Sometimes you want to be the bad guy.
Wario Land 2
The Hook:
After winning back his castle in Super Mario Land 3 (and showing that goody goody plumber where to stick his plunger), Wario is back and seeking revenge on a group of pirates that have trashed his home and stolen his cash. The twist? Wario is invincible this time.
The Feel:
Wario Land plays like a mean spirited Super Mario game. Where Mario is a clever and agile character, gaining powers to do a good deed, Wario is a fat jerk who bullies his enemies and thinks of nothing but getting his hands on as much money as possible. In short, Wario is quite awesome.
This idea is presented very well. When playing this game you really do come to feel powerful and mighty compared to your foes. That's not to say that your enemies are powerless. They can stab, zombify, smash, and set you on fire...you'll just come back for more...and often the effects they inflict on you are just want you need to get more money and treasure!
And it's awesome watching Mario's evil twin punching a dazed woman that he just saved. For great justice, right?
The Touch:
The controls are spot on. Unlike in the original 'Wario Land', here Wario has a default set of abilities that are not amended by any power ups. But that's not a problem as he has a collection of powers such as a butt smash or elbow rush, all of which are intuitively mapped. Within minutes you'll have no problem racing through levels with expert like ease.
If I had any issue to take with the controls, it's that when Wario has to stun enemies and pick them up to throw through walls or other enemies, it can be fairly awkward. But that's an incredibly minor gripe.
The Look:
I played the original black and white version and it was a sharp experience. It's really amazing how much detail Nintendo RD1 smashed into 4 shades of gray. The color version (pictured here) is a re-release for the GBC and features big and bold colors that only look a LITTLE tacked on.
The Sound:
A little lack-luster. There are a few catchy tunes here and there. The closing theme is especially interesting. The Wario games don't seem to have hit their musical stride until Wario Land 4. The music won't bother you but you won't be humming it later on either.
Sound effects are similarly limited.
The Results:
With spot-on gameplay, an amusing narrative and multiple endings, Nintendo RD1 raised the bar for all platformers, portable or otherwise, with Wario Land 2. If it had been released on a console instead of a handheld, it would be held in the same regard as Mario World without a doubt.
I nabbed my B&W version from Ebay for $2.50 shipped. Odds are you could find the same. The color will run you a few more dollars. Regardless of which version you decide on, I can promise that you will not find a better 2-D platformer than Wario Land 2.
