Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is a game released for the Game Boy in 1994. It is set apart from the first two Super Mario Land games in that it does not star Mario but instead stars Mario's rival, Wario. This is the third and final installment in the Super Mario Land series and the first installment in the Wario Land series. Mario does make a cameo at the end of this game by stealing a statue of Princess Toadstool from Wario.

Plot

Desiring to replace or restore the castle he lost to his rival in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Wario sets out to steal a golden statue of Princess Toadstool from the Brown Sugar Pirates and Captain Syrup, which he then intends to ransom for the money to buy his own castle. Along the way, he collects or steals any other coins and treasures he finds or knocks out of enemies. The game is spent by navigating a number of levels to reclaim his lost treasures, and has a significant level of re-playability due to the branched path that many of the levels take. In the end, Captain Syrup (revealed to be female, which was hidden in the instruction manual) is defeated while Wario ultimately gets anything from a birdhouse to an actual planet or moon for himself based on the amount of treasure collected.

Endings

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 introduces a new mechanic where the ending is determined by the amount of coins that Wario has collected in the game. The more coins and Treasures he collects, the better his new home will be.

• 6 Money Bags: Planetoid (Requirements: 99,999 Total Coins, all 15 Treasures and 40 Courses cleared)
• 5 Money Bags: Castle (Requirements: 90,008 - 99,998 Total Coins)
• 4 Money Bags: Pagoda (Requirements: 70,008 - 90,007 Total Coins)
• 3 Money Bags: Log Cabin (Requirements: 40,008 - 70,007 Total Coins)
• 2 Money Bags: Tree Trunk (Requirements: 10,072 - 40,007 Total Coins)
• 1 Money Bag: Birdhouse (Requirements: 300 - 10,071 Total Coins)

Gameplay

The title screen of the game.

Wario jumps in and out of a body of water while avoiding some common enemies: a Watch and a Pinwheel.

Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 is a 2D platforming game. It is divided into seven worlds, which each are divided into multiple courses. In most courses Wario has to trade in 10 of his coins for 1 big coin to open the door to the next course. Once the player completes a course, the next course will become available, and so on. The game also allows players to revisit levels that have already been completed.

It has several mechanics that are similar to the Super Mario games such as the transformation system. Wario can also touch enemies as long as they don't have any hazards equipped, so he can stun or defeat them by performing a body slam, ground pound, touching soft-spots, or tossing at others.

Wario starts out on Rice Beach, a small area of Kitchen Island. On the map screen, the player will notice that Kitchen Island is shaped like a skull, and a skull theme is present throughout the game. The save points are skulls, as are the level exits, secret doors, etc.

Transformations

One of the main features in Wario Land is the various transformations that Wario can go through by collecting a Power Up Pot. These special powers can at times help Wario overcome obstacles and defeat tough enemies; however, if Wario takes damage when in any of the first three transformations, he will transform into Small Wario, who dies instantly upon taking damage.

File:Bull Wario WL.png	Bull Wario - Wario can transform into Bull Wario by obtaining a Bull Pot or a Garlic Bottle (in normal form). In this form, Wario can destroy his enemies and blocks much easier. Wario can also create a shock wave by crashing into the ground with his weight, and stick to the ceiling.
File:WL DragonWario.jpg	Dragon Wario - Wario transforms into Dragon Wario by obtaining a Dragon Pot. Upon obtaining the power-up, he wears a dragon-like helmet on his head, which allows him to momentarily spew fire from it. The fire works underwater as well, though instead of fire, the helmet shoots arrow-like projectiles. Unlike other forms, Wario cannot perform a body slam when wearing the hat.
File:Warioduck.PNG	Jet Wario - By obtaining a Jet Pot, Wario wears a plane-like helmet on his head, which allows him to glide for a while. He gradually descends until touching the ground, in which he can start walking again. Wario also walks more quickly and jumps higher with this item.
	Small Wario - Wario transforms into Small Wario if damaged. He is then not able to body slam, and taking more damage results in loss of a life. Small Wario can transform back into regular Wario by finding a Garlic Bottle or by completing a level. He can transform directly to Bull, Dragon, or Jet Wario by finding the applicable pot.

