History of Wario
Following his creation as Mario's rival, Wario has appeared in a large amount of media, primarily including games in the Super Mario franchise. While originally being solely a villain, Wario has since been featured as the protagonist of games in the Wario franchise, including the Wario Land series and WarioWare series. In his appearances, Wario is typically a playable character, and he is part of the main line-up of characters playable in many spin-offs.
Background[edit]
- Main article: Baby Wario
As a child, Baby Wario is prone to tantrums, and already has a penchant for riches. Like all of the other children of the Mushroom Kingdom, in Yoshi's Island DS, he is kidnapped by Kamek and a time-traveling Bowser from the future, who are in search of the star children: seven legendary babies of unknown power, of which Baby Wario is a member. However, he escapes the Koopas' clutches and instead joins Yoshi and friends, helping them for a brief amount of time by using his oversized magnet to attract coins and other metal objects. He eventually parts ways with the Yoshis to join a coven of Bandits, only to reemerge in the game's final hours. Baby Wario is last seen in the ending, arguing with Baby Bowser over a barge full of coins. It is uncertain if he ever returned to his parents.
Later on in life, Mario and Wario become rivals. Since childhood, Wario was jealous of the more popular Mario.[1] The exact nature of their childhood relationship is briefly shown in Mario vs. Wario, which reveals a young Wario being bullied at the hands of a well-intentioned child Mario, who did not realize the lasting effect of his games.
In the WarioWare series, Wario is said to have attended Diamond City Kindergarten as an infant[2] and befriended Jimmy T during his childhood.[3]
Super Mario franchise[edit]
Super Mario series[edit]
Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins[edit]
Wario is the main antagonist of Super Mario Land 2 - 6 Golden Coins. Driven by a lifetime of jealousy,[1] Wario sought to take over Mario's castle in Mario Land. After many unsuccessful attempts, Wario finally takes over as Mario is away saving Princess Daisy in Super Mario Land.[1] He hypnotizes the citizens of Mario Land with a magic spell[1] and scatters the six Golden Coins, the keys to the castle, across Mario Land.
In the battle, Wario first stomps the ground, causing the Crystal balls moving across the ceiling above to fall.[4] In the next room, Wario uses a Carrot to become Bunny Wario,[5] giving him the ability to flutter across the screen before slamming the ground. In the last room, Wario becomes Fiery Wario,[6] who leaps across the screen and shoots fireballs upon landing. When Wario is defeated, he shrinks down and throws off one of his shoes at Mario before running off the castle's balcony, crying. Mario's castle returns to normal.[7]
Super Mario 64 DS[edit]
Wario is one of the protagonists in Super Mario 64 DS, though his role is motivated by treasure.[8][9] At some point, when Wario enters the Mushroom Castle with Mario and Luigi, the three are kidnapped by Bowser, leaving Yoshi to rescue each of them.[10] The key to Wario's switching room is unlockable only by Luigi defeating Chief Chilly at the end of Chief Chilly Challenge,[11] which is entered through a painting that depicts Wario. When Wario's room is opened, he becomes unlocked for play.[12]
In gameplay, Wario has low speed and agility, but he is the strongest character.[13] Wario's unique move, Wario Whack,[14] allows him to destroy certain objects that other characters cannot,[14] such as Black Bricks.[15] Wario's Power Flower ability is Metal Power,[16] which replaces the Metal Mario form from Super Mario 64.[17] Once Wario has been saved, yellow caps resembling the one usually worn by Wario will appear in most stages. Collecting one will transform the character into Wario and grant them access to his abilites, although their voice remains unchanged. Additionally, when playing in VS. Mode, a player who has transformed into Wario can use the Swing and Fling,[16] which has him lift stunned opponents, spin them around, and throw them. This is not possible elsewhere in the game through normal means, and thusly, not possible for the real Wario to achieve.
Several minigames in the Rec Room feature Wario, including Coincentration, Intense Coincentration, Wanted!, Connect the Characters, and Mix-a-Mug.
New Super Mario Bros.[edit]
Wario represents player 3 in the Vs. Battle screen of Minigames mode in New Super Mario Bros.[18] He also appears in Coincentration and Wanted!, both returning from Super Mario 64 DS.
New Super Mario Bros. U[edit]
In New Super Mario Bros. U, if Player 3 is a Mii, they wear a yellow shirt and purple overalls, which matches Wario's clothing. This costume is retained from the tech demo New Super Mario Bros. Mii.
Super Mario Maker[edit]
In Super Mario Maker, Wario is one of several costumes available for the Mystery Mushroom in the Super Mario Bros. style. He wears his outfit from the WarioWare series. He can be unlocked by scanning a Wario amiibo, or randomly from completing the Super Mario Challenge on any difficulty. If the player taps the "M" of "MARIO" on the title screen, it flips to an upsidedown yellow "W," and a stock voice clip of Wario plays.[19] If the title course is in the Super Mario Bros. style, the "W" will shoot out the Wario Mystery Mushroom costume.
