Wario Land II

The Box Art for Wario Land II.

Wario Land II is a Game Boy game starring Wario. It was later released on the Game Boy Color.

The game is a sequel to Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land. Wario is asleep one morning in the castle which he worked so hard for, until he is woken up by a loud ringing sound. He gets out of bed, and goes in search of the source of the noise. He is surprised to find Spear Men in his castle. As he destroys a giant alarm clock, he notices that his castle is being flooded! He switches off a giant faucet and drains the water out of his castle. He then learns that Captain Syrup has returned, now leading the Brown Sugar Pirates, and has stolen his precious treasure!

The player controls Wario in a quest to recover his treasure - which Syrup's pirates have hidden all over the land. Unlike the last game, Wario is invincible this time! However, when he is hurt, he drops coins, which are needed to play mini-games in order to unlock treasure chests. Wario's different 'helmets' are replaced in this game, by the ability to be hurt in different ways. He can be set on fire, zombified, stung (causing him to swell up), and be fed cakes to make him fat - all of which can help him get further through levels.

Wario's pursuit eventually leads him to Syrup Castle, where he fights Captain Syrup. However, that is not the end. The game boasts a large host of secret levels, which are unlocked by finding secret exits in levels. Captain Syrup can be fought many times in many different machines. After finding all of Wario's treasure, the game 'Flagman' from the Game & Watch can be unlocked, starring D.D. Duck.

Gameplay

Wario Land II starts at the end of Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3. In this game, as in its sequel, Wario Land 3, Wario is indestructible. This necessitated the introduction of challenging and inventive puzzle elements to the game's levels. Enemy attacks can be both a help and a hindrance; on the one hand, they may change Wario's status (so that he is on fire or frozen, for example) or even transform him in order to access new areas - on the other such changes may actually prevent progress and need to be avoided. In addition, some enemy attacks simply stun Wario and make him drop some of the coins he is carrying. Bosses defeat Wario by forcing him out of the boss 'arena'. This resets the boss, and the player must try again.

Coins are of vital importance for use in the game's two minigames - one, a memory game, unlocks the 'treasures' in each level, while the other is a guessing game that unlocks pieces of a treasure map. Both games require coins to play, and in both cases are easier the more coins the player has. In addition, these games must be completed in every level of the game in order to unlock a special, 'final' level ('The Really Final Chapter').

Unusually for a platform game, Wario Land II is not entirely linear in narrative. Reaching one of the game's end bosses will reveal a 'map' of the game after the first play-through, from which the levels with secret exits are revealed, and the player may choose which level they enter out of the ones unlocked. All secret exits alter the storyline of the game (which is conveyed in cutscenes), and all bar one the game's ending.

Plot

The game features the return of Wario's nemesis, Captain Syrup. Early one morning, she and a few of her soldiers, the Pirate Gooms, sneak into Wario's Castle and cause havoc. They steal his precious treasure, set off his giant alarm clock, and leave the faucet running, flooding much of his castle. After Wario wakes up and figures out what's going on, he gives chase to them all across the surrounding lands. The game is noteworthy for its branching paths. By finding hidden exits in some stages, the player can change the direction of the game's plot (loose as it is) and uncover different endings, as well as find more treasure. In fact, finding every single ending and the really final chapter, is the only way to truly finish the game.

Development

Unlike the previous game in the series, Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, in Wario Land II, Wario is indestructible (although not impervious to harm) and loses coins rather than health, like Sonic The Hedgehog. Rather than using Mario-esque caps with abilities, the attacks of certain enemies would transform Wario into other forms.

Rather than the navigable world of Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Wario Land II is in the form of a story with chapters (though the order is not entirely fixed).

Bosses

Giant Snake: A snake lurking in the dungeons of Wario's Castle.

Cave Master/Big Bull: An anthropomorphic Bull-like creature who, as his name suggests, dwells in a cave. He attacks by charging at Wario. It will sometimes jump at the edge of the platform.

Bobo/Angry Baby Bird: Captain Syrup's enormous pet bird, resembling a carnivorous parrot.

Giant Bee: An enormous bee, as its name suggests.

Ball Bunny: An oversized rabbit who enjoys playing basketball with Wario...with Wario as the ball.

Giant Fish: He will try to eat Wario.

Giant Spear Man: Syrup in her hovering vehicle, who employs a robotic spear-man to attack Wario.

Giant Ghost/Big Ghost: Kidnaps Syrup. Destroying him releases Syrup, whom Wario may then easily defeat.

Bubble Man: A bizarre evil soap-sud character who also kidnaps Syrup. He uses decoys to distract the player.

Captain Syrup: The antagonist in her flying machine.

Syrup in Fire Machine: Similar to the above, with a slightly different floating vehicle.

Reception

Upon release Wario Land II was widely praised for its inventive gameplay elements and for being a 'fresh spin' on the platforming genre, as well as having well-designed levels and being a fun experience.