Romaji: Wario Wārudo) is a game for the GameCube and is the first Wario platforming comedy-adventure on a home console to place Wario front and center. The player takes control of Wario as he tries to reclaim his treasure from the evil Black Jewel.
Much like Super Mario 64 and its many imitators, Wario World has a 'hub' level from which players can access other levels as they unlock them. The game features mostly fixed, limited camera angles however, giving it a more constrained and traditional feel than Mario's 3D outings. As is befitting of its star, the game also focuses less on acrobatics and more on combat, with Wario able to unleash vicious volleys of fists, plough through his enemies with a shoulder barge (in the traditional Wario Land fashion), and most impressively spin his enemies around before piledriving them into the ground, all while uttering "Ex-cell-ent-a!" and "Have a rrrrotten day!" in a suitably furious Martinet voice. Following on from the dinosaurs of the opening levels (many of whom look a little unhinged and/or carry clubs in their hands), many of the enemies are variations in different 'costumes' to suit the theme of the current level (for example, clowns in the circus). The bosses, however, are all very unique and include an evil ghost pirate, an enormous dinosaur in a bikini and, of course, an extraordinarily athletic pig wearing only a posing pouch.
Plot[]
The story is simple: Wario, lording it up in his castle, is horrified one morning to discover that one of his pillaged treasures - the Black Jewel - is sentient and has magically transformed his beloved castle into a parallel dimension and his loot into monsters. Naturally a little vexed, Wario vows to pummel the Black Jewel into next week.
Characters[]
Wario - Wario is the main character in the game. He has plenty of moves, and many tricks up his sleves that haven't been tried before.
Black Jewel - A magical, sentient black diamond that takes over and transforms Wario's castle. It is the final boss of the game and sports a rather unnerving eye and tentacles.
Development[]
Wario World was developed by Treasure, a studio known for fast-paced, action-heavy games like Gunstar Heroes and Ikaruga, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube in 2003. It marked Wario's first full 3D platformer, following his success in 2D platformers like Wario Land. Nintendo chose Treasure for the project due to their reputation for tight gameplay design, tasking them with creating a unique blend of beat-’em-up combat and platforming. The developers focused on making Wario feel powerful, giving him wrestling moves, shoulder charges, and enemy throws instead of relying solely on jumping. The game also featured puzzle-oriented levels and collectible-driven progression to add depth. Though Wario World used 3D graphics, the level design was somewhat linear, drawing comparisons to 2.5D platformers. Visually, the game used a cartoony, exaggerated style to match Wario's mischievous personality. While praised for its creative combat and charm, it was criticized for its short length and repetitive elements. Nonetheless, Wario World stood out as a quirky, action-packed experiment that expanded Wario's character in a bold new direction.
Reception[]
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