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{{short description|1994 video game}}
{{Infobox CVG| title = Wario's Woods
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}{{Infobox video game
|image = ]
| title = Wario's Woods
|developer = ] Co. Ltd.
| image = Wario's Woods NES.jpg
|publisher = ] of America, Inc.
| caption = North American NES box art
|designer = Naotaka Ohnishi, Ryota Kawade
| developer = ]
|engine =
| publisher = ]
|released = '''NES'''<br /><small><sup>''']'''</sup></small> ], ]<br /><small><sup>''']'''</sup></small> ], ]<br />'''SNES'''<br /><small><sup>''']'''</sup></small> ], ]<br />''']'''<br /><small><sup>''']'''</sup></small> ]<br />''']'''<br /><small><sup>''']'''</sup></small> ], ]
| director = Kenji Miki
|genre = ]
| producer = Kenji Miki
|modes = ], ]
| series = '']''
|ratings = ]: K-A (NES/SNES), E (Virtual Console)
| designer = Soichiro Tomita<br />Masahiro Iimura<br />Naotaka Ohnishi
|platforms = ], ], ], ]
| composer = Shinobu Amayake<br />Soyo Oka
|media = 8-] ] ], 4-] ] ]
| released = {{Video game release|JP|February 19, 1994|NA|December 10, 1994|EU|1995}}
|requirements =
| genre = ]
|input =
| modes = ], ]
| platforms = ], ], ]
}} }}
'''''Wario's Woods'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''Wario no Mori'''''|ワリオの森|Wario's Forest}}.}} is a ] ] developed and published by ]. It was released in Japan and North America in 1994 and Europe in 1995 for both the ] and the ]. A spin-off of the '']'' series, players control ] in his mission to defeat ], who has taken control of the Peaceful Woods. Gameplay revolves around clearing each level by using bombs to destroy groups of enemies. The game also features a multiplayer mode that allows two players to compete against each other.


The NES version is noteworthy for being the last officially-licensed game as well as the final first-party game for the system in North America, due to its release at the end of the console's lifespan. It is also the only NES game to receive a rating from the ] (ESRB), which was inducted several months before the game's release. In Japan, the game was released alongside a re-release of '']'' to coincide with the release of the ].
'''''Wario's Woods''''' (ワリオの森 ''Wario no Mori'') is a puzzle game made by ] for the ] in ], and then later released on the ] in ] and the ] in ]. ''Wario's Woods'' is a '']''-derived falling block game, although in this case the blocks are actually forest-dwelling creatures and ]s. Due to the increasing popularity of the ], ''Wario's Woods'' was the last licensed game released for the ] in ]. It was not the last game for the Famicom, this distinction going to ]. This game is the only game where Toad has the starring role, although he has been available as a ] in various games since '']''.
<!-- in wiki unicode values -->


''Wario's Woods'' has been re-released several times for other platforms, such as the ] and the ]. The game received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay, design, and multiplayer mode, though some believed it was not as refined as Nintendo's previous puzzle games like '']'', and lacked depth and enough content to keep players engaged.
==Versions==
===NES===
]
The version of ''Wario's Woods'' for the ] had fewer features than its ] and ] counterparts. For one thing, it has an entirely different soundtrack. Besides the obvious graphical disparity, the game has no "vs. Com" similar to the ] version. The only computer AI mode is a game in which every ten rounds the player has to fight a boss. The boss has a certain amount of hearts that can only be reduced by clearing lines in which the boss is inline with. Once all of the boss's hearts are gone the player can continue onto the next round. These boss fights culminate in a fight against Wario himself, picture on the left.


==Plot and gameplay==
Other features are also missing from this version. Using one bomb to destroy creatures in more than one direction, called a "breakfast" in the ] version, is missing here. A few other small changes are present also; crystals cannot be lifted or moved by Toad in any way unlike the SNES version where they can be lifted, dropped, or kicked. The familiar ] from many ] games is changed to a simpler yellow brick with a cartoon face on it. The NES version of ''Wario's Woods'' appeared as an extremely rare furniture item in the 2002 ] version of '']''. It was also one of the earliest titles available for download from the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console. As a curious note, the NES version is the only one in the system's library that has an ] rating. At the time of its release, the game received the rating K-A (Kids to Adults), which has since fallen out of use. Upon its release on the Virtual Console, the game's rating was updated accordingly and is now listed as "E" (Everyone).
] ] in the SNES version. The ] ] rearranges the objects in the playing field such that monsters and bombs of matching colors are placed adjacently in rows.]]
The "Peaceful Woods" was once a peaceful area for sprites and gentle creatures. After the invasion of ] and his group of monsters, the forest community was "turned upside-down" where peaceful creatures are no longer welcome. To stop Wario, ] arrives to stop him and return the Woods back over to the sprites by going after Wario himself.<ref name="story-manual">
{{Cite AV media notes |title=Wario's Woods Instruction Booklet |date=1994 |chapter=Story |page=13 |type=booklet |publisher=] |id=NES-WB-USA |location=United States}}</ref>


