Wrecking Crew '98
Box art of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online version of Wrecking Crew '98. This version replaces the registered trademark symbols (®) in the game logo and Super Famicom logo with trademark symbols (™)
Box art from Nintendo Switch Online
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer Nintendo R&D 1[1], Pax Softnica
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Super Famicom; Virtual Console (Wii U); Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online
Release date Nintendo Power:
Japan January 1, 1998
Retail:
Japan May 23, 1998
Virtual Console (Wii U):
Japan September 28, 2016
Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online:
Japan April 12, 2024[2]
USA April 12, 2024[3]
Europe April 12, 2024[4]
Australia April 12, 2024[5]
Language(s) 日本語
Genre Puzzle
Rating(s)
CERO:A - All ages
Mode(s) Single-player, 1-2 players simultaneous
Media
Super NES:
Game Pak
Wii U:
Digital download
Nintendo Switch:
Digital download
Input
Super NES:
Wii U:
Nintendo Switch:

Wrecking Crew '98 (レッキングクルー'98) is a puzzle video game developed and released by Nintendo for the Super Famicom for Japan only; it was first released as part of the Nintendo Power flashable cartridge service in January 1998, and later released on retail cartridge in May 1998. It is the sequel to the Nintendo Entertainment System game Wrecking Crew. The game takes on a more competitive approach, featuring puzzle elements akin to games such as Tetris and Puyo Puyo, such as being able to rain down panels on the opponent's side and chain reactions. The game also includes a direct port of the NES version. This is the final Super Mario game to be released for the Super Famicom in Japan; in North America, the title is held by Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars instead. The game was not released outside of Japan due to Nintendo's international divisions ending the sale of SNES games the previous year in 1997.

The game would later be rereleased in Japan for the Wii U's Virtual Console on September 28, 2016, and for the first time internationally (albeit untranslated) on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online app on April 12, 2024.

StoryEdit

Mario, on his way home from a trip, discovers that Bowser has been conducting a construction campaign of building high-rises in the Mushroom Kingdom, which are depriving the local plantlife of sunlight. Refusing to tolerate this, he brings out a mighty blue hammer from a chest inside his house and embarks on a mission to demolish the offending structures. Mario's old nemesis, Foreman Spike, along with several other foes from the original game, are out to stop him.

GameplayEdit

Players must eliminate their panels by either demolishing them with the hammer or arranging three or more colored panels in a vertical or horizontal fashion. They can arrange their panel accordingly by using the handles located on the corner. As time passes on, brick blocks will fall in. The longer a match goes, the shorter the amount of time between blocks falling gets.

If four or more panels are arranged, then an obstacle or trap will be sent to the opponent's side, depending on the panels' color. If more than one set of panels are eliminated in a row, then the attacks to the other side will grow stronger. Players can also summon additional rows of panels on their side when needed.

When the field is clear of panels, metal plates and enemies, the message "Nice!" will appear and a Mushroom is received. The Mushroom acts as an Attack Multiplier, increasing the strength of the next combo toward the enemy.

The opponent can be defeated only when the number of panels in a column exceeds the line atop the screen. If the panels are not eliminated within 3 seconds, then the opponent will lose and the player will be declared the winner. However, a draw can occur if both players exceed the line at the same time and fail to lower their panel field in 3 seconds.

