Wario Land 4 Game by Nintendo Reviewed by Philip "Pocket Squirrel" Wesley philip@dmgice.com Size: 64 megabits Save: Battery, auto-save, 2 slots Released: 2002 Works with: Game Boy Advance ONLY **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Wario is back in his fourth Game Boy adventure. Well, fifth if you want to count Wario Blast. This is also his first Game Boy Advance adventure. The previous games were pretty good. Wario Land had a ton of levels and multiple hats, and the best treasure hunting platform action this side of Ducktales and Tomb Raider. The second one had the novel concept of NOT BEING ABLE TO DIE. Which proved.. interesting. The third was more of the same; but with night and day, better graphics, and an over-world layout ala Wario Land 1. Now, Wario is back and they mix it up a little more. Since the second one, Wario no longer uses hats; but instead uses unusual transformations brought upon by enemy attacks. Also, the Wario games are known for mini-games. The best being the bomb throwing one in Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land. Speaking of that weird continuity.. it would appear that the Game Boy Mario games go into four timelines, with the main split being in 1994, when Donkey Kong 1994 and Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land arrived. Mario Saga 1. Super Mario Land 2. Super Mario Land 2: Six Golden Coins (Beginning of Wario Saga) 3. Donkey Kong 1994 (Beginning of Donkey Kong Saga) 4. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe + TRUE Super Mario Bros. 2: The Lost Levels 5. Super Mario Advance: Super Mario Bros. 2 + Mario Bros. 6. Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World/Super Mario Bros. 4 (Beginning of Yoshi Saga.) 7. Donkey Kong Plus Wario Saga 8. Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land 9. Wario Land 2 10. Wario Land 3 11. Wario Land 4 Yoshi Saga 12. Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island Donkey Kong Saga 13. DOnkey Kong Land 14. Donkey Kong Land 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 15. Donkey Kong Land 3: The Race Against Time 16. Donkey Kong COuntry Interesting how that works out. Over the span of about 13 years, almost every official Mario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Wario game has shown up on a Game Boy system. As of this review, we're only missing these games. 1. Yoshi's Island 2: Yoshi's Story 2. Mario is Missing 3. Super Mario Bros. 3 4. TRUE Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest 5. TRUE Donkey Kong COuntry 3: Dixe's Double Trouble 6. TRUE Donkey Kong 2: Donkey Kong Jr. 7. Donkey Kong 3 8. Super Mario RPG 9. Mario & Wario 10. True Wario Land 2: Wario Land VB That is all a bit confusing if you ask me. Just be happy that Mario hasn't done any games to cross into the Kirby series. Well, back to the review. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Wario can "die" this time, so he has some hearts to show his life meter. The levels are based inside a giant pyramid. The main idea of each level is to go in, find four pieces of a gem, and the key. After you find the key, the level starts collapsing into itself, so you have to go back to the entrance in the time alloted to escape alive. If you fail or "die", you will be booted out to the level hallway. Each level is in its own "dimension" with various themes. A forest level, toy block level, island level, etc. You can also find a "CD" in each level which opens up a little sound effects studio in the main hallway of the pyramid. As for plot? Wario was reading the newspaper and heard about a cursed pyramid with LOTS of treasure that was recently unearthed. So, he goes off to find the loot. He ends up trapped in the pyramid and has to find his way out. Each area has about four levels and a boss. A big ugly boss. Although, it offers nothing new over the previous games and while it is fun and entertaining.. it's tired. Like and good Wario game it has mini-games. The mini-games are a baseball game, a face matching game, and a game which plays like Moon Buggy. The Baseball one is my favorite. Wario also has the same transformations from Wario Land 3. I was hoping to see some new ones; but I'm a bit disappointed. Liked: Fun! Hated: Tired! **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Great graphics and huge ugly bosses! Oh, yeah! It's all GOOD. Backgrounds and foregrounds are alive, and there's lots neat graphics tricks. It's easy to see and it's got a style all it's own. The animated intro is good and brings up the question on why Wario doesn't have his own animated series. The graphics are distinct and really well done. Wario has dozens of animations, from rolling into a ball and jumping rope. Also, Wario has a great car. Yup. Well, you don't get to control it; but it's nice looking. Liked: Lots of animation, lots of color, it's all good looking. The bosses are ugly. Very Ugly. Evil, ugly, and they drool.... Hated: There's nothing to hate. It's better looking than many Play Station games. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: WONDERFUL! From the tropical Japanese Pop Music with vocals to the jazzy haunted themes. Wario Land 4 is superior in this department. I mean, it's all CD QUALITY and worth listening to. In other words, PLAY IT LOUD. Excuse the profanity; but some themes are just DAMN GOOD. This is the Game Boy Advance's hidden audio potential. I think that more attention needs to be placed on music in games. This is wonderful. The Arabian Night level has some sweet music.. this composer needs to work on an RPG. This music puts games like Golden Sun and Lady Sia to shame. It's also crystal clear. Liked: It's got a funky beat and I can bug out to it. Just crank this puppy up! Hated: There's no CD soundtrack. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Overall, it's getting tired; but the play control is as dead on as always. I would really like to see the series return to it's roots. I'll explain that in improve. Liked: Good Play Control. Hated: Tired Game Design..... **************************************************************************** Improve: Okay. The Bomb Throwing Mini-Game needs to return, as does the Baseball and Enemy Golf ones. Also, I want a wide map like in Wario Land 1, multi-plane levels like in the Virtual Boy one, and the return of hats. Also, go ahead and make it so players can get a game over. Also, the games are getting too easy. Make them HARD again. Also, Captain Syrup... bring her back. She rocks. RIYL: Wario, and platform games. **************************************************************************** Final Words: It's a good game, especially if you haven't played the previous ones. However, it needs MORE INNOVATION. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: 4 to 5 stars Graphics: 5 to 5 stars Sound/Music: 5 to 5 stars Play Control/Game Design: 2 to 5 stars Personal Opinion: 5 to 5 stars Total: 21 Final Score: 84% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Wario Karoke: At the map screen, go to the Sound Room, highlight Exit, and press and hold Select, Start, Up, L, and R at the same time. The song is the one from the Tropical level. Pushing up and down changes the pitch, L and R toggle the lyrics, and right and left change the tempo. You can also unlock this by getting gold crowns in each level by getting over 10,000 coins. SUPER HARD MODE: Beat it on Hard to unlock this.