Wario Land 2 (GBC) Game by Nintendo Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 Megabits (1 Megabyte.) Save: Battery, 1 slot Released: 1999 Works with: Gameboy Color Only. (I'll explain a little down below.) **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: For those reading the top statement; let it be known that if you start a game on Gameboy Color; the save data from there can NOT be used on a normal Gameboy or Super Gameboy. Apparently the Gameboy Color formats the cartridge. So if you use your Wario Land 2 Gameboy Color game in a Gameboy Color; you can't use it on any other system without having to erase your saved data. That kinda sucks. Anyways; I'll just refer to this game as a dedicated game now. Well, I own the original Wario Land 2; but I wanted the color rerelease because of the color. There are no new levels; and everything is the same. I went and bought the game just because. Well, the first one achieved a perfect score from me. The remake is ironically being tabulated and reviewed in my remixed review template. The odds are a bit higher now; and it will be looked at with a more critical, jaded eye. Can Wario escape certain doom at the hand of this critic? Hmm. Soon we will see. Well, it's good to be back in Wario's world. I had beaten the first game with 100% of everything and started to get hooked on Pokémon, Harvest Moon GB, and more. It's back into the twisted life of Nintendo's most surprisingly funny mascot. I mean it; Wario is a typically stereotyped loser. And it's funny to be him. Ever look at him? The facial expressions, the big nose, crazy mustache; all the junk that happens to him in this game... he's hilarious. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: You can not die in this game. When you get hit you fall back a few steps and lose some coins. The gameplay is based on a "story" interface. Your actions at certain points determine which "chapters" you play and what ending you get. There is no "Game Over". But, this doesn't mean that the game is easy. No, Nintendo's brilliant programmers have decided that because Wario can not die; doesn't mean we shouldn't make him wish he could. The levels are tough. I have already beaten this game so it was a bit easier for me. If you have never played this game though... I think you will have a pretty rough time. The game has TONS of challenging sections. The levels are exploration-based. It's almost a little like Metroid 2. You search high and low for treasures, secret exits, and more money. The game has TONS of secrets. I beat the game with all the treasures, picture panels, etc. But, then I play through it again in color and I find walls I didn't know I could break, and stuff I missed. Wow. A lot of thought went into the level design. EVERY move that Wario can do is tested. Oh, Wario has a LOT of new moves. He slides (Dash and press down as you dash to slide.), and also can change into different forms depending on what enemy hit him. He gets squished and fried. Frozen and drunk. Turned into a giant spring, his head swells up really big, he joins the Resident Evil cast, gets transformed into a really fat guy and more. All this to reclaim his treasure. You use everyone of those moves too. Wario also can spin into a ball like Sonic and plummet down hills and through walls at top speed in some levels. The game plays like an entire genre. Practically everything is packed into this game. The bosses are pretty cool. They all require some pretty unusual strategy. For example: When you fight Captain Syrup in her castle; you need to throw bombs into the flame to make it grow high enough to hit her. That's a hint there. The bosses are all pretty cool. In color... they rule. The giant Snake, the Mecha-goom, the swinging ghost, the fat Psycho Mantis pig, and Captain Syrup. The bosses kick much backside. The levels are huge and well designed. They are varied and original. Every last one of them. Some of them are pretty darn hard. (The Hidden Factory... shudder.) All sorts of platform skills are grilled here. Wario has starred in the most playable platform game I have played in a while. Very par excellence for the fat guy. The Wario Land 2 formula for success? Fun + No dying + A pretty mean difficulty level = Good game. Liked: Wario's Transformations, not dying, the bosses, the level design, the very cool hidden extras for those who get 100% in treasures, panels, and levels. The little mini-games I didn't mention in the paragraphs. Hated: Falling back when you get hit. Some of the levels. No "Throw bombs at cute creatures" mini-game. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Wario Land 2 is a fantastic looking Gameboy Color game. And for that reason; saved data from the game can not be played on a Super Gameboy or normal Gameboy. The game's dedicated Gameboy Color engine isn't as colorful as I hoped in places; but the subtle shading, and some of the levels will blow you away with their color! The little "cut-scenes" in the game are in nice full color. Bosses change colors to show how much damage they can take before they bite the dust. (Red = dead.) SNES quality graphics that an almost out-shine Super Mario World. Although the game seems to be a bit less colorful than, say, Pitfall, in certain areas; it trades the complexity for accuracy. You see, the various color shading tricks in Wario Land 2 are not as obvious as some games. The game follows a use fancy tricks only when they are needed. The Super Gameboy side of this coin is superb as well. While it is not as colorful as the Gameboy Color side; it does have a border that changes for each area. That's nice. The game is also easy to see on a normal Gameboy; but when compared to the Gameboy Color graphic engine... they quickly pale in any comparison. The graphics rule. Pretty is this game. Yes, it is very pretty, there's no slowdown, no flicker, no choppy framerates, no bad stuff. Very cool. The enemies have distinct personality in their appearences. Very cool. Each level is distinct. Liked: The fantastic useage of brilliant colors and animation. Exactly the way a Gameboy Color game should be. Hated: Why are the graphic engines seperate? No SGB support for those who save on Gameboy Color. That's just cruel. Although the Gameboy Color looks waaaaaaaay better than the Super Gameboy pallette. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Think "DSE" or "Dynamic Sound Enviroment". The game has really cool music that changes dependent on on-screen action or how close you are to the goal. The sounds in the game were made specifically for the game. There are various themes for Wario's mutations, and all sorts of cool and fitting music. The music is fairly catchy and is long enough to not become repetitive. The sound also runs nice and clear. The music has specific musical hooks and seems to have a subconcious affection to your brain. It will make you remember it and it will also make you pretty happy at times. The sound engine also allows for most bosses to make distinct sounds. (For an example: The Uncanny Mansion Ghost Boss has his own evil laugh...) Liked: The music that is well done and pretty cool this time around. The music isn't quite DSE quality; but emulates a DSE engine really well. Hated: Where is Wario's patented laugh? Or when you hear the exit music; but can not see the exit... **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The Level design in this game is sadistic. Really, I mean it. The levels will bug you to no end with their simple, yet, complex lay-outs. The game is groundbreaking in theory and execution. The "no-die" concept has been shown and actually works. Leave it to Nintendo to redefine the platform game genre with this offering. The Play Control is responsive to the point that it is very exact. You may find yourself trying your darndest to fight the OVERLY exact play control. An example is how hig Wario jumps when you press A. If you lightly tap it; he jumps only a little. So you need to judge you button responses by your action with the control pad. Very tight control that may make you realise that all those button mashing games may have ruined your skills. Back to game design; there are TONS of secrets and dead ends to find. The original characters and items are great too. Wario's treasures that he finds are references to other games. (Hmm. I wonder what this Metroid is from?) Liked: Game references, the sadistic level design, the responsive control, the well executed concept, and the enemies. Hated: The sometimes really sadistic level design that can confuse the heck out of you with it's almost grinning goals that are right in front of you; but you can't get to them yet. **************************************************************************** Improve: Full Gameboy Color support. More than 40+ levels. Close-up cinema scenes should be added. Shouldn't Captain Syrup be blue? And Wario seems a bit monochromatic. Make his shirt yellow and his pants purple like they should be. Some voice would be nice. Stick with that "no-die" premise. It works well. MORE THAN ONE SAVE SPACE PLEASE!!!! RIYL: Any platform game. This is the platform game king. **************************************************************************** Final Words: The game screams originality and virtually flawless execution. The big flaw is the lack of backward compatability. Oh, well. If you own a Gameboy Color; you need this game. If you don't well... still get this game. Very good game. The exclusion of a lot of people by making it format itsself was a bad idea; but to tell the truth.. I don't think I would want to play it on a Super Gameboy or a normal Gameboy.... now that it looks and sounds so good on Gameboy Color. Still.. the game needs more than one save spot. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 25 out of 25 Final Score: 100% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: None.