The objective of ''Wario's Woods'' is to clear the playing field of monsters of varying colors by using bombs of matching color, which are dropped into the field from the top of the screen by a sprite.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wario's Woods Instruction Booklet (USA) |url=https://archive.org/details/warios-woods-usa/page/n1/mode/2up |website=Internet Archive |language=English}}</ref> In order to do so, the monsters and bombs must be rearranged by the player such that three or more objects of the same color are placed adjacent to one another in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal rows, with at least one object being a bomb (such rows are called a "match"). For example, a match may consist of two red monsters and one red bomb, but may also consist of two red bombs and one red monster. However, a match cannot consist of three monsters of the same type. A ] may also come down a number of rows (being disguised as the ceiling), making less room for the player to match enemies and bombs. When the play field is cleared of all the monsters, the player progresses to the next ], where the initial number of monsters increases.{{#tag:ref| From the Operations Guide (5. Basic Play)<ref name="vc_manual">{{cite video game | title = Wario's Woods | developer = ] | publisher = Nintendo | date= 2006-11-19 | platform= ]}}</ref> |name="vc_basic_play" |group="nb"}} There are different monster types that can only be destroyed in specific ways, such as requiring two matches in quick succession or being placed into a diagonal match.<ref name="Allgame_SNES" />
===SNES===
The ] version was released in Europe and the US in ] with much improved graphics and some new gameplay features. An improved "vs. Com" features a best three out of five matchup against increasingly difficult computers culminating in a challenging match against Wario himself. The game rewards the more advanced ''Wario's Woods'' players who have beaten Wario with an extra set of difficulties. This mode is enabled by highlighting the "vs. Com" mode, holding Left and pressing Start on the controller. Other various features include are an expanded 2-player mode with the ability to store four different heads-up records on game memory.


Unlike other action puzzle games such as '']'' or '']'' where the player directly manipulates the game pieces, either as they fall or via a cursor, the player directly controls the character Toad, who moves around inside the playing field atop the fallen objects.<ref name ="IGN_VC_review" /> Toad can pick up individual objects or lift entire stacks and place them elsewhere in the playing field, but is unable to manipulate objects he cannot immediately reach. However, Toad can perform a variety of additional tricks, such as kicking objects across the play field and scurrying up the sides of stacks to retrieve specific objects.{{#tag:ref| From the Operations Guide (2. Controls)<ref name="vc_manual" /> |group="nb"}}<ref name="Allgame_NES" /> If the player cannot clear the playing field of its objects quickly enough, the play field will eventually fill to the brim and trap Toad, resulting in a ].<ref name="vc_basic_play" group="nb" /><ref name="np_1995">{{cite magazine |date=November 1995 |title=Wario's Woods |magazine=] |issue=67 |pages=78–81}}</ref>
===Satellaview===
]
]
Two versions of ''Wario's Woods'' were released for the BS-X system. The first version was broadcast sometime from 1995 to 1996. It features personalities from what appears to be a Japanese radio show, ]. The game was released under the name ワリオの森 爆笑バージョン which means, ''Wario's Woods: Burst of Laughter Version''. It appears to be like the N. American SNES release except with the faces of the broadcasters' inserted in some places.


The game has a multiplayer mode, called 'VS' or 'VS 2P', where the player can play against another player. In the multiplayer mode, players can make two or more matches after another to make a stack of enemies on their opponents field.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wario's Woods Instruction Manual (USA) |url=https://archive.org/details/warios-woods-usa/page/n5/mode/2up |website=Internet Archive |language=English}}</ref>
The second BS-X version of ''Wario's Woods'' was most likely initially broadcast on ], ]. The title screen reads, ''Wario no mori: futatabi '' (ワリオの森 再び) which translates to ''Wario's Woods: Again''. It is difficult to pin down an exact release date for this due to the nature of the ] system. The game was most likely also rebroadcast in October ]. This version is also very similar to the ] release except for a few minor differences. For instance, the game does not have a round-game style single-player mode.


