Wario World: the only Wario in 3D platforming

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The one and only 3D Wario — and it carries Treasure's signature. Released on GameCube on 20 June 2003 in Europe, Wario World was developed by Treasure, a studio that specialises in high-octane action. This entry covers the story of the black jewel that corrupts the treasure, brute strength turned into a gameplay engine, its four worlds and the forty Spritelings waiting to be freed.

Wario World is a 3D platformer released on the Nintendo GameCube, a title that was never translated and reads the same in French as in English (“ Wario World ”). It holds a place of its own in the career of the greedy big guy, because it is the only fully 3D platformer starring Wario.

Behind the project stands a name that makes connoisseurs' eyes light up: the studio Treasure, the craftsman behind Gunstar Heroes and Ikaruga, at the controls of a Wario as brutal as he is satisfying.

Contents

• A 3D Wario with Treasure's signature
• The black jewel that corrupts the treasure
• Brute strength as the gameplay engine
• Four worlds, four moods
• The Spritelings, 40 allies to free
• A curiosity worth the detour
• Quick facts
• FAQ

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A 3D Wario with Treasure's signature

Wario World came out in Europe on 20 June 2003 on GameCube, almost at the same time as North America (23 June 2003). Notably, Japan only got it much later, on 27 May 2004 (Japan).

The game is published by Nintendo but developed by the studio Treasure, renowned for its exacting standards and its sense of punch. We owe it 2D action landmarks such as Gunstar Heroes (1993) and the cult shoot'em up Ikaruga. Seeing this studio handle a Nintendo character in 3D is a rare curiosity, halfway between a mainstream mascot and pure, hard-edged action.

Above all, Wario World remains to this day the only entirely 3D Wario platformer. The episodes of Wario Land and the WarioWare games stayed in 2D or in mini-game territory, which makes this title an exception in the character's ludography.

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The black jewel that corrupts the treasure

The story opens on a very “Wario-esque” image: the voracious Wario has just finished a castle overflowing with gold and riches. But beneath that loot slumbered an evil black jewel that wakes up and rebels.

In an instant, the black jewel corrupts everything: it blows the castle to pieces, turns the treasures into monsters and scatters the riches across four separate worlds.

The pitch then boils down to a simple motivation, perfectly in tune with the character: get back every piece of his treasure. Wario is not saving the world out of altruism; he charges in to take back what belongs to him, before defeating and once again locking away the black jewel in his chest.

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Brute strength as the gameplay engine

Where Mario relies on agility, Wario throws his weight around. The heart of the gameplay rests on brute strength: Wario lifts enemies with his bare hands and hurls them like common projectiles.

• The lightning charge (dash) and the punch clear the way by smashing everything in their path.
• The ground pound flattens opponents and triggers certain level mechanisms.
• The most spectacular combos, once an enemy has been grabbed, let you whirl him around and then slam him into the ground in a burst of comic violence.

This approach makes Wario a tank more than an acrobat: the game favours close combat and demolition over millimetre-perfect jumping, which gives it a rhythm and an identity all of its own.

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Four worlds, four moods

The corrupted castle splits into four worlds, each one capped by a boss to bring down. Each one carries a name as colourful as its theme.

• Excitement Central , an overexcited funfair world.
• Spooktastic World , all horror and haunted-mansion atmosphere.
• Thrillsville , somewhere between fairground rides and pure thrills.
• Sparkle Land , the most dazzling world, saved for the home stretch of the adventure.

Every world is made up of levels packed with treasures, diamonds and statues to dig up, before a boss fight that is often outsized, true to the visual excess Treasure holds so dear.

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The Spritelings, 40 allies to free

Scattered through the levels, small captive creatures are waiting for Wario: the Spritelings (a name used as such in every version). These little imps are shut inside cages scattered just about everywhere.

The game has 40 in total, spread out at a rate of five per level. Once freed, these allies hand out advice and a helping hand to the big moustachioed fellow.

Freeing them is no mere detail: the more Spritelings you rescue, the more lavish Wario's rebuilt castle looks at the end of the game, from a miserable tent all the way to a fortress overflowing with treasure. Just the thing to reward completionist players.

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A curiosity worth the detour

Wario World has the reputation of an adventure that is short but punchy, betting on the immediate pleasure of smashing enemies rather than on a long lifespan.

It is precisely that choice that makes it a cult object: the marriage between the irreverence of Wario and the punchy touch of Treasure produces a unique game with no real equivalent in the series. Backed by a catchy soundtrack and oversized bosses, it offers a few hours of generous, stress-busting fun.

For anyone who loves Wario or owns a GameCube, this title remains a one-of-a-kind piece in the collection: the only time the character was given his own big adventure in three dimensions.

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Wario World at a glance

Title (English)	Wario World
Developer	Treasure
Publisher	Nintendo
Platform	Nintendo GameCube
Release (Europe)	20 June 2003
Release (Japan)	27 May 2004
Genre	3D platformer / action
Spritelings to free	40

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FAQ

• Which console was Wario World released on?
  Wario World was released exclusively on the Nintendo GameCube, in June 2003 in Europe and North America, then in May 2004 in Japan.
• Who developed Wario World?
  The game was developed by the studio Treasure, known for Gunstar Heroes and Ikaruga, and published by Nintendo.
• Is Wario World really the only 3D Wario game?
  Yes, it is to this day the only entirely 3D platformer starring Wario. The Wario Land and WarioWare games belong to 2D or to the mini-game genre.
• How many Spritelings do you have to free?
  There are 40 Spritelings to rescue in total, that is five per level. Saving them all improves the rebuilt castle at the end of the adventure.
• What are the four worlds in the game?
  The four worlds are Excitement Central, Spooktastic World, Thrillsville and Sparkle Land, each one ending in a boss fight.

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