Wario Land II (1998). Play online

Summary

Wario Land II (sometimes called Wario Land II DX in its colorized Game Boy Color release) drops me into a castle‑rattling quest against Captain Syrup’s gang. The standout hook is Wario’s invincibility – enemies can’t kill him, they only shave off coins or morph him into forms like Hot Wario that let me burn through barriers. Each stage is a puzzle box of hidden exits, treasure locks, and secret tiles; finding every one opens alternate chapters and up to five different endings, plus the “Really Final Chapter" for true completionists. The game shuns timers and lives, urging slow, thorough exploration, and even tosses in a nostalgic Flagman‑style minigame once I gather all picture pieces. Critics loved the gamble, rating the GB version around 80% and the GBC version at 88%, praising its replay value and clever design. It resurfaced on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2012, letting new players savor that quirky, death‑proof platforming adventure.

Storyline

After the second‑best ending of Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Captain Syrup and her Black Sugar Pirates break into Wario’s castle at dawn. They swipe his gold, trigger the massive alarm clock and leave the tap running, flooding several rooms.

Wario awakens, chases the thieves across the surrounding lands, reaches their airship only to see them flee, then tracks them to their fortress. After battling through traps he defeats Captain Syrup and recovers most of his loot.

The game offers several endings, but the true final chapter sends Wario back to Syrup Castle, up into a nearby mountain range where a hidden pirate cave holds the remaining riches. He braves the cave’s hazards and finally plunders the secret treasure hoard.