Nintendo loves to experiment with the Wario Land series. The second game diverted from the first in that it was more of a puzzler than a platformer, as Wario was invincible, and the third game continues that trend by offering yet another twist: an almost Metroid-like exploration system.
This time, Wario finds a mysterious music box in the forest after crash landing his plane, and is magically transported inside of it. A strange figure in the box tells him that to get back out, he'll need to find five magical music boxes.
Most of the gameplay mechanics are still the same as they were in Wario Land II. Wario is still invincible, has his iconic ramming and butt stomp moves, and will transform into special forms if hit by certain enemies or attacks, allowing him to reach new areas. The game around it is a bit different, however.
Perhaps most importantly, once you start the game, you're no longer on a straight road to the finish with no way back. Instead, you have a world map on which you can select any level you've opened up right off the bat, to revisit any time you want. Each level in this instalment has not one or two, but a whopping four different exits, each of which comes in the shape of differently coloured treasure chests. Every level also has four keys matching the colours of the chests, so the objective is simple - find a key, and find the matching chest!
But this is where the Metroid-like twist comes in - not every chest and/or key is accessible right away. Each one has a treasure inside, and while a bunch of them do nothing, others can do one of several things, such as give you new abilities (including some from the previous game, which are not available right away this time around), change specific levels to open up new paths or even unlock a special mini-game.
This means that you'll frequently be revisiting completed levels to explore new paths with new abilities in order to find a new treasure, and unlock something else in yet another level. It also means that the game is pretty open-ended, as you can either just get all the required treasures (provided you know which chests have them) and finish quick, or stick around and collect them all.
On top of that, one of the chests in each level is guarded by a boss, meaning there are quite a few bad guys to fight as well. As in Wario Land II, these boss fights usually require you to not get hit - getting hit once will knock you out of the arena and force you to restart the fight from the beginning.
With 25 levels in the game, that means there's a grand total of 100 treasures to find. But the game is even bigger in scope than that - it also includes a day and night system, with the game switching from one to the other every time you open a treasure chest. This has a major effect on some levels (generally outside ones), changing the level's enemies and making the stages themselves either easier or harder. There are also 8 special big coins to find in every stage, which will open up a special level in the unlockable mini-game, should you find every single one of them.
Just like Wario Land II was one of the last original Game Boy games, Wario Land 3 was one of the last Game Boy Color games - and it shows, with impressive graphics and nicely detailed levels and sprites. Some consider the soundtrack to be a bit worse than the one found in its predecessor, but there are still plenty of catchy songs in the mix.
Conclusion
Like Wario Land II before it, Wario Land 3 is essentially more of a puzzle game than an action game. The concept has been refined even more, with a ton of stages and different paths, making it easily the biggest Wario Land in terms of scope. If you enjoyed the previous adventure then this generously expanded outing is likely to please you even more.
Comments 40
Ironically this was the one I least liked back in the day.
I loved this as a child. Never owned it, had to keep borrowing it off a friend. Ive played the other Wario Land on my 3DS so I'm really looking forward to this. Also I'm getting Wario Land Shake Dimension, for Christmas, because I missed it first time round. I'm going to be a pretty happy gamer this Christmas.
This game is fantastic. I hope it comes to NA eshop soon. We still don't even have Wario Land 2...
Wario Land 3 is a game I played the heck out of back in the day on my old Kiwi Green GAME BOY COLOR. I will say one thing about the game, it keeps you thinking and on your toes almost the whole game. And that's a good thing mind you. It's like everything you like about Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 , but doubled this time. The one thing I don't like about this game is that to me, some of the secret exits can be a dang pain in the neck to find when you're trying to get to a different level. But for now, I just can't wait to get my hands on Wario Land II for when it comes out on 12/20/2012 in the eShop , seeing as how that's the only Wario Land game out of the whole series I haven't played before. All in all, I give Wario Land 3 myself a 9.5 out of 10.
Still waiting for it to be released in NA.
Wait a minute... did we here in North America ever get Wario Land II?
...This is the one I played and liked...when do we get it? o.o
I used to play this game when I was a kid. I knew it would arrive on eshop.
Highly recommanded too!
I think I will add this game to my VC Wario Land collection.
Still have my cartridge of this. I loooooved it back in the day.
Nice. I'll eventually download it. I prefer what it offers over WLII.
My favorite Wario Land game!!!
I am still waiting for this in America , I love Wario games .
I wonder since you didn't mention it. Did you get the treasure to change between day and night on the map?
