Episode 371: Wario Land II & 3 (Patreon)

We tackled the first Wario Land game and its unnumbered (but nevertheless essential!) Virtual Boy sequel a few months back, and now it's time to venture back into the games with numerals at the end. One Roman, one Arabic. That's Wario for ya, though. Always breaking the rules, even the ones he establishes himself.

But sequel indicators are nothing compared to the other rules these games break. Wario shatters the entire orthodoxy of platform action games here by being too stubborn and pig-headed to die. Say goodbye to lives, health bars, 1UPs, and hunting coins for extra chances; in their place we have a rubbery, elastic sort of anti-hero who can only be inconvenienced, never killed. And often he turns those inconveniences into an advantage! Wario is quite the iconoclast.

Here to discuss with me the brilliance of these games (and the occasional frustrations their unique design often introduces into the action) are Bob, Stuart, and Ray—a core group of regulars. The gorgeous art is by Greg Melo, and edits and music selections once again come courtesy of Greg Leahy.

Tunes this time:

• 07:34 - Wario Land 3: Boss Fight
• 15:06 - Wario Land II: Perfect! (Let's Get That Treasure!)
• 26:37 - Wario Land II: One Noisy Morning
• 35:53 - Wario Land II: The Journey Home
• 47:04 - Wario Land II: Hot Wario
• 58:16 - Wario Land II: Anyone for B-ball / Wario Land 3: Out of the Woods (Daytime)
• 1:08:36 - Wario Land 3: Golf Mini Game Entrance
• 1:24:34 - Wario Land 3: Peace is Restored
• Closing - Wario Land 3: Staff Roll