Wario Land 3

"Nintendo made this game because they want you to be happy."

Before going on vacation some time back, I decided to buy a new Gameboy game, because I knew I’d be spending a little quality time with my faithful old GBC (this was back before the Gameboy Advance, back in the old days ^_^). So I’m browsing the shelves trying to decide what game I might get when Wario Land 3 catches my eye. I hadn’t played any of the other Wario Land games so I didn’t know anything about it, but I knew it was made by Nintendo and Big N is one of the only companies that consistently puts out good software for the Gameboy, so better safe than sorry. Little did I know that I was about to play one of the best games ever created.

Graphics:
If the SNES had a 56-color palette, this is what it would look like. Simply put, on an 12-year old 8-bit system, it doesn’t get any better than this. It's nothing to gawk at (it's still the GBC we're talking about here) but you will be amazed that even after all this time, they're still about to squeeze just a little bit more of the old girl…err boy, I mean.
10 out of 10

Sound:
Nothing amazing (still talking about the GBC, people) but it didn't get so monotonous or boring that I had to turn down the volume and I guess that's really all that matters on a GBC game.
8 out of 10

Gameplay:
Now this is where things get interesting. No one buys GBC games for pretty graphics and music, right? Anyway, there are a total of 25 levels. Each of these levels contains 4 treasure chest. The goal of the level is not to run a fast as you possible can to the end of the level because there is no end of the level. You have to try to unlock the chests. But you can't just go through the level grabbing keys and unlocking things willy-nilly. Some chests can't be opened until later in the game when you have gained new abilities.

This is where all the game really starts to get long. Although as I said, it only has 25 levels, you will be required to backtrack extensively through each and every one of these levels in order to reach your goal. You might think this would get boring, but then, you might be wrong. :) When you've gained a new ability such as the Ground Pound or the upgraded Shoulder Rush you'll be able to unlock new areas of each level so that it almost seems like you are in a new level entirely. This removes any potential monotony that might result from backtracking.

Treasure Chests:
I've mentioned this before, but I think it needs it's own sub-heading were I can really go into detail. In each level there are 4 keys and 4 chests. The keys are color coded to the chests they open. Usually only one key is accessible when you enter a level and then the rest have to be gained later. First you find the key, and then you find the chest. It sounds simple enough, but you can be sure there will be plenty of puzzles and enemies to hinder you.

Once you've opened a chest, you'll unleash some kind of magical item that will help you on your progress. Sometimes you might find a saw that will cut down some trees on the world map so you can proceed, or you might find a magic wand that will freeze the river and let you cross. Sometimes to takes more than one thing before something happens.

Puzzles:
This is the one thing about this game that no other portable platformer does. It makes you think. You can just storm in, guns a-blazing, and expect to make it past the first level. You got to use that noodle. Fortunately, it's nothing too major. There are no tile sliding puzzles, and you don't have to rewire an alien spacecraft. But you will have to figure out how to use your enemies to your advantage, which can be pretty tricky.

Say you need to bash through a Yarn Block, but there are no silk worms near-by to turn you into a ball of yarn. You may have to backtrack a ways through the level, find one, and then carry him back to were you needed him at. I know that sounds like pretty simple stuff, but you really have to try it out for yourself to get a feel for what I'm talking about.

Invincibility:
Tired of seeing that same old ''Game Over'' screen? This is the game for you. You see, you can't be killed. You're probably thinking that that makes the game easier, but not so. When certain creatures or objects attack you, you are changed. Running into fire make you become on fire. You will run crazily until finally you are totally engulfed in flames and then you turn to a cinder. Wario then shakes it off like any good fictional videogame character. Some other transformations include Vampire Wario (when you get bitten by bats), Zombie Wario (when you get attacked by a Zombie), frozen Wario (when you get hit by a snowball), etc.

These transformations can be annoying sometimes (imagine you're all the way to the top of a tall tower, and then you get set on fire and Wario runs off the side) but they are also used to advance. Some blocks can only be destroyed by fire, while others require ice, and others have to be hit by a ball of yarn (another of Wario's transformations).

''So what if I fall off a cliff?'' you might ask. There are no bottomless pits. Every pit leads to lower area of the level. ''So I will never, ever get killed, no matter what?'', you ask. Well I wouldn't say that. I don't want to spoil anything, but I can almost guarantee that you will see that dreaded ''Game Over'' screen at least once, no matter how good you are.
10 out of 10


Replay Value:
So you beat the game and now it's all over, right? Wrong. You can beat the game and only have completed about 50% of the game. And put images of Donkey Kong 64 out of you mind, this isn't about collecting a few bananas or gold coins you left behind. We're talking whole levels here that you have not completed. If that doesn't speak for itself, I don't know what I can say that will convince you.

Well, I may not have been completely honest; there are some gold coins to get also. There is a special objective on each level that requires you to collect 8 Gold Coins on each level, in a single visit. This usually can't be completed until you've got all the power up and special abilities, so you'll usually wind up saving that for the end too. I haven't managed to get all the gold coins for a single level yet, so I can't tell you what happens when you do it.
10 out of 10

The Bottom Line: Buy or Rent
This really the only part anyone reads of these things so I'm going to make this count. Wario Land 3 is the best Game Boy game ever to carry the suffix -ario in it. If you understood that, good for you, you can skip the next line. This game is better than any Wario Land game and any Mario Land game for that matter. This is the best platformer game ever to grace the GBC, and if you don't own it already, fix that problem immediately. You won't be disappointed. A resoundingly affirmative BUY!!!!

Final Score: This game goes to 11! Unfortunately, this review only goes to a 10 .

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/09/01, Updated 07/09/01