LogFAQs > #949925239

#55. Wario Land 3 (2000, Game Boy Color)
I had Wario Land 1/Mario Land 3 earlier on my list, and Cokes had Wario Land 4 on his, both great games (with WL4 in particular being a fun, quirky game), but Wario Land 3 to me is the cream of the crop for Wario platformers, or even Wario games. Also sorry if you don't consider Wario "part of a massive IP" that was probably my bad since I guess it's tough to say he's in the Mario IP anymore. And the Wario IP is hardly massi-WAIT WARIO IS FAT NEVERMIND, IT WORKS AFTER ALL HA HA HA

Anyway, Wario Land 3 was probably an unexpected style of game given the previous 2 were platformers featuring more in the line of optional endings/paths, and secret treasures resulting in better endings. And yet here we have an honest to god Metroidvania. Although it is a level map, as you go through the first few levels, you'll notice there's lots of areas you can't get to. High platforms, strange unbreakable blocks, passages blocked by minigame doors, and other strange areas you can't get by. So, each level has 4 colored keys and 4 corresponding chests. So you have to explore the level for the key, and then find the correct chest. Through the progression of the game, each chest has an item that directly helps you or does something somewhere in the game.

For example, you might get a gear that activates a moving platform in a prior level, that allows you to reach that level's key or chest (maybe you could only get one of the two before), or maybe it upgrades Wario's down butt slam thing so it can break blocks now which allows you access to that level's Mini Golf game, which then opens the way to the chest. Or maybe it spawns jellyfish in the level that sting Wario so he can float upwards to access different parts of the level, etc (all those Wario style transforming enemies you know from WL2 and WL4 are here as well like Zombie Wario or Flat Wario). And of course, the powers you unlock are all permanent, like the aformentioned butt stomp, swim ability, ability to pick up and throw enemies, etc. So when you get a new ability or unlock you can revisit the past levels to get past those areas.

So yeah, its a Metroidvania, lol. If you ever get stuck on where to go theres a big ol Face monster who helps you out spoilers he's the final boss oh shit and all things said, it's just a great game that allows for exploration, treasure finding and the thrill of revisiting old levels to open new areas and handle those same levels in different ways now that you have a new set of powers or differences in the level itself to deal with.

And I absolutely adore the golf mini-game too in this game. Occasionally one hole is required in a few levels to open a door, but it also has a huge self-standing game mode which is a fun play.


The item in this picture here is a wizard that builds part of a missing climbable fence for you in another level

Next up: I'm glad I played this game, being the granddaddy of out of control memes not withstanding.

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~Wigs~ 3-Time Consecutive Fantasy B8 Baseball Champion
2015 NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION NEW YORK METS