===Wii=== ==Re-releases==
Two modified versions of the SNES version of ''Wario's Woods'' were released in Japan for the ], a ] add-on for the ]. The first version was copyrighted in 1994 and released under the name {{nihongo|'''''Wario's Woods: Bakushou Version'''''|ワリオの森 爆笑バージョン|Wario no Mori Bakushō Bājon}}. The Bakushou Version featured ] from the Japanese radio comedy show, ].<ref name=hiro-n>'' {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009095701/http://www5.airnet.ne.jp/hiro-n/game/satella/memorial/final/warioevent1.html |date=2008-10-09}}'' Satellaview Memorial. Retrieved July 23, 2010.</ref><ref>'' {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430045233/http://blog.goo.ne.jp/randnetdd/e/22bde2a1dbb69bd73c15d3a0e15d2e69 |date=April 30, 2009 }}''. SFC Mania. July 27, 2008.</ref>


The second version of ''Wario's Woods'' broadcast for Satellaview was released under the name {{nihongo|'''''Wario's Woods: Again'''''|ワリオの森 再び|Wario no Mori: Futatabi}}. It was broadcast from April 23, 1995, to June 30, 2000,<ref>''''. St.GIGA. Archived 20 June 2000.</ref> throughout the lifespan of the Satellaview. The game was quite popular<ref name=hiro-n/> and it was rebroadcast at least seven times throughout the tenure of ]'s Satellaview-broadcasting period.<ref>Kameb. '' {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401183851/http://www.f3.dion.ne.jp/~kameb/satella/st_prg/st_prg.htm |date=2012-04-01}}''. The Satellaview History Museum. 12 February 2008.</ref> The game was also broadcast at least once as one of the Satellaview's special event versions.<ref name=hiro-n/>
The NES version of Wario's Woods was released as a Virtual Console title for the ], at a cost of 500 ].It is one of the most downloaded games on Virtual Console.


The NES version of ''Wario's Woods'' is available as a collectible ] in the 2001 game '']'' for the ], obtained through use of the ].<ref name="IGN_VC_review" /> This version was one of the first titles available for the ] Virtual Console, released alongside the service's launch in North America, Australia, and Europe, and on December 12, 2006, in Japan. It was available for purchase at the ] for 500 ].<ref name="nintendo_life_review" /> It was released for the ] in Japan on May 29, 2013, for the ] and on January 29, 2014, for the ], in Europe for the 3DS on October 24, 2013, and for the 3DS and the Wii U eShop in North America on November 7, 2013. The game was added to the ] service on December 13, 2018.
==Gameplay==
], the player's ] in the game, has to arrange monsters and bombs to stop ] from taking control of the forest. The player controls a character who moves the already fallen objects. Toad can pick up individual objects or entire columns of objects and move them elsewhere. The object of the game is to clear the player's screen of objects, the objects of this game being the monsters. This is accomplished by arranging monsters and bombs of the same color in horizontal, diagonal or vertical rows of three or more blocks. Clearing four objects at once lowers your opponent's screen by one row in Vs. mode, or gives you more time in single-player mode.