Best gbc game ever ~
I don't even like platformers, but this game is just so awesome.... I want to play it again D: come on NoA, give me the best chrismast present ever and release this before the new year.
Give us the Zelda Oracle games already.
I just wanna finish up the Wario Land series for 3DS already... We need 2 and 3 here! Then it'll be complete
Nice Nintendo don't release Kirby Dreamland 2, Wario Land 2 and Wario Land 3 here but everywhere else get them. That's just how Nintendo of America roll.
Love that game! But when will it release for for eShop in US?
This was my main childhood favourite. Other then Pokemon this was the only other Nintendo game I played on my GameBoy Color. I guess being a dimwitted 6 year old had it's cons, considering that I used the Pokemon anime as my guide for the game. To think I was that obsessed with the Wario Land series. After that I finally began diverting my attention to the Super Mario and Kirby series. Sigh, I really wish I didn't misplace everything over the years.
Yeah, this is also my least favorite Wario Land game. I enjoy the other 4 (haven't played the VB one) immensely, but this one really bores me.
When Wario Land 2 comes to VC in the US......then, the gameplay will begin!
Wait? I just noticed in the screen shoots.... IS THAT A VIRUS? From Dr. Mario!
how much does this cost cause im going to probably bundle buying this with crimson shroud.
So is Super Mario Land 3 regarded as the first Wario Land game?
@HawkeyeWii
In a way you can say that. It was the end of the Super Mario Land trilogy, but also marked the beginning of the Wario Land games.
I'm so glad I bought myself a Wario Land 3 cart back in June; this game is a masterpiece.
this kind of reviews more disappointment cause I know that many games like these have not been released and who knows when they reach in Eshop USA ... another reason to keep loving the Japanese store...
sigh...
Please hurry up and release this game in the US. I got a Game Boy Color when it first came out in 1998 when I was a senior in high school. WarioLand III was my all time favorite GBC game, ever!!! I played this game religiously, abusing save states and what not (yes, the game featured a built-in save state feature, but you couldn't use it in boss fights), eventually wearing the sticker off the cart with my sweaty hands. Sadly, I wore the battery out after about a year and a half, right after unlocking the final boss...
Never played this one. I'll give this a download.
Never really been interested in these titles, but this one's got my attention. Maybe I'll give it a try.
Downloaded this, now have all the Wario Land games on my 3DS, as well as all the original carts for them on GB/GBC/GBA too Wonder if it's possible for the 3DS to emulate the Virtual Boy so that we might get Wario Land VB also? I've never had a chance to play that as the VB wasn't released here
I would like for Wario Land VB to get remade for the eShop. It would play identical to the Virtual Boy game but would have completely new modern graphics in full colour.
Is this better than Wario Land 4? Got that through the Ambassador program and didn't really enjoy it.
So like 3 people have said they didn't enjoy this game. Sounds about right. I remember killing so much time on this title. Probably my second most played game behind Link's Awakening. So fun, and I would definitely download it and play it again.
Buy this game, guys!! It's amazing!!
One of my favorite childhood games and just downloaded it last night. Amazing game with spot-on control and clever levels and memorable characters. Definitely worth picking up, you won't regret it.
I still have a fond memory of playing this as a kid, one of my favourite titles on my Gameboy.
The first "Wario Land" on the original GameBoy is my favorite one. And I think it's one of the best looking on the system. 2 and 3 are OK, but I find them not so addictive as the black & white "Super Mario Land 3" Man I love this game!
It’s about time Wario Land 3 finally came to the 3DS eShop in North America! Wario’s third adventure continues the gameplay mechanics seen in Wario Land II, with our greedy anti-hero still invincible and can transform into special forms inflicted by certain enemies, which help him discover new areas.
However, this entry takes a more Metroid approach. Not only does each level have four different exits (each with its own set of keys and treasure chests), but they also change between day and night; some enemies are replaced while different paths may open up. Also, Wario must regain his trademark moves like the ground pound, while also acquiring new ones along the way. Some treasures can’t be obtained without completing the golf minigame... which I really HATE since it's frustratingly randomized.
As Wario Land II was of the last Game Boy titles, Wario Land 3 was one of the last Game Boy Color games; the impressive visuals, detailed sprites and stages showed Nintendo R&D1's mastery of the GBC hardware. While the game is considered by many Nintendo fans as the pinnacle of the series, I still prefer Wario Land II over 3. That being said, Wario Land 3 is a Game Boy Color masterpiece worth playing on 3DS Virtual Console!
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