In Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, you take on the role of Wario, Mario's greedy rival, for the first time. After his defeat in Super Mario Land 2, Wario is determined to get rich – and maybe even buy his own castle bigger than Mario's.
The game is a 2D platformer where you not only dodge enemies but also ram into them with Wario's signature shoulder bash. Instead of power-ups like mushrooms and flowers, Wario uses unique helmets to gain new abilities, such as fireballs or breaking blocks. The focus is on collecting as many coins and treasures as possible to determine your ultimate wealth at the end of the game.
With large, detailed sprites, creative level designs, and multiple endings, Wario Land is a surprisingly deep Game Boy title and the beginning of Wario's own game series.
3 fun facts:
- Mario is almost absent: Despite the title Super Mario Land 3, Mario himself only appears briefly – it's really Wario's show from this game onwards.
- Multiple endings: Depending on how many treasures and money you collect, Wario ends up with a chicken coop... or a complete space castle.
- Wario's first starring role: This is the first game where Wario plays the main role, separating himself from his role as a pure antagonist.
Rating: 9/10