===Combos=== ==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
A combo is defined by the game as when the destruction of one row results in another row being destroyed. When this occurs the opponent receive a column of same-color creatures extending to his ceiling in Vs. mode. For each consecutive row that is cleared because of previous rows clearing, your opponent receives a full column of critters for each combo you achieve. These full columns can often be easily cleared with a single bomb, and usually lead to diamonds for your opponent (see above). When playing with creatures that can only be destroyed diagonally, this move becomes very powerful. Making a combo in single-player mode gives you more time, more than clearing multiple monsters with one bomb would.
| title = Reviews
| state = expanded
| na = true
| SNES = true
| NES = true
| WII = true
| Allgame_SNES = 3.5/5<ref name="Allgame_SNES" >{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12148&tab=review |title=Wario's Woods - Review |publisher=] |access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114130236/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12148&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan}}</ref>
| Allgame_NES = 4/5<ref name="Allgame_NES" >{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7275&tab=review |title=Wario's Woods - Review |publisher=AllGame |access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114214255/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7275&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|last=Huey|first=Christian}}</ref>
| GSpot_WII = 7.0/10<ref name ="GameSpot_VC_review">{{cite web|last= Thomas |first= Aaron |url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/puzzle/warioswoodsnes/review.html |title=Wario's Woods Review for Wii |publisher= ] |date=January 10, 2007 |access-date= January 10, 2011}}</ref>
| IGN_WII = 8.0/10<ref name ="IGN_VC_review">{{cite web|last= Thomas |first= Lucas M. |url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/749/749639p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209135222/http://wii.ign.com/articles/749/749639p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 9, 2006 |title=Wario's Woods Virtual Console Review |publisher= ] |date=December 6, 2006 |access-date= January 10, 2011}}</ref>
| NGen_SNES = 2/5<ref name="NGen4"/>
| GR_NES = 70% (4 retrospective reviews)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/587758-warios-woods/index.html |title=Wario's Woods for NES |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306030142/http://www.gamerankings.com/nes/587758-warios-woods/index.html |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| EuroG_WII = 2/5 <ref>{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=2007-01-16 |title=Virtual Console: NES |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/virtual-console-nes-review?page=2
|access-date=2024-10-13}}</ref>
| NLife_WII = 6/10 <ref>{{cite web
|date=2006-11-20 |title=Review: Wario's Woods (Wii Virtual Console / NES) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nes/warios_woods |access-date=2024-10-13 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en}}</ref>
}}


''Wario's Woods'' has received mixed to positive reviews. Reviewing the SNES version, '']'' called it "a ho-hum puzzler", commenting that though it has some interesting gameplay mechanics, it ultimately fails to be more than a standard '']'' clone. They also regarded the controls as difficult.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Wario's Woods|magazine=]|issue=69 |publisher=]|date=April 1995|page=86}}</ref> '']'' reviewed the game noting that it had a fun two-player mode and was challenging and fast-paced while saying that it's not as easy to control as '']''.<ref name="nintendo-power-review">{{cite magazine |date=December 1994 |title=Now Playing |magazine=] |publisher=Nintendo of America Inc. |volume=67 |page=106}}</ref> For the individual scores, the game ranked scores evenly for graphic and sound for both systems, but gave slightly higher scores for the Super NES in the Play Control, Challenge, and Theme and Fun categories.<ref name="nintendo-power-score">{{cite magazine |date=December 1994 |title=Now Playing |magazine=] |publisher=Nintendo of America Inc. |volume=67 |page=107 |quote="SNES: Graphics and Sound: 3.1 / 5, Play Control: 3.4 / 5, Challenge: 3.6/5, Theme and Fun: 3.4/5. NES: Graphics and Sound: 3.1 / 5, Play Control: 2.9 / 5, Challenge: 3.0/5, Theme and Fun: 3.1/5"}}</ref> A reviewer for '']'' argued that the gameplay mechanics are too complicated for an action puzzle game and that the learning curve in the game is "too steep".<ref name="NGen4">{{cite journal|title=Wario's Woods |journal=]|issue=4|publisher=]|date=April 1995|page=101}}</ref>
==Types of Creatures==
* '''Straight''' (Fuzz, Spud, Squeak) - These creatures can be cleared either as a column, row or a diagonal.
* '''Diagonal''' (Beaker, Scram) - These creatures can only be cleared as a diagonal.
* '''Color-change''' (Dovo) - These act like Straight creatures except that when bombed for the first time, they will change colors. The second time they are bombed, they will be cleared. Listed below are the possible color changes.
** White to Green
** Lt. Blue to Yellow
** Grey to Blue
** Pink to Red
* '''Double-bomb''' (Spook) - These creatures must be bombed twice. When they are first bombed they will flash for about five seconds. While they are flashing they must be bombed again to be cleared.