Worlds

An overview of the Island

• Rice Beach
• Mt. Teapot
• Sherbet Land
• Stove Canyon
• SS Tea Cup
• Parsley Woods
• Syrup Castle

Bosses

Each world has a boss that Wario must defeat at the end. Here is a listing of the bosses in order, and which world they correspond to.

Image	Name	World	Description
	Spiked Pirate	Rice Beach	Spiked Pirate is a Koopa enemy protected by spiky armor. In his fight with Wario, he employs a three-pronged attack of striking from land, air, and underground. His shell makes him invulnerable to ground pounds and fire. However, he can be rammed into, exposing his soft belly. After three hits to his vulnerable underside, he is defeated.
	Bīfun	Mt. Teapot	Bīfun is immune to head stomps and ground pounds, due to his horns and thick hide. He attempts to destroy Wario by picking him up and throwing him into the lava below their battleground. To defeat him, Wario has to throw him into the lava instead.
	Hinyari	Sherbet Land	Hinyari is a large and bulky penguin that wields two vicious spiked boxing gloves, which he uses to punch Wario. He is immune to ground pounds, fire, and head stomps, but Wario can hurt him by hitting his head. He then dons a spiked helmet, but Wario can simply knock it off with a slam and then attack the penguin.
	Funfun	Stove Canyon	Funfun is a giant stone head whose fighting style revolves around breaking blocks with his tongue, trying to get Wario to fall into a chasm, and spitting rocks. Funfun is immune to fire, coins, and ground pounds, but the rubble his attacks leave behind are picked up by Wario and thrown at him to defeat him.
	Bobo	SS Tea Cup	Bobo is a giant bird which sends out two Watches to attack Wario. He must jump on top of the watch and toss them at Bobo three times before Bobo is defeated.
	Zenisukī	Parsley Woods	Zenisukī can paralyze Wario by touching him, and is immune to head stomps, coins, and fire. Zenisukī also turns invisible and drops coins that transform into Yarikuri Obake to attack Wario. Wario can defeat Zenisukī by tossing his Yarikuri Obake minions at him.
	Genie	Syrup Castle	The Genie produces fireballs that chase Wario around. However, Wario can toss the Genie's magic lamp so that it lands upright, producing a small cloud. Wario can ride this cloud and leap from it to pounce on the Genie's head. The cloud then turns into a miniature version of the Genie that blasts lightning bolts, but the mini-Genie is easily destroyed. After enough hits on the head, the Genie is defeated.

Enemies

Image	Name	Description
	Wanderin' Goom	A tiny and meek enemy that wanders around and cannot harm Wario.
	Pirate Goom	A spear-holding enemy. Unlike the Wanderin' Goom, it might harm the hero using his weapon.
	Dropper	A spiky enemy that clings to the ceiling and falls when Wario gets below. It is only dangerous when falling.
	Pinwheel	A seahorse-looking aquatic attacker that curls and spins whenever Wario touches it. It possesses an array of sharp blades, found on its back.
	Helmut	An underwater mollusk that wears a spiny helmet. It is vulnerable from the bottom.
	Pouncer	A stone creature whose behavior resembles that of a Thwomp, as it usually plummets from up above and attempts to squish the protagonist, as well as other wandering beings.
	Penkoon	A robust penguin that rolls small dangerous boulders at the hero.
	D.D.	A sailor-costumed duck that hurls boomerangs at Wario.
	Bucket Head	An ill-tempered snowman that spits out icy flakes at Wario, in an attempt to hurt him.
	Floater	Although not considered a baddie, it may be responsible for anything not going right whilst Wario uses him to cross the large chasms...
	Pecan	A swimming pirate pelican that spits mines which explode after a short time.
	Watch	A rash bird that swoops down to Wario.
	Goboten	A seal enemy that carries a harpoon while swimming underwater.
	Gaugau	A thug animal that hurls knives at the hero.
	Konotako	A flying bomb that sticks to Wario and detonates after a few moments.
	White puff	A puffy critter that inflates itself whenever the hero makes contact with it.
	Guragura	A blind mole that spins a mace.
	Yadorā	A hermit crab that possesses a prickly shell. It points one of its claws in the direction it walks.
	Yarikuri Obake	The ghost of a Pirate Goom.
	Pikkarikun	A thundercloud entity whose only attack method is dropping electric bolts at living things.
	Demon Bat	A bat enemy which swoops towards Wario in an attempt to damage him with its pointy tail.
	Fireballs	Fiery objects that emerge from lava like Podoboos do.
	Ukiwani	A dull reptile that floats at the surface of water. It leaps and munches Wario whenever the said hero gets above it.
	Boulder	A large round object that falls from above and rolls towards the player.
	Bē	A bashful insect that flees from Wario whenever he gets too close.
	Chicken Duck	A wealthy bird that grants three 10 Gold Coins whenever the player throws a Goom at it, then flies away, respawning when off-screen.
	Paidan	A Hoopster mannered arachnid that clambers ropes.
	Spiked Balls	As their name suggests, these are large thorn balls and they plummet from the thickets of Parsley Woods.
	Munchers	Invulnerable carnivorous plants that stick to the ground and wait for some prey.
	Piranha Plants	Much like Munchers, they are rooted in the ground and continuously crunch thin air. They can instantly defeat Wario upon contact.
	Togemaru	A bouncing porcupine fish that sports spines on his top and a weak belly on his bottom.
	Harisu	A hedgehog enemy whose spikes are cold.
	Chikuri	A sparkling impish enemy that travels along walls.
	Maizō	A money loving crustacean who cannot accept to be looted.
	Yaburiki	A soldier that does not intent to let Wario pass to the rooms that lead to the final boss.
	Bōtsu	An incandescent projectile, in an appearance similar to those of Podoboos, shot by a bird statue.
	Pillars	Perilous underwater threats for Wario; some are vertical and spiky, some are horizontal and not prickly.