Super Mario Odyssey[edit]
Wario's outfit and hat can be purchased at any Crazy Cap store in Super Mario Odyssey, but the character does not appear himself. One of the methods to obtain the items involves scanning a Wario amiibo. Both items' descriptions make note of Wario's bad hygiene.[20][21]
Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park[edit]
In Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park, scanning a Wario amiibo at Florist Poplin will adjust certain decorations in Camp Central to don Wario's emblem and take on a yellow and white color scheme.
Mario's Picross series[edit]
While Wario was absent from the first game in the Mario's Picross series, he is prominently featured in its sequels Mario's Super Picross and Picross 2, where he acts as the host of the more difficult puzzles. In Picross 2, Wario is seen again with the topee from the early Wario Land games, with his outfit being comparable to Mario's archaeologist outfit. Wario also appears on the title screen for Picross NP Vol. 7, which is based on Wario Land II.
Mario Clash[edit]
Wario makes a cameo appearance in Mario Clash. If the player earns 500,000 points, Wario appears around a laurel wreath with Nintendo's logo on it, and the text "SUPERB!" is displayed.
Mario Kart series[edit]
Mario Kart 64[edit]
In the Mario Kart series, Wario debuts in Mario Kart 64. In this game, Wario has low handling and acceleration, but his heavy weight can push nearly anyone off the road. Wario's home course is Wario Stadium, which is a motocross racing venue that has been converted into a go-carting course styled after Wario, with his face being repeatedly displayed on the sides of the stadium. The course is one of the longest courses in the game and features many sharp turns, starting a trend in the Mario Kart series of Wario having long and technique-heavy tracks bearing his likeness.
According to Wario's card in the set of Mario Kart 64 trading cards published by Nintendo Power, Wario is "rumored to have 'borrowed' his kart from an unsuspecting Koopa Troopa".[22] This implies that Wario stole the kart belonging to the Koopa Troopa racer from Super Mario Kart, explaining the Koopa Troopa's absence as a character in Mario Kart 64.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Being heavy, he is able to ram most other drivers offcourse and has one of the highest top speed stats, but has the worst drift in the game and ties with Bowser for having the worst handling in the game. This is the only mainstream Mario Kart title that features Wario where he does not receive a track bearing his likeness.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!![edit]
Wario is playable in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. His default kart is the Wario Car, his default partner is Waluigi, and the Bob-omb is his special item. Wario is a heavy character, so he can only use karts of that type. Wario's home course is a large, two-lap course titled Wario Colosseum.
Mario Kart Arcade GP series[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Kart Arcade GP, Mario Kart Arcade GP 2, and Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. In all appearances, Wario is a heavy character, rivaling the entire cast in weight and speed. Wario has several of his own tracks in the first two installments with the introduction of the Wario Cup. Wario's hometown of Diamond City appears as a racetrack in both installments, as well as a snow-themed version of the track named Snow Panic. Wario appears as a default character in the first two arcade games, but is unlockable in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.
Mario Kart DS[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Kart DS and the third heaviest, surpassing Donkey Kong while coming behind Bowser and R.O.B. His personal karts are the Brute, the Standard WR, and the Dragonfly. A different iteration of Wario Stadium appears as Wario's personal course and bears an overall motocross theme like its Mario Kart 64 equivalent, including dirt roads and jumps over wide pits. Mario Kart DS is the first game where Wario wears his current short-sleeved shirt.
Mario Kart Wii[edit]
- “I hate losing! Nyaaah...”
- —Wario, Mario Kart Wii
Wario is a playable character in Mario Kart Wii. He is large and has a small weight bonus and off-road bonus, as well as a strong mini-turbo bonus. The Wario Bike is one of the usable vehicles. Wario's titular course is Wario's Gold Mine, which takes place at an area with railroads and gold-filled minecarts.
Mario Kart 7[edit]
Wario is an unlockable playable character in Mario Kart 7, unlike previous appearances. Wario has some of the highest speed and weight stats amongst the playable racers, due to being heavy, but at the expense of having mostly low stats otherwise. He is unlocked by winning the Flower Cup on 150cc.[23] As a CPU, Wario is most likely to be seen driving on the Standard Kart, the Egg 1, and the Bumble V. His titular course is Wario Shipyard, which takes inspiration from Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, especially by playing an arrangement of the game's overworld theme and depicting Bull Wario holding a banner.
Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[edit]
Wario returns as a heavyweight racer in Mario Kart 8, where he is once again a character unlocked by default. In addition to his appearance, he yet again receives a new course called Mount Wario, a three-sectioned race down a snowy mountain. DS Wario Stadium returns as a classic course, albeit enhanced with anti-gravity features. Wii Wario's Gold Mine reappears as a downloadable race course. This leaves Mario Kart 8 with the most Wario-themed courses in the history of the franchise. Much like in Mario Kart 7, Wario is one of the heaviest racers in the game, rivaling Bowser, Morton, Dry Bowser, and the Large Mii in stats as a result; his weight also rivals that of Metal Mario and Pink Gold Peach. This means that Wario can potentially have the best possible speed and weight, but at the same time, have the worst possible acceleration, handling, and traction. Wario reappears in the Nintendo Switch port Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, now sharing stats with only Dry Bowser.