In retrospective reviews, ] rated ''Wario's Woods'' 4 stars out of 5 for the NES version, and 3.5 stars out of 5 for the SNES version. Christian Huey, who reviewed the NES version, wrote that the controls were "both surprisingly complex and completely intuitive" while the gameplay has a "surprising level of depth", and labeled the two-player versus mode as welcome addition to the game.<ref name="Allgame_NES" /> Scott Alan Marriott, who reviewed the SNES version, felt that the game "doesn't quite measure up to the addictiveness of either ''Tetris'' or '']''", citing the game's "extremely awkward" controls and complicated gameplay. While Marriott appreciated "that the developers were trying something new", he also argued that sometimes when adding things to an already proven formula for action puzzle games can work, it can also "dilute" the ingredients that made the game a success.<ref name="Allgame_SNES" />


The reviews for the Virtual Console release ranged from mixed to positive, applauding the gameplay and depth, but criticizing the choice to release the primitive NES version over the more comprehensive SNES version.<ref name="IGN_VC_review" /><ref name="nintendo_life_review" /><ref name="GameSpot_VC_review" /> Lucas Thomas of ] awarded the game an 8.0 out of 10, praising the game's unique approach to the puzzle genre and graphics that "took full advantage of the ] hardware full of character", but recommended saving ] for the SNES version.<ref name="IGN_VC_review" /> Aaron Thomas of ] gave ''Wario's Woods'' a score of 7.0 out of 10, admiring the "fun, addictive game play" and "surprising amount of depth", but criticizing the game's repetitive ] and poor ]s, adding that he also prefers the "ideal" SNES version.<ref name="GameSpot_VC_review" /> Nintendo Life scored the game 6 out of 10, stating that while the game is fun, he noted the game's length to be short.<ref name="nintendo_life_review">{{cite web |last=Calvert |first=Darren |title=''Wario's Woods'' (Virtual Console) review |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=November 20, 2006 |access-date=January 21, 2011 |url=http://vc.nintendolife.com/reviews/2006/11/warios_woods_virtual_console |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223184253/http://vc.nintendolife.com/reviews/2006/11/warios_woods_virtual_console |url-status=live }}</ref> IGN ranked the game 29th on their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time".<ref>{{Citation |title=Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com |url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-snes-games |language=en |access-date=2022-09-08 |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123081606/http://www.ign.com/top/snes-games/31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s}}

==Notes==
{{reflist | group="nb"}}{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/warios-woods|name=''Wario's Woods''}} * {{moby game|id=/warios-woods|name=''Wario's Woods''}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107063536/http://www.nindb.net/game/warios-woods.html |date=2014-01-07 }} at
*{{GameFAQs|type=/console/nes|num=587758|name=''Wario's Woods'' (NES)}}
* on the ] 40th Anniversary page {{in lang|ja}}
*{{GameFAQs|type=/console/snes|num=588833|name=''Wario's Woods'' (SNES)}}

* (previously hosted by ])
{{Mario puzzle games}}
*
*
{{Wario series}} {{Wario series}}


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Latest revision as of 00:55, 26 November 2024

1994 video game 1994 video game
Wario's Woods
North American NES box art
Developer(s)Nintendo R&D1
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Kenji Miki
Producer(s)Kenji Miki
Designer(s)Soichiro Tomita
Masahiro Iimura
Naotaka Ohnishi
Composer(s)Shinobu Amayake
Soyo Oka
SeriesWario
Platform(s)NES, Super NES, Satellaview
Release
  • JP: February 19, 1994
  • NA: December 10, 1994
  • EU: 1995
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Wario's Woods is a puzzle video game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released in Japan and North America in 1994 and Europe in 1995 for both the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. A spin-off of the Mario series, players control Toad in his mission to defeat Wario, who has taken control of the Peaceful Woods. Gameplay revolves around clearing each level by using bombs to destroy groups of enemies. The game also features a multiplayer mode that allows two players to compete against each other.

The NES version is noteworthy for being the last officially-licensed game as well as the final first-party game for the system in North America, due to its release at the end of the console's lifespan. It is also the only NES game to receive a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which was inducted several months before the game's release. In Japan, the game was released alongside a re-release of The Legend of Zelda to coincide with the release of the AV Famicom.

Wario's Woods has been re-released several times for other platforms, such as the Satellaview and the Virtual Console. The game received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay, design, and multiplayer mode, though some believed it was not as refined as Nintendo's previous puzzle games like Dr. Mario, and lacked depth and enough content to keep players engaged.

Plot and gameplay

Screenshot of the single-player mode in the SNES version. The player character Toad rearranges the objects in the playing field such that monsters and bombs of matching colors are placed adjacently in rows.