CharactersEdit

Image Name Description
  Mario The protagonist of the game. Available from the start in multiplayer mode.
  Eggplant Man The opponent of Stage 1. Available from the start in multiplayer mode.
  Koopa Troopa The opponent of Stage 2. Koopa Troopa is available in multiplayer once defeated in the single player mode.
  Gotchawrench The opponent of Stage 3. Gotchawrench is available in multiplayer once defeated in the single player mode.
  Foreman Spike The opponent of Stage 4. Spike is available in multiplayer once defeated in the single player mode.
  Bowser The opponent of the final stage. Bowser is available in multiplayer once defeated in the single player mode.
  Princess Peach Appears in the game's ending. Peach is available in multiplayer once Bowser is defeated in the single player mode.
  Luigi Appears in the game's ending. Luigi is available in multiplayer once Bowser is defeated in the single player mode.
  Onigiri A living ball of rice and the opponent of Stage A. Koopa Troopa needs to be defeated in four minutes to unlock Stage A, and then Onigiri can be defeated to be unlocked in multiplayer mode.
  Onnanoko A little girl and the opponent of Stage B. Gotchawrench needs to be defeated in three minutes to unlock Stage B, and then Onnanoko can be defeated to be unlocked in multiplayer mode.
  Oyazi A depressed man and the opponent of Stage C. Foreman Spike needs to be defeated in two minutes to unlock Stage C, and then Oyazi can be defeated to be unlocked in multiplayer mode.
  Dogu A clay figure and the opponent of Stage D. Onigiri, Onnanoko, and Oyazi need to be defeated to unlock Stage D, and then Dogu can be defeated to be unlocked in multiplayer mode.

EnemiesEdit

The enemies are themed around construction, such as forklifts and workers, and are summoned to provide assistance by crowding the opponent's playing field and obstructing their ability to move around freely without running into them. They disappear when they reach the Warp Pipe in the center-bottom of the screen and the player who receives them can get rid of them faster by jumping on them. The speed and number of enemies summoned depends on the size of the combos and the number of chains that are performed with Red Panels.

Image Name Description
  Forkun A forklift that cruises around the stage, stopping momentarily to raise its fork. Only appears in chains involving three Red Panels.
  Blonya A masked white creature carrying a cement block. Appears in combos of four Red Panels.
  Buruccho A bulldozer that cruises around the stage, stopping momentarily to raise its front end. Similar to Forkuns, but slower. Appears in combos of five Red Panels.
  Burnya A slower variety of Blonyas brandishing wielding tools and walking backwards. Appears in combos of six Red Panels.
  Dumpty A dump truck that cruises around the stage, stopping momentarily to tilt its back end. Similar to Forkuns and Burucchos, but even slower. Appears in combos of seven Red Panels.
  Jenya The slowest of the Blonya family, flying with a jetpack and stopping momentarily to throw cement blocks. Appears in combos of eight Red Panels.
  Kanbank Kanbank is a sign of Bowser that is six panels wide and more than six panels tall, immediately ending the game of the opponent of the player that summoned it. Appears only in very long combos of at least nine Panels of any color.
  Guruccho A screwdriver that appears only in chain sequences. Paired with Forkuns or Blonyas.
  Gata Gata A roadblock that appears only in chain sequences. Sometimes stops momentarily to let the sign on it swing. Paired with Burucchos or Burnyas.
  Poles A series of three poles that appear only in chain sequences. Paired with Dumpties.
  U Dokun A standee of a construction worker that appears only in chain sequences. Sometimes stops momentarily to put its arm up. Paired with Jenyas.

StaffEdit

Main article: List of Wrecking Crew '98 staff

GalleryEdit

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Wrecking Crew '98.

MediaEdit

For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of Wrecking Crew '98 media.
  Nintendo Logo
File infoMedia:WC98 Nintendo Logo.oga
  Title Screen
File infoMedia:WC98 Title Screen.oga
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Nintendo R&D1. IGN. Archived November 11, 2007, 15:18:10 UTC from the original via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Nintendo 公式チャンネル (April 11, 2024). ファミリーコンピュータ & スーパーファミコン & ゲームボーイ Nintendo Switch Online 追加タイトル [2024年4月12日]. YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Nintendo of America (April 11, 2024). Super NES – April 2024 Game Updates – Nintendo Switch Online. YouTube. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Nintendo UK (April 12, 2024). Play Super R-Type and more with Nintendo Switch Online!. YouTube. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  5. ^ @NintendoAUNZ (April 12, 2024). Three #SuperNES classic titles are now live for #NintendoSwitchOnline members! ☑️ Wrecking Crew '98 ☑️ SUPER R-TYPE ☑️ Amazing Hebereke. X. Retrieved April 12, 2024.

External linksEdit