Wario World

"The Anti-hero on the Gamecube..."

I've been a fan of Wario ever since he was introduced in Super Mario Land 2: The Six Golden Coins. I loved stealing treasure in Wario Land. Ever since then, Wario has been my main choice in every Mario Kart and Party I've ever played. But Wario's solo debut on the Gamecube didn't live up to the popularity of the series. Maybe I was expecting too much, considering my experiences with Wario Land. Maybe I was hoping too much for the continuation of the Wario series. Whatever the reason, Wario World just doesn't deliver the same satisfaction as its predecessors.

The developers of Wario World had to come up with a story that not only could remain true to the usual Wario gameplay, but also remain new and innovative. Unfortunately, the developers chose to stay true to the standard Wario story formula, sacrificing the plot in the process. Wario has reaped the benefits of plundering innocent people. He's built a castle for him to admire both his immense treasure and himself. Little does Wario know that an evil jewel lay hidden in his treasure vault. This evil jewel used magic to change Wario fortune into monsters and kick Wario out of the castle. Fuming at the loss of his treasure, Wario vows to get revenge and get his treasure back, one monster at a time. You play as Wario trying to regain your wealth. You have to play through a few stages and bash anything that gets in your way.

Wario games are usually side-scrolling platform games. Wario World is no different; the game has three dimensional characters with two dimensional backgrounds. This game is still focused on linear platforming. Your goal is to get from one end of the stage to the other, attacking enemies to get coins. Wario uses both new and old attacks, including charging and executing pile-drives. The coins only real purpose is to buy continues when and if you die. With the bountiful coins and easy enemies, it would be hard for you to need to spend coins on continues.

Also, there are several trap doors which lead to special obstacle courses. At the end of each obstacle course, there is a red gem that needs to be used to unlock the exit to the level. These obstacle courses are the best aspect of the gameplay. Unlike the regular side-scrolling stages, the obstacle courses are in three dimensions. While the objective of obtaining the red gems seems simple, the actual challenge gets progressively harder in the later levels. Wario usually has to jump from platform to platform, eventually obtaining the red gem. However, there can be many variations of one theme. One obstacle course may require Wario to jump vertically while rotating the camera angle, while another obstacle course may require Wario to avoid spikes and enemies while remaining on a single platform. While the introduction of the obstacle courses presents a challenge, it doesn't make up for the basic linear gameplay of the regular levels.

Unfortunately, this game is far too short to be enjoyable. There are only a few places in a level with concentrated enemy presence. Wario can decimate these few groups of enemies in only a few pile-drives and rushes. While Wario games are essentially beat-em up platformers, there is no real challenge to be found in the regular levels. Most enemies can be taken out with a single pile-drive or rush. Groups of small enemies can be taken out in a single attack if executed properly. The bosses do not pose much of a challenge either. As with any video game boss, the bosses of Wario World have an exploitable weakness. The weaknesses are made so clear that any gamer could spot them instantly. We all know that Wario has as much strength as he does greed, but does that mean that poor enemy design should result from it? Overall, the gameplay is simplistic at best. While Wario World may seem to look better than its predecessors with its graphics, new moves and enemies, there isn't anything really new to the overall stage gameplay.

While the gameplay is mediocre, the graphics save this game. Wario World has some of the finest graphics on the Gamecube lineup. The levels are short, but they are detailed well enough. You can see the heat produced when Wario does his rushing attack. His pile-drives and spinning attacks are executed with excellent precision. The sound is well done. You can hear the emphasis of Wario's fake Italian accent. While the background music of the stages isn't memorable, the irritating pause screen music will haunt you even after you've stopped playing.

Overall, this is just another Wario game. Yes, it's decent, but just not what some gamers are looking for. Wario World is short enough to be considered a rental for a rainy afternoon.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/23/04