Wario Land II

Wario Land II
Developer(s)	Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Takehiko Hosokawa
Producer(s)	Takehiro Izushi
Artist(s)	Hiroji Kiyotake
Composer(s)	Kozue Ishikawa
Platform(s)	Game Boy, Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	Game Boy NA March 2, 1998 EU 1998 Game Boy Color JP October 21, 1998 NA March 31, 1999 EU April 25, 1999
Genre(s)	Platforming
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: E

Wario Land II, known as Wario Land 2: Nusumareta Zaihō (ワリオランド2 盗まれた財宝, Wario Rando Tsū Nusumareta Zaihō, lit. "Wario Land 2: The Stolen Treasure") in Japan, is a video game released for the Game Boy in 1998. It was the last first-party title made for the Game Boy and was later remade to take advantage of the Game Boy Color hardware. However, the Game Boy Color version was the only version released in Japan. In this game, Wario has to recover his treasure from Captain Syrup and her Black Sugar Gang (formerly the Brown Sugar Pirates).

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 (Spearmen, which are holdovers from Wario Land; several different levels deal with defeating a giant Spearman), sneak into Wario's Castle and cause havoc. They steal his precious treasure, set off his giant alarm clock, and leave the tap running, flooding much of his castle. After Wario wakes up and figures out what's going on, he gives chase across the surrounding lands.

The game is noteworthy for several unique features. Unlike most video games of the time, Wario is fully invincible throughout the course of the game, and will not lose lives. The game's challenge comes mostly through impeding player progress by implementing physical obstacles, puzzle-solving, paths blocked by coin or treasure locks, or forcing Wario back to previously-visited areas. 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 addition to the Really Final Chapter, five other endings can be unlocked by collecting all the treasures. An enemy-themed Simon Says minigame based on the Game & Watch game Flagman can be unlocked by collecting all the picture tiles.

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.

External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Wario Land 2 site
• Wario Land 2 at MobyGames
• Wario Land 2 at NinDB