The "Peaceful Woods" was once a peaceful area for sprites and gentle creatures. After the invasion of Wario and his group of monsters, the forest community was "turned upside-down" where peaceful creatures are no longer welcome. To stop Wario, Toad arrives to stop him and return the Woods back over to the sprites by going after Wario himself.

The objective of Wario's Woods is to clear the playing field of monsters of varying colors by using bombs of matching color, which are dropped into the field from the top of the screen by a sprite. In order to do so, the monsters and bombs must be rearranged by the player such that three or more objects of the same color are placed adjacent to one another in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal rows, with at least one object being a bomb (such rows are called a "match"). For example, a match may consist of two red monsters and one red bomb, but may also consist of two red bombs and one red monster. However, a match cannot consist of three monsters of the same type. A Thwomp may also come down a number of rows (being disguised as the ceiling), making less room for the player to match enemies and bombs. When the play field is cleared of all the monsters, the player progresses to the next round, where the initial number of monsters increases. There are different monster types that can only be destroyed in specific ways, such as requiring two matches in quick succession or being placed into a diagonal match.

Unlike other action puzzle games such as Tetris or Puzzle League where the player directly manipulates the game pieces, either as they fall or via a cursor, the player directly controls the character Toad, who moves around inside the playing field atop the fallen objects. Toad can pick up individual objects or lift entire stacks and place them elsewhere in the playing field, but is unable to manipulate objects he cannot immediately reach. However, Toad can perform a variety of additional tricks, such as kicking objects across the play field and scurrying up the sides of stacks to retrieve specific objects. If the player cannot clear the playing field of its objects quickly enough, the play field will eventually fill to the brim and trap Toad, resulting in a Game Over.

The game has a multiplayer mode, called 'VS' or 'VS 2P', where the player can play against another player. In the multiplayer mode, players can make two or more matches after another to make a stack of enemies on their opponents field.

Re-releases

Two modified versions of the SNES version of Wario's Woods were released in Japan for the Satellaview, a satellite modem add-on for the Super Famicom. The first version was copyrighted in 1994 and released under the name Wario's Woods: Bakushou Version (ワリオの森 爆笑バージョン, Wario no Mori Bakushō Bājon). The Bakushou Version featured personalities from the Japanese radio comedy show, Bakushō Mondai.

The second version of Wario's Woods broadcast for Satellaview was released under the name Wario's Woods: Again (ワリオの森 再び, Wario no Mori: Futatabi). It was broadcast from April 23, 1995, to June 30, 2000, throughout the lifespan of the Satellaview. The game was quite popular and it was rebroadcast at least seven times throughout the tenure of St.GIGA's Satellaview-broadcasting period. The game was also broadcast at least once as one of the Satellaview's special event versions.

The NES version of Wario's Woods is available as a collectible item in the 2001 game Animal Crossing for the GameCube, obtained through use of the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. This version was one of the first titles available for the Wii Virtual Console, released alongside the service's launch in North America, Australia, and Europe, and on December 12, 2006, in Japan. It was available for purchase at the Wii Shop Channel for 500 Nintendo Points. It was released for the eShop in Japan on May 29, 2013, for the Nintendo 3DS and on January 29, 2014, for the Wii U, in Europe for the 3DS on October 24, 2013, and for the 3DS and the Wii U eShop in North America on November 7, 2013. The game was added to the Nintendo Switch Online service on December 13, 2018.

Reception

Reviews
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
NESSNESWii
GameRankings70% (4 retrospective reviews)N/AN/A
Review scores
PublicationScore
NESSNESWii
AllGame4/53.5/5N/A
EurogamerN/AN/A2/5
GameSpotN/AN/A7.0/10
IGNN/AN/A8.0/10
Next GenerationN/A2/5N/A
Nintendo LifeN/AN/A6/10

Wario's Woods has received mixed to positive reviews. Reviewing the SNES version, GamePro called it "a ho-hum puzzler", commenting that though it has some interesting gameplay mechanics, it ultimately fails to be more than a standard Tetris clone. They also regarded the controls as difficult. Nintendo Power reviewed the game noting that it had a fun two-player mode and was challenging and fast-paced while saying that it's not as easy to control as Tetris 2. For the individual scores, the game ranked scores evenly for graphic and sound for both systems, but gave slightly higher scores for the Super NES in the Play Control, Challenge, and Theme and Fun categories. A reviewer for Next Generation argued that the gameplay mechanics are too complicated for an action puzzle game and that the learning curve in the game is "too steep".

