Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, known in Japan as Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land (スーパーマリオランド3 ワリオランド, Sūpā Mario Rando Surī Wario Rando?), is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo on the Game Boy in 1994. It is the first video game to feature Wario as both a playable character and the main character, as well as the first appearance of Captain Syrup and her Brown Sugar Pirates, recurring villains in the Wario Land series.
Game overview
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 starts at the end of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins. Wario Land features a theme of greed remarkably different from almost all of Nintendo's other franchises: It is the first game Nintendo has made where the main character's cause is decidedly selfish. There are no princesses to save, no world in peril. There is only one goal: for Wario to earn as much money as possible, in an effort to buy his own massive castle and make Mario jealous. The larger the cash total Wario has collected at the end of the game, the better house (and ending) that Wario will receive.
The Super Mario Land 3 subtitle links the game with the popular Super Mario Land 2. The game also increases its replay value by including a large hidden treasure chest in some levels. The chests (which can only be accessed by finding a special key placed elsewhere in the level) contain special one-of-a-kind treasures, which would each add a considerable amount to Wario's coin total at the end of the game.
Gameplay
Wario with the Bull Cap power-up
Despite being billed as Super Mario Land 3, Wario Land bears little resemblance to its predecessors. Wario Land borrows the system of themed Worlds from Super Mario Land 2 (though this time, the game does not restrict secret levels to be re-entered via secret entrances nor disables any cleared level), but arranges them in a linear route; this allows the game to feature a difficulty curve absent from its non-linear predecessor.
Wario's basic movements in this game reflect the considerable difference that he has from Mario. The most notable difference in gameplay is that Wario (being much tougher than any of the characters on Kitchen Island) doesn't take damage from merely touching an enemy; if he bumps against a foe, he instead will knock it over and be able to carry it. Most enemies wield a weapon; if Wario wants to knock these enemies over, he will have to bump into them from a safe side, not touching their weapon.
Movement is also noticeably different from prior Super Mario Land installments. Whereas Mario's jumps are light and precise, Wario's moves are more brutal and blunt. For example, Wario carries over his shoulder-charging body slam move from the prior game, wherein he smashes any nearby enemy clear off the playing field. Wario is also able to crouch, and slowly crawl in a crouching position. He can also jump while crouching, to reach small gaps above the ground. If Wario has at least 10 coins in his possession, he can pull a large coin from his pocket, and use it as a thrown weapon. Doing this costs 10 coins, but Wario can pick up the coin after throwing it. This is also used at the end of a course to unlock the exit with very few exceptions.
In addition to his basic move list, the game features a variety of caps that act as powerups for Wario, giving him new abilities. In his "normal" form, he wears a pith helmet. The Jet Cap makes Wario almost twice as fast as usual and allows him to fly for short distances. The Dragon Cap shoots flames from its nose (and shoots a limited beam underwater). Finally, there is a Bull Cap that gives Wario even greater strength, a longer shoulder charge distance, the ability to hang on to the ceiling with the horns, and the ability to do a "butt stomp," which can smash blocks with his weight and shake buried objects out of the ground. Also, Wario can collect a Starman that makes him immune to damage from enemies. When Wario takes damage, he shrinks in size, does not wear a hat, and can't do his body slam move. If he takes damage while he is small, he loses a life.
Success and sequels
Wario Land was an attempt to expand the appearance of Wario in Super Mario Land 2 to a starring role and also to expand the Mario universe, which was successful. Wario Land spawned seven popular sequels: VB Wario Land, Wario Land II, Wario Land 3, Wario Land 4, Wario World, Wario: Master of Disguise, and Wario Land: The Shake Dimension.
Reception
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81.00%[2] |
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Wario Land was a huge success in both the NTSC (United States) and JAP (Japan) regions, as well as the PAL (Europe) region, with high sales and a considered "new standard" of platforming games for Nintendo.
Virtual Console
On December 14, 2011, the game was released on the Nintendo 3DS's eShop Virtual Console download service in Japan[1] and can be downloaded along with its predecessors, Super Mario Land and Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, both of which are already available to download.
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