in some truly brain-bending late-game rooms.
Why It Still Holds Up
Even today, Adventures of Lolo 3 remains a highly regarded puzzle game. Its simple graphics are charming, the music is catchy and fits the mood, and the core puzzle design is incredibly solid. It's a game that requires observation, planning, and sometimes a bit of trial and error, offering immense satisfaction when you finally crack a difficult room. Critics at the time praised it universally, with Entertainment Weekly even listing it among the top games of 1991.
Where to Find Lolo Today
If you're feeling nostalgic or want to experience this classic for the first time, tracking down Adventures of Lolo 3 might require a few options:
- Original Hardware: Finding an NES console and the original cartridge is the most authentic, albeit potentially expensive, route.
- Emulation: Playing via emulators on PC or other devices is a popular way to revisit NES classics.
- Collections/Virtual Console: Keep an eye out for official retro game collections or virtual console releases on modern platforms, as Lolo games occasionally appear.
No matter how you play it, Adventures of Lolo 3 is a fantastic example of classic NES puzzle design at its finest.
Adventures of Lolo 3 FAQ
Q: Is Adventures of Lolo 3 the last game in the series? A: No, there were later games on other platforms like the Game Boy (Adventures of Lolo) and Super Famicom (Lolo no Daibouken), but Lolo 3 was the final main entry on the NES.
Q: How many levels are in Lolo 3? A: Adventures of Lolo 3 has 17 levels, containing a total of 100 puzzle rooms, 9 boss rooms, and 10 training rooms.
Q: Can I play as Lala throughout the whole game? A: You can select Lala on the overworld map, and she will be the character you control. Her dialogue in tutorial rooms is different, but gameplay is identical to Lolo.
Q: Is Lolo 3 harder than Lolo 1 and 2? A: Difficulty is subjective, but Lolo 3 introduces new mechanics and complex room layouts that many players find challenging, even with unlimited lives.
