On the outside it may not seem so; but if you strip it down, this really is the best stand-alone game in the series.
The sound is pretty much on the same level. The BGM is actually very well done, and fits in with all the levels perfectly. I actually love it a lot since it really emphasizes how huge the game is when you hear the music; it's hard to explain. The sound effects are pretty much par. Although good, they're the same from previous installments.
The game plays as any DKC game would in it's own respects. Run, jump, throw barrels, jump on enemies, find secrets, ride animals, beat bosses. etc.; not that it doesn't do a great job, which it does. The game is simply fun to play, and it has a lot of variety to keep you interested.
Donkey Kong Country 3 features a lot of new additions that actually add a lot of depth to the classic DK formula; the most prominant being the world map enhancements. You can now freely explore and move around, find secrets, and actually travel to different areas and do a lot of different things before you jump into a new level. A lot of new animal buddies and "vehicles" have been added that keep the gameplay fresh as well. That being said, a lot of people may argue that this installment was too similar to previous ones, and they may be right. It still has the same run-and-jump and throw barrels gameplay aspects, but that formula was so awesome to begin with that it's not really a con in my opinion.
The best thing about this latest installment in the series is that it's the biggest out of all 3. Not only does it have the most levels, it'll take you a long time to complete it your first time through, and there's an insane amount of collectibles throughout the entire world; so much so in fact that beating it for the first time may only run you around 60% completion! There's so much to explore, so many cool secrets to find, hidden items, and bonus levels that it warrants playing through each stage at least 2 or 3 more times a must. If you look really hard, you'll always find new secrets no matter how many times you beat it.
On the outside it may not seem so; but if you strip it down, this really is the best stand-alone game in the series. You couldn't get a better bang for your buck when this came out, and it's a shame it isn't considered to be up to the standards set by the previous games. If you were mental about the first 2 games, this one may not excite you as much; but that's no reason to toss this game to the side. It's just the right level for younger players to jump in, and it's incredibly deep for hardcore players to get their fill. With huge worlds, awesome secrets and graphics, and fun classic DK gameplay, you can't go wrong.