Mario Kart Tour[edit]
In Mario Kart Tour, Wario is a Super driver with the Double Bob-ombs as his special skill. He has a few High-End variants: a hiker variant called Wario (Hiker) was introduced in the Vancouver Tour and is assigned the Bob-omb Cannon special skill; and a cowboy variant called Wario (Cowboy) appears as of Wild West Tour and has the Fire Flower special skill.
Wario had a Team Rally tour with Waluigi, known as the Wario vs. Waluigi Tour; this tour also marked the return of Wario Shipyard from Mario Kart 7. Team Wario lost the rally, however. While not directly attributed to him, Ninja Hideaway heavily features Wario iconography, including depictions of his nose and mustache, as well as various garlic motifs.
Mario Kart World[edit]
Wario returns as a default playable character in Mario Kart World for the Nintendo Switch 2. Like in previous games, he is a heavyweight character, sharing his stats with Wiggler,[24] although the in-game stats screen rounds statistics such that they also match Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Cow, Chargin' Chuck and Pianta. He additionally has seven alternate outfits he can receive from eating Dash Food: Pro Racer, Oasis, Wicked Wasp, Biker, Pirate, Road Ruffian, and Work Crew.
Pro Racer
Oasis
Wicked Wasp
Biker
Pirate
Road Ruffian
Work Crew
Wario Stadium from Mario Kart 64 and Wario Shipyard from Mario Kart 7 also return.
Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle[edit]
Wario was playable in every episode of Excitebike: Bun Bun Mario Battle from the second one onward. He rides a yellow motorbike. There is a scene in which Mario bumps Wario off of the corner of the second place spot on the podium if he wins first prize.
Game & Watch Gallery series[edit]
Wario is featured in the Modern versions of certain Game & Watch titles in every game of the Game & Watch Gallery series from Game & Watch Gallery 2 onward. In Game & Watch Gallery 2, Wario is the alternate playable character in Helmet, where his goal is to avoid falling objects, while also being an unlockable playable character in Ball. Game & Watch Gallery 3 and Game & Watch Gallery 4 include Mario Bros., where Wario drives the delivery truck. Game & Watch Gallery 4 also features Wario as playable in Fire Attack, where he uses a hammer to defend a statue in his likeness from Bullet Bills and Bob-ombs, and a non-playable character in Rain Shower, appearing on the lower left swing as Mario protects him from Bowser's water balloons.
Mario Party series[edit]
This section needs Mario Party improvement. Specifically:
- Expand on information about games starting from Mario Party 5
- “Wario! I gotta win!”
- —Wario when winning a board in Mario Party and Mario Party 2
Wario has been in the Mario Party series since the first game and has played a large role in every game in the series, with the exception of Mario Party Advance. Across the series, Wario is associated with the color purple.
Mario Party[edit]
In Mario Party, Wario has his own board, titled Wario's Battle Canyon. Wario's voice sounds slightly deeper than in other games, as his voice was provided by Thomas Spindler. He has two losing animations, while every other playable character has one.
Wario is also the star of Wario's Whack Attack, a browser game on the official website for Mario Party. Wario's pipes are clogged by Bowser and his Piranha Plants, and the player must help Wario by hitting the Piranha Plants as they pop out of the pipes.
Mario Party 2[edit]
In Mario Party 2, Wario is one of the characters who sets the storyline in motion, as he wants Mario Land to be named Wario Land, which is part of the argument that develops the party. Similar to Mario Party, his voice is slightly deeper than in other games, as Thomas Splindler reprised his role as the voice of Wario. Similar to Mario Party, he has two losing animations, while every other playable character has one.
His favorite item, the one a CPU playing as him is most likely to buy, is the Dueling Glove.
Mario Party 3[edit]
Mario Party 3 marks the first Mario Party game where Charles Martinet provides the voice of Wario, which would continue up until 2022's Mario Strikers: Battle League.
His favorite item, the one a CPU playing as him is most likely to buy, is the Dueling Glove, like in the previous game.
Mario Party 4[edit]
In early Mario Party games up to and including Mario Party 4, Wario's sleeves are long, while they are short in the rest of the series. Unlike the other games, his voice is no longer slightly deeper than in other games, as Charles Martinet reprised his role as the voice of Wario.
Mario Party-e[edit]
In Mario Party-e, Wario is one of the playable characters. He has his own minigame named Wario's Bluff, where the player controls Wario's car, and must stop it just before it reaches the edge of a cliff.
Mario Party 5[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Party 5.
Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party series[edit]
In Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party and Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2, Wario reprises his role from Mario Party 5.
Mario Party 6[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Party 6.
Mario Party 7[edit]
In Mario Party 7, Wario's special Orb is the Vacuum Orb, which lets him spin a roulette to steal some coins from each of his opponents - either 1 coin, 5 coins, or 10 coins.
Mario Party 8[edit]
Wario is a playable character in Mario Party 8.
Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher 2[edit]
In Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher 2, players can play a bet game with Wario if the ball lands in a bet pocket during a red/yellow/blue Cloon Challenge.