Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 - Gameplay

Gameplay

Despite being billed as Super Mario Land 3, Wario Land controls completely differently to that of the Mario titles. The game takes place on a linear route through several themed areas, which are split into several courses culminating in a boss fight. Wario is able to jump on or bump into enemies to knock them over, during which he can pick them up and throw them at other enemies. When in his grown form, Wario is also able to perform a shoulder charge, which is used to attack enemies, break through blocks and open hidden treasure chests.

There are additionally three unique helmets that Wario can obtain, with their own abilities, advantages and disadvantages to provide. The Bull Helmet increases Wario's strength and doubles the length of his shoulder charge attack, allowing him to smash through blocks more easily, gives Wario the ability to stick onto ceilings and in mid-air, perform a "butt stomp" into the ground which stuns nearby enemies and breaks through blocks underneath him. The Jet Helmet increases Wario's running speed and lets him fly long distances in the air, as well as to shoulder charge underwater. Finally, the Dragon Helmet lets Wario shoot long-ranged bursts of flames both on land and underwater, making it very useful for defeating enemies and destroying blocks quickly, but in return, replaces his shoulder charge until he takes damage or changes helmets. Players can also collect a Starman to gain temporary invincibility. If Wario takes damage from an opponent or obstacle, he will shrink, losing his shoulder charge move, and will remain small until he collects a clove of Garlic, another helmet or reaches the end of the level. If Wario is hit whilst small, or is hit by an instant kill obstacle, such as pits or lava, he will lose a life and all the coins he had collected in that level.

Unlike the Mario series, in which coins are typically used to earn extra lives, coins in this game are instead used as currency, the goal being to try and collect as much treasure as possible by the end of the game. These can be earned by collecting them, finding them in blocks, or shoulder charging enemies. During gameplay, Wario can pull out a large coin, worth 10 coins, which he can throw, and pick up again if necessary. This can be used to attack opponents, open the exit at the end of each stage, or activate checkpoints where players can restart should they lose a life. Conversely, extra lives are earned by collecting heart points, which are earned by defeating enemies or collecting Hearts, with an extra life earned for every 100 points earned. At the end of each level, the player can choose to either gamble the amount of coins he or she has collected in the level in a game of chance, or spend them to try and earn heart points and extra lives. Also hidden in certain levels are keys which open secret treasure rooms containing treasure. The type of ending the player gets at the end of the game depends on how many coins the player has collected, as well as how many pieces of treasure the player has found.