Reception and legacy

Reviews

Although it didn't sell as well as its Mario Land predecessors, the game received mostly favorable reviews. The game placed 71st in the 100th issue of Nintendo Power's "100 best Nintendo games of all time" in 1997.

Sequels

The game spawned five sequels, Virtual Boy Wario Land, Wario Land II, Wario Land 3, Wario Land 4 and Wario Land: Shake It!. The Wario Land series also received Wario World and Wario: Master of Disguise which were similar games. A spin-off series was also made, the popular WarioWare series of games.

References to earlier games

• Mario franchise - The game's first boss is variously considered a variety of Koopa Troopa or Hammer Bro. A statue of Princess Toadstool serves as the game's MacGuffin, and Mario himself makes a surprise appearance during the ending.
• Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins - Bē from this game's Tree Zone make an appearance on the SS Tea Cup, one of the few aspects from the original Super Mario Land duology to carry over into Wario Land.

References in later games

• WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! : The microgame Grow Wario Grow features the Tiny Wario and regular Wario sprites.
• WarioWare: Smooth Moves: A microgame called Wario Land is one of 9-Volt and 18-Volt's microgames.
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl: Masahiro Sakurai stated on the website that the WarioWare section of All-Star mode was put to match the time Wario was the main character in this game.
• Mario Kart 7: Part of the music that plays on Wario Shipyard is an arrangement of the music of the first stage of Rice Beach and a painting of Bull Wario can be seen on a billboard.
• Mario Party 10: Wario's hard hat is seen in the background of his own personalized amiibo-exclusive board.

Staff

Main article: List of Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 staff

Trivia

• The game was tentatively titled Super Mario Land 3: Kairiki Wario (スーパーマリオランド3 怪力ワリオ). Kairiki Wario roughly means "Super Strength Wario." The name was used on a Japanese promotional flyer from 1993. The logo depicted on the flyer differs drastically from any of the Wario Land logos.
• This game borrows some sound effects used in Metroid II: Return of Samus, another Nintendo game, also for the Game Boy. One example is when a boss is hit; the noise is the same one made when a Metroid gets hit. Other borrowed sound effects are when the player pauses the game and the sound of triggering mines which is the same as Samus going into morph ball. Both games were developed by Nintendo R&D1.
• The manual states that the Select button is "Not used." However, the player can enter a cheat mode by pressing that button sixteen times on the pause screen. Holding down the and button simultaneously will allow them to alter the numbers on the status bar as well as power up Wario.

External links

• Official Japanese Website