Summary

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 offers a unique twist on the platformer genre, inviting players to embark on a treasure hunt as the notorious Wario. With its innovative transformations, challenging levels, and engaging story, this game provides countless hours of fun and adventure.

• Release Year: 1994
• Genres: Platform
• Platforms: Game Boy, Nintendo 3DS
• Developers: Nintendo R&D1
• Publishers: Nintendo, Playtronic

Introduction

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 marks a significant shift in the Mario series by introducing Wario in his first solo outing. Players experience a blend of traditional platforming action and puzzle-solving, with a twist – playing as the bad guy.

Synopsis

“Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3” is a unique platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy in 1994. It is a direct sequel to “Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins” and is set apart from its predecessors as it does not star Mario, but instead stars Mario’s rival, Wario. This marked the first installment in the Wario Land series.

The game begins with Wario, who was kicked out of Mario’s castle, deciding to steal money and valuables from a band of pirates to buy a house of his own. Wario sets out to steal a golden statue of Princess Toadstool from the Brown Sugar Pirates and Captain Syrup, which he then intends to ransom for the money to buy his own castle. Along the way, he collects or steals any other coins and treasures he finds or knocks out of enemies.

The gameplay of “Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3” is markedly different from the previous two games in the Super Mario Land series. The game takes place on a route through several themed areas, each split into several courses, culminating in a boss fight. Wario is able to jump on or bump into enemies to knock them over. Enemies thus stunned can be picked up and thrown at other enemies.

When in his grown form, Wario is also able to perform a shoulder charge, which is used to attack enemies, break through blocks, and open hidden treasure chests. There are additionally three unique helmets that Wario can obtain, each with their own abilities. The Bull Helmet increases Wario’s strength and doubles the length of his shoulder charge attack, allowing him to smash through blocks more easily.

The game is spent by navigating a number of levels to reclaim his lost treasures, and has a significant level of re-playability due to the branched path that many of the levels take. In the end, Captain Syrup is defeated while Wario ultimately gets anything from a birdhouse to an actual planet or moon for himself based on the amount of treasure collected as compensation for failing to steal the statue (due to Mario retrieving it by airlifting it).

“Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3” introduces a new mechanic where the ending is determined by the amount of coins that Wario has collected in the game. The game received positive reviews from critics, lauding its length and aesthetic quality, though reviewers were mixed on the game’s difficulty. Retrospective reviewers have listed it as one of the Game Boy’s best. The game was one of the best-selling Game Boy games of its release year and sold over 5.1 million copies worldwide to date.

“Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3” is a unique and innovative game that marked the beginning of the Wario Land series. Its unique gameplay mechanics, engaging storyline, and high replay value have made it a classic in the world of gaming.

Characters

Wario, the game’s anti-hero, is on a mission to amass wealth and buy a castle. He encounters numerous enemies, including the game’s pirate adversaries, who guard the treasure Wario seeks.

Gameplay

Featuring side-scrolling platformer gameplay, Wario Land introduces unique mechanics with Wario’s transformations. Each form – Dragon Wario, Bull Wario, and Jet Wario – provides new abilities, from shooting fire to charging at enemies. The game emphasizes exploration, with levels packed with hidden treasures and secret exits.

Conclusion

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is a landmark title in Nintendo’s catalog, successfully introducing Wario as a standalone character. Its clever design, engaging gameplay, and replay value cement its status as a must-play for retro gaming enthusiasts.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern