Virtual Boy Wario Land
Encyclopedia
Virtual Boy Wario Land, known in Japan as , was released by Nintendo
for its ill-fated Virtual Boy
system in 1995. It stars Wario
in a platforming adventure quite similar to most of his other starring roles.
The story begins when he wakes up from a nap in the jungle and sees a group of masked monsters. He tracks them to a cave behind a waterfall and discovers a huge treasure. When Wario attempts to take the treasure, a trap is sprung, and he plummets into a huge underground labyrinth. It's up to the player to help Wario escape, while grabbing as much treasure as he can get his hands on.
VB Wario Land is generally considered as one of the better games for the Virtual Boy, if not the best. The game was originally meant to have the name "Wario Cruise", and the name appeared on the Virtual Boy system's box and in Nintendo Power
magazine. The name was changed very shortly before its release.
, Wario can collect different hats to give himself new abilities. The Dragon Hat allows Wario to use a flamethrower against his enemies, but must recharge (he also cannot barge). The Bull Helmet makes his barge attack faster and a lot more powerful along with the ability to do a ground pound, which can be used to crush his enemies and break blocks below. The Eagle Hat allows Wario to fly as well as barge while in mid-air. By combining the Eagle Hat with the Dragon Hat, Wario earns the King Dragon Hat with the powers of all three caps (except barging). In each stage, Wario must collect treasure and find a key to unlock the elevator to the next stage. Also, as in other Wario games, the player has an opportunity to find different treasures hidden around the stages to increase his or her overall score. There are also a few mini-games located between stages, in which Wario can gamble with the loot he has collected so far.
The game tried to incorporate the technology of the Virtual Boy. For example, many stages actually have more areas located in their backgrounds. With the help of special blocks located in certain places, players can actually send Wario to these places, which looks unusual given the Virtual Boy's ability to display objects and areas in three dimensions. These visual tricks lend great depth and detail to the game and are repeated more than a few times in situations such as boss fights, where an attack may reach towards the front of the screen, appearing to stop just inches before the player's eyes.
listed Virtual Boy Wario Land as the best Virtual Boy
video game ever. The editorial staff praised it for having the same great gameplay that the Wario Land series is known for as well as its entertaining 3D effects. ScrewAttack
and Gametrailers consider Virtual Boy Wario Land as the only good game on the Virtual Boy. The News Tribune named it the best game released for the system. The Daily Gazettes Seth Nevins felt that the 3D effects were not enjoyable, calling the graphics "pitiful." ABC Good Game called it the best of the platform's, commenting that while it lacked good use of the system's features, it had lasting fun. Rocky Mountain News
s Joel Easley praised it for its 3D visuals and the quality of the gameplay, adding that the visuals demonstrate the Virtual Boy's possibilities. The Los Angeles Times
Aaron Curtiss called it a "hoot to play", praising its graphics as "dazzling". The Associated Press
commented that Wario
did something that Mario
couldn't do - "create a reason to buy the Virtual Boy." They praised its characters as hilarious and its setting for retaining the charm of the Mario series
. Wired
's Chris Kohler noted that the Virtual Boy didn't have a killer app to demonstrate the 3D. He said that while Wario Land was the best Virtual Boy game, calling it addictive and lengthy, it made little use of the 3D. Home News Tribune
Victor Janas called it "simple and lots of fun".
CraveOnline
's Will Greenwald criticized the video game selection of the Virtual Boy as poor, noting Wario Land as an example of the poor selection. Official Nintendo Magazines Chris Scullion stated that he loved it. He also called it a great platformer. Nintendo Life's Dave Frear praised its visual design and audio quality, calling it a "top-notch platformer" and a game that players will want to replay. Retronauts' Jeremy Parish praised it as the only genuinely great game for the platform, using it to show the quality of the Wario Land series. GamesRadar
's Mikel Reparaz named it the best title for the Virtual Boy. IGN
's Craig Harris cited this game for bringing the Wario Land series to fruition, picking it as a game that should be remade for the Nintendo 3DS
. He and fellow IGN writer Levi Buchanan commented that it received some buzz back in the day. Buchanan noted that it was the closest thing to a Mario title on the Virtual Boy, though a "fine 2D adventure." IGN AU's Patrick Kolan called it the closest thing to a killer app on the Virtual Boy, as well as the pinnacle of gameplay on it. 1UP.com
called it a great game. 1UP.com's Neal Ronaghan called it the gem of the console; he adds that while not the best of the series and didn't take much advantage of the 3D effects, it was still excellent. GamePro
praised it for its sound effects and character sprite quality, calling it the best of the platform.
N64 Magazine commented that it was an example of Nintendo's excellence unlike other titles on the Virtual Boy, and that it should have sold the Virtual Boy "by the million." Nintendo Magazine System praised the use of 3D in the boss battles. They also noted it as the only big title released on the platform since the Virtual Boy's launch. Play Magazine
s Dave Halverson commented that he returned to play Virtual Boy Wario Land "at least" every month for the last few years as of May 2005, calling it "huge fun". He praised its background music as "funky", and said that the game never gets old. Retrogamers Damien McFarren included it in his "Perfect Five" section of his Virtual Boy article. He states that while it played like a traditional platformer, the 3D effects were used to make the gameplay unique. Tips & Tricks
gave it a three and a six in terms of rarity, both out of 10. Total! compared its gameplay to Super Mario Bros. 2
, adding that it was a strong game for the system. Their only complaint was low difficulty level.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
for its ill-fated Virtual Boy
Virtual Boy
The was a video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was the first video game console that was supposed to be capable of displaying "true 3D graphics" out of the box. Whereas most video games use monocular cues to achieve the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional...
system in 1995. It stars Wario
Wario
is a fictional character in Nintendo's Mario series. The character was designed as another antagonist to Mario , and first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as the main antagonist and final boss...
in a platforming adventure quite similar to most of his other starring roles.
The story begins when he wakes up from a nap in the jungle and sees a group of masked monsters. He tracks them to a cave behind a waterfall and discovers a huge treasure. When Wario attempts to take the treasure, a trap is sprung, and he plummets into a huge underground labyrinth. It's up to the player to help Wario escape, while grabbing as much treasure as he can get his hands on.
VB Wario Land is generally considered as one of the better games for the Virtual Boy, if not the best. The game was originally meant to have the name "Wario Cruise", and the name appeared on the Virtual Boy system's box and in Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
magazine. The name was changed very shortly before its release.
Gameplay
Virtual Boy Wario Land for the Virtual Boy is very similar to Wario's other platforming roles. As in the original Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3
Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, known in Japan as , is a platforming video game developed by Nintendo on the Game Boy in 1994. It is the first video game to feature Wario as both a playable character and the main character, as well as the first appearance of Captain Syrup and her Brown Sugar...
, Wario can collect different hats to give himself new abilities. The Dragon Hat allows Wario to use a flamethrower against his enemies, but must recharge (he also cannot barge). The Bull Helmet makes his barge attack faster and a lot more powerful along with the ability to do a ground pound, which can be used to crush his enemies and break blocks below. The Eagle Hat allows Wario to fly as well as barge while in mid-air. By combining the Eagle Hat with the Dragon Hat, Wario earns the King Dragon Hat with the powers of all three caps (except barging). In each stage, Wario must collect treasure and find a key to unlock the elevator to the next stage. Also, as in other Wario games, the player has an opportunity to find different treasures hidden around the stages to increase his or her overall score. There are also a few mini-games located between stages, in which Wario can gamble with the loot he has collected so far.
The game tried to incorporate the technology of the Virtual Boy. For example, many stages actually have more areas located in their backgrounds. With the help of special blocks located in certain places, players can actually send Wario to these places, which looks unusual given the Virtual Boy's ability to display objects and areas in three dimensions. These visual tricks lend great depth and detail to the game and are repeated more than a few times in situations such as boss fights, where an attack may reach towards the front of the screen, appearing to stop just inches before the player's eyes.
Reception
Nintendo PowerNintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
listed Virtual Boy Wario Land as the best Virtual Boy
Virtual Boy
The was a video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was the first video game console that was supposed to be capable of displaying "true 3D graphics" out of the box. Whereas most video games use monocular cues to achieve the illusion of three dimensions on a two-dimensional...
video game ever. The editorial staff praised it for having the same great gameplay that the Wario Land series is known for as well as its entertaining 3D effects. ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack
ScrewAttack . is a video game-related website that showcases original entertainment for an audience of video game enthusiasts. Its content is also shown on GameTrailers and IGN...
and Gametrailers consider Virtual Boy Wario Land as the only good game on the Virtual Boy. The News Tribune named it the best game released for the system. The Daily Gazettes Seth Nevins felt that the 3D effects were not enjoyable, calling the graphics "pitiful." ABC Good Game called it the best of the platform's, commenting that while it lacked good use of the system's features, it had lasting fun. Rocky Mountain News
Rocky Mountain News
The Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
s Joel Easley praised it for its 3D visuals and the quality of the gameplay, adding that the visuals demonstrate the Virtual Boy's possibilities. The Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
Aaron Curtiss called it a "hoot to play", praising its graphics as "dazzling". The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
commented that Wario
Wario
is a fictional character in Nintendo's Mario series. The character was designed as another antagonist to Mario , and first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as the main antagonist and final boss...
did something that Mario
Mario
is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation...
couldn't do - "create a reason to buy the Virtual Boy." They praised its characters as hilarious and its setting for retaining the charm of the Mario series
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
. Wired
Wired (magazine)
Wired is a full-color monthly American magazine and on-line periodical, published since January 1993, that reports on how new and developing technology affects culture, the economy, and politics...
's Chris Kohler noted that the Virtual Boy didn't have a killer app to demonstrate the 3D. He said that while Wario Land was the best Virtual Boy game, calling it addictive and lengthy, it made little use of the 3D. Home News Tribune
Home News Tribune
Home News Tribune is a newspaper of New Jersey, serving the Middlesex County area of Central Jersey. The paper has an average daily weekday circulation of about 49,000. The newspaper is the result of a mid 1990s combination of The Home News of East Brunswick and The News Tribune of Woodbridge...
Victor Janas called it "simple and lots of fun".
CraveOnline
CraveOnline
CraveOnline is a male lifestyle website based in Los Angeles with sales offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. The site is owned by media company AtomicOnline, the publishing division of Evolve Media Corp.- History :...
's Will Greenwald criticized the video game selection of the Virtual Boy as poor, noting Wario Land as an example of the poor selection. Official Nintendo Magazines Chris Scullion stated that he loved it. He also called it a great platformer. Nintendo Life's Dave Frear praised its visual design and audio quality, calling it a "top-notch platformer" and a game that players will want to replay. Retronauts' Jeremy Parish praised it as the only genuinely great game for the platform, using it to show the quality of the Wario Land series. GamesRadar
GamesRadar
GamesRadar is a multi-format video game website featuring regular news, previews, reviews, videos, and guides. It is owned and operated simultaneously in the UK and US by worldwide publisher Future Publishing...
's Mikel Reparaz named it the best title for the Virtual Boy. IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's Craig Harris cited this game for bringing the Wario Land series to fruition, picking it as a game that should be remade for the Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
. He and fellow IGN writer Levi Buchanan commented that it received some buzz back in the day. Buchanan noted that it was the closest thing to a Mario title on the Virtual Boy, though a "fine 2D adventure." IGN AU's Patrick Kolan called it the closest thing to a killer app on the Virtual Boy, as well as the pinnacle of gameplay on it. 1UP.com
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
called it a great game. 1UP.com's Neal Ronaghan called it the gem of the console; he adds that while not the best of the series and didn't take much advantage of the 3D effects, it was still excellent. GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
praised it for its sound effects and character sprite quality, calling it the best of the platform.
N64 Magazine commented that it was an example of Nintendo's excellence unlike other titles on the Virtual Boy, and that it should have sold the Virtual Boy "by the million." Nintendo Magazine System praised the use of 3D in the boss battles. They also noted it as the only big title released on the platform since the Virtual Boy's launch. Play Magazine
Play (US magazine)
Play was a U.S.-based magazine focused on video games, anime, manga, film, DVD, television, comics, music and media. Published by Fusion Publishing, Inc. since 2001, Play magazine also had a separate Internet presence on its website, Play Online...
s Dave Halverson commented that he returned to play Virtual Boy Wario Land "at least" every month for the last few years as of May 2005, calling it "huge fun". He praised its background music as "funky", and said that the game never gets old. Retrogamers Damien McFarren included it in his "Perfect Five" section of his Virtual Boy article. He states that while it played like a traditional platformer, the 3D effects were used to make the gameplay unique. Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks is an American video game magazine published by Larry Flynt Publications . For most of its existence, the publication was devoted almost exclusively to strategies and codes for popular video games...
gave it a three and a six in terms of rarity, both out of 10. Total! compared its gameplay to Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 2, often abbreviated SMB2, is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System as a sequel to the 1985 game Super Mario Bros. The game was also remade as part of the Super Mario All-Stars collection for the Super Nintendo Entertainment...
, adding that it was a strong game for the system. Their only complaint was low difficulty level.