Virtual Boy Wario Land: Difference between revisions

'''''Virtual Boy Wario Land''''' (also shortened as '''''Wario Land'''''), originally titled '''''Wario Cruise''''',<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 76 (September 1995), page 113.</ref> is a video game released by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Virtual Boy]] in 1995. It is the second installment in the [[Wario Land (series)|''Wario Land'' series]], and the follow-up to ''[[Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3]]''. It is a side-scrolling platformer that shares several elements from its predecessor, such as hat-based power-ups and collectable treasure which can affect the game's ending. The game also incorporates several new elements that use the Virtual Boy's technology, such as the ability to jump between background and foreground areas, and enemies and obstacles which do the same. The game was well-received on release, and is generally considered by critics to be one of the Virtual Boy's better titles.

[[File:VBWLScene.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Artwork of the prologue.]]

<blockquote><i>I, [[Wario]], have an interesting story to tell. One day during my vacation in the [[Awazon river basin]], I landed my trusty seaplane, [[Bulldog]], and decide to relax in the shadow of the beautiful [[Aldegara Waterfall]]. While basking in the sun, I spied some strange creatures with masks entering the waterfall. This piqued my interest!<br>

Some of the masked creatures jumped me, but I quickly overcame them. "This treasure is all mine now!", I though to myself and rushed in to collect the loot. Suddenly, the floor collapsed and I fell!<br>

If all ten treasures were collected, Wario will open the vault, receiving a heavy amount of coins along with a magic carpet which flies him home and a magic bottle. Under these circumstances, the ending differs based on the amount of time it took for the player to complete the game, and the difficult in which it was completed. The amount of coins collected have no impact on these endings.

During the game, the player must traverse through fourteen stages, including four boss stages, in order to complete the game. [[Elevator]]s connect the stages in a linear order - the game's world is continuous, without a stage select, and so the player can only return to previous stages by physically backtracking to them. In order to unlock the elevator at the end of each stage, the player must find a [[gate key]] hidden in each stage. In between stages, the player can use [[coin]]s obtained in the past level in order to play two different minigame, to win either more coins or more [[heart]]s. Afterwards, the remaining coins earned are added to the total coins count, and the game is saved.

Out of the game's fourteen stages, four are boss levels and ten are platforming stages. In the platforming stages, the player explores the environment, collecting coins and hearts in order to reach the next elevator. Coins can be used to play minigames, and otherwise affect the ending the player receives without collecting all ten treasures. Hearts give players an extra life if a hundred are collected. Both hearts and coins can be collected in big and small variants, and can be found by defeating enemies, breaking blocks, and throughout the environment. Additionally, [[Diamond (Virtual Boy Wario Land)|diamond]]s can be found throughout stages, which give an extra life upon contact. Finally, each of the ten platforming stages contain one [[Treasure (Wario franchise)|treasure]] in a hidden area. Whilst they have no impact individually, if all ten are collected the game's ending is radically changed.

The game's levels and mechanics significantly use both the background and foreground. Some enemies will move between the background and foreground, affecting if they can be hit, and others with attack the foreground from the background and vice versa. Similarly, many obstacles use depth to telegraph when they can come into contact with the player. The player can also move between planes by using either [[Jump Board]]s or specific [[Pan Platform]]s, which is often an essential component of traversing through stages.  

By default, Wario starts in his full-sized form, with most of his capabilities. Upon contact with a harmful obstacle or enemy, the player is reduced to [[Small Wario]]. As Small Wario, he loses the ability to Barge or Body Slam, reducing his combat and explorative capabilities, though his smaller size makes it harder for him to get hit. Taking damage as Small Wario or failing to clear a level within twenty minutes will result in a loss of a life, sending Wario back to the beginning of the stage. If Wario loses all his lives, he receives a [[Game Over]] and loses all hearts and coins. In a Game Over, one collected treasure will be lost (if any, and the deduction begin from the most recent stage and works backwards). By collecting a [[Garlic Bottle]], the player can return to their normal form.  

Wario has four additional forms outside of his small and regular forms. By collecting a Garlic Bottle whilst in the regular form, or by collecting a [[Viking Helmet]] in any form, Wario transforms into [[Bull Wario]], making his Body Slam more powerful, giving it the capability of destroying blocks from below, and causing a quake which stuns nearby enemies. By collecting an [[Eagle Statue]], Wario transforms into [[Eagle Wario]], allowing him to fly horizontally. By collecting a [[Dragon Crystal]], he transforms into [[Sea Dragon Wario]], allowing him to spew flames into to defeat enemies and destroy certain blocks. By collecting both a Dragon Crystal and an Eagle Statue, in either order, the player can transform into [[King Dragon Wario]], giving him the abilities of both Eagle Wario and Sea Dragon Wario, with a different flame attack which passes through blocks. All additional forms outside of Bull Wario and Eagle Wario remove his ability to Barge, and getting hit in any form reduces him back to Small Wario.

|[[Horned Toady]]

|[[Upside-Downer]]

|[[Metal-Head]]

|Metal-Heads emerge from wooden doors when Wario approaches. They will then charge at Wario while pointing their spears.

|A mole creature who is found within walls underground. It emerges when Wario approaches, swinging it's arms and harming Wario if he is to come into contact.

Compared to the other ''Mario'' games on the Virtual Boy, ''Virtual Boy Wario Land'' was well received.

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''Virtual Boy Wario Land'' was first revealed at {{wp|E3 1995}} under the title '''''Wario Cruise'''''. Gameplay demos showed it having unfinished animations, and the elevators at the end of the level originally didn't require a key.<ref>P, Anthony (January 30, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op5EkC7GbxQ&t=9294s E3 1995]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved May 3, 2022.</ref> Magazines in the months prior to release have published screenshots showing alternate level designs and unfinished enemies.

The original ''Wario Cruise'' title appeared on the Virtual Boy's system packaging as an upcoming games promotion, and the title continued to be used in official media up to a month before the game's November 1995 release.<ref>''Nintendo Power'' Volume 77 (October 1995), page 105.</ref> Product catalogues have also used the tentative title '''''Wario's Treasure Hunt''''' with a prototype box art.<ref>''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' Number 76 (November 1995), page 182.</ref>

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