Title
Publisher
Wario Land II / Nintendo
Genre Platform
Features GameBoy / Color GameBoy
Reviewer Derrick
Summary
Gameplay

I played the Japanese version of this game so please forgive me if my descriptions are a bit weird. Basically, you play as Wario as you quest to defeat Captain Syrup and her evil henchmen who have made off with your Treasure.

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As Wario you have a variety of moves from bashing enemies with your elbow, throwing them, to squishing them with your fat ass. Using these moves and many others, you go through each level collecting coins, bashing up the enemy, and solving mini puzzles.

Not all the characters in the game are Wario's enemies. He gets some help from Owls and Turtles.

The levels are filled with false walls and floors that contain coins and treasures. Backdrops for each level range from castles, forests, ships, to trains.

There are a total of 52 levels and 5 possible endings. This is made possible because some of the levels have 2 different ways to complete them. Choosing a different way to complete these levels will send you on a completely different route. If you manage to successfully complete all 52 levels, collect all the Treasures found at a special Treasure Room found in each level, and collect all the Picture Pieces available at the end of each level after you solve a mini-puzzle, a hidden level and a hidden game becomes playable!

Verdict The re-release of this game in full color enhances the gameplay since everything looks so refreshingly clear now. The multiple endings will lead you to replay many of the levels.

This game gets high marks for innovation. Throughout the game, Wario can be transformed into various forms like Burning Wario, Squished Wario, Fat Wario, Spring Wario, Intoxicated Wario, etc. There are also a huge variety of enemies like Boomerang Throwing Ducks, Beer Throwing Penguins, Bad Tempered Chickens, and Hammer Wielding Gorillas. Level bosses range in difficulty and variety. The most memorable were the Basketball Playing Bunny, the Giant Crow, the Giant Bee, and the Bungy Jumping Ghost.

One thing to note is that Wario cannot die. But before you start thinking that completing this game is going to be a cinch, let me give you some words of warning. Many of the puzzles in the game are very challenging and have been known to lead players into thinking that the game is defective. Finding the Treasure Rooms at each level or the alternate exits at certain levels are also not always easy. The really difficult level bosses may lead you to stay up at unearthly hours while trying to beat them.

Wario Land II is highly addictive. It is a really fun and satisfying game with high replay value. I would highly recommend this game to everybody.