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Wario's Woods (ワリオの森 Wario no mori) is a puzzle game made by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo in 1994, and then later released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1994 and the Satellaview BS-X in 1997. Wario's Woods is a Tetris-derived falling block game, although in this case the blocks are actually forest-dwelling creatures and bombs. Due to the increasing popularity of the Super Nintendo, Wario's Woods was the last game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.

Versions

NES

The version of Wario's Woods for the Nintendo had less features than its SNES and Satellaview counterparts. Besides the obvious graphical disparity, the game has no "vs. Com" similar to the SNES 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.

Other features are also missing from this version. Using one bomb to destroy creatures in more than one direction, called a "breakfast" in the SNES 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 lifted, dropped, or kicked. The familiar Thwomp from many Mario games is changed to a simpler yellow brick with a cartoon face on it.

SNES

The SNES version was released in Europe and the US in 1994 with much improved graphics and some new gameplay features. An improved "vs. Com" features a best 3 out of 5 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 enable 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.

Satellaview

The Satellaview release of Wario's Woods in 1997 was the first taste of Wario's Woods on the SNES for Japanese gamers. The title screen reads, Wario no mori: futatabi (ワリオの 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 BS-X system. The game was most likely initially broadcast on April 26, 1997 but was probably retransmitted again at a later date. This version is very similar to the SNES release except for a few minor differences. The game does not have a round-game style single-player mode.

Gameplay

Toad, the player's avatar in the game, has to arrange these monsters and bombs to stop Wario from taking control of the forest. Unlike most other Tetris clones, the player controls a character who moves the already fallen objects, rather than manipulating objects as they fall. Toad can pick up individual blocks or entire columns of blocks and move them elsewhere. The object of the game, as in most Tetris clones, is to clear the player's screen of blocks. This is accomplished by arranging creatures 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.

Diamond

There are a number of built in bonuses/powerups that prove helpful in defeating your opponent. As with many other falling block games, there are a number of ways to send your opponent extra blocks. First, a diamond appears on your screen anytime you clear a row/column/diagonal of five or more blocks. A diamond can be any color and is not related to the color of the row you cleared to obtain it. Use the diamond as you would any other bomb as you clear another row. When you clear a row containing a diamond all of your stationary creatures that are the same color as the diamond are destroyed. At the same time all of your opponent's stationary bombs turn into critters. This severely limits your opponent's ability to clear his screen. In addition, getting diamonds lowers your opponent's ceiling by two rows, hence making his screen smaller and more difficult to negotiate.

Breakfast

Another good attack is to clear multiple rows/columns/diagonals at once with one bomb. The game says "breakfast" when this occurs. You can achieve a two or a three way breakfast. A two way breakfast occurs when you clear two directions at once, say, a row and a column of three or more blocks. A three way breakfast occurs when you clear a row, column and diagonal all at once. When you achieve a breakfast, your opponent will receive a falling egg, which hatches into a critter once it hits the ground. Note a three way breakfast will send two eggs instead of one. When the egg hatches, an additional row of critters of one color will rain on your opponent. A player can prevent this by picking up the egg and jumping to the top of the pile by pressing Y or Up on the D-pad, Note that these rows are generally much harder to clear than columns, because they fall onto the uneven terrain of existing blocks. This strategy would be effective were it not so easy to prevent eggs from hatching.

Combos

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 recieve a column of same-color creatures extending to his ceiling. 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.

Types of Creatures

• Straight - These creatures can be cleared either as a column, row or a diagonal.
• Diagonal - These creatures can only be cleared as a diagonal.
• Color-change - These act like Straight creatures except that when destroyed for the first time, they will change colors. The second time they are destroyed, 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 - These creatures must be destroyed twice. When they are first destroyed they will blink for about five seconds. While they are blinking they must be destroyed again to be cleared.

Miscellaneous

• This game is the only game where Toad has the starring role, although he has been available as a playable character in various games since Super Mario Bros. 2.
• As a curious note, the NES version is the only one in the system's library that has an ESRB rating.
• The NES version of Wario's Woods appeared as a hidden feature on Animal Crossing, a Gamecube game released on September 16 2002.

Packaging artwork

External links

• GameFAQs information page (NES)
• GameFAQs information page (SNES)
• N-sider full game credits (SNES)

v t e Wario series
List of games Character
Wario Land series	Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 Virtual Boy Wario Land Wario Land II Wario Land 3 Wario Land 4 Wario Land: Shake It! marketing
WarioWare series	Mega Microgames! Mega Party Games! Twisted! Touched! Smooth Moves Snapped! D.I.Y. Game & Wario Gold Get It Together! Move It!
Puzzle games	Mario & Wario Wario's Woods
Spin-offs	Wario Blast Wario World Wario: Master of Disguise
Developers	Nintendo Hiroji Kiyotake Yoshio Sakamoto Intelligent Systems Good-Feel Suzak Inc. Treasure
Related	Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins Dr. Mario 64 Super Smash Bros. Rhythm Heaven Megamix Pizza Tower Antonblast
Category

• NES games
• Super NES games
• Puzzle computer and video games
• 1994 computer and video games