In retrospective reviews, Allgame rated Wario's Woods 4 stars out of 5 for the NES version, and 3.5 stars out of 5 for the SNES version. Christian Huey, who reviewed the NES version, wrote that the controls were "both surprisingly complex and completely intuitive" while the gameplay has a "surprising level of depth", and labeled the two-player versus mode as welcome addition to the game. Scott Alan Marriott, who reviewed the SNES version, felt that the game "doesn't quite measure up to the addictiveness of either Tetris or Dr. Mario", citing the game's "extremely awkward" controls and complicated gameplay. While Marriott appreciated "that the developers were trying something new", he also argued that sometimes when adding things to an already proven formula for action puzzle games can work, it can also "dilute" the ingredients that made the game a success.

The reviews for the Virtual Console release ranged from mixed to positive, applauding the gameplay and depth, but criticizing the choice to release the primitive NES version over the more comprehensive SNES version. Lucas Thomas of IGN awarded the game an 8.0 out of 10, praising the game's unique approach to the puzzle genre and graphics that "took full advantage of the 8-bit hardware full of character", but recommended saving Nintendo Points for the SNES version. Aaron Thomas of GameSpot gave Wario's Woods a score of 7.0 out of 10, admiring the "fun, addictive game play" and "surprising amount of depth", but criticizing the game's repetitive music and poor sound effects, adding that he also prefers the "ideal" SNES version. Nintendo Life scored the game 6 out of 10, stating that while the game is fun, he noted the game's length to be short. IGN ranked the game 29th on their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time".

See also

Portals:

Notes

  1. ^ From the Operations Guide (5. Basic Play)
  2. From the Operations Guide (2. Controls)
  1. Known in Japan as Wario no Mori (ワリオの森, Wario's Forest).

References

  1. "Story". Wario's Woods Instruction Booklet (booklet). United States: Nintendo. 1994. p. 13. NES-WB-USA.
  2. "Wario's Woods Instruction Booklet (USA)". Internet Archive.
  3. ^ Nintendo (November 19, 2006). Wario's Woods (Virtual Console). Nintendo.
  4. ^ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Wario's Woods - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  5. ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (December 6, 2006). "Wario's Woods Virtual Console Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 9, 2006. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  6. ^ Huey, Christian. "Wario's Woods - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2015.
  7. "Wario's Woods". Nintendo Power. No. 67. November 1995. pp. 78–81.
  8. "Wario's Woods Instruction Manual (USA)". Internet Archive.
  9. ^ ワリオの森　爆笑バージョン＆イベントバージョン１ Archived 2008-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Satellaview Memorial. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  10. ワリオの森 爆笑バージョン Archived April 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. SFC Mania. July 27, 2008.
  11. セント・ギガ衛星データ放送. St.GIGA. Archived 20 June 2000.
  12. Kameb. スーパーファミコンアワー番組表 Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. The Satellaview History Museum. 12 February 2008.
  13. ^ Calvert, Darren (November 20, 2006). "Wario's Woods (Virtual Console) review". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  14. ^ Thomas, Aaron (January 10, 2007). "Wario's Woods Review for Wii". GameSpot. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  15. ^ "Wario's Woods". Next Generation (4). Imagine Media: 101. April 1995.
  16. "Wario's Woods for NES". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  17. Reed, Kristan (January 16, 2007). "Virtual Console: NES". Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  18. "Review: Wario's Woods (Wii Virtual Console / NES)". Nintendo Life. November 20, 2006. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  19. "Wario's Woods". GamePro. No. 69. IDG. April 1995. p. 86.
  20. "Now Playing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 67. Nintendo of America Inc. December 1994. p. 106.
  21. "Now Playing". Nintendo Power. Vol. 67. Nintendo of America Inc. December 1994. p. 107. SNES: Graphics and Sound: 3.1 / 5, Play Control: 3.4 / 5, Challenge: 3.6/5, Theme and Fun: 3.4/5. NES: Graphics and Sound: 3.1 / 5, Play Control: 2.9 / 5, Challenge: 3.0/5, Theme and Fun: 3.1/5
  22. Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com, archived from the original on January 23, 2012, retrieved September 8, 2022

External links

Mario puzzle games
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