Wario Land 3 (World) (GBC)

In Wario Land 3, players control Wario as he explores a vast, non-linear world trapped within a mysterious music box. The primary goal is to collect 100 hidden treasures scattered across various levels to unlock new areas and ultimately escape the music box. A unique aspect of this game is that Wario is almost invincible to most enemies.

Instead of taking damage or losing lives, Wario reacts to enemy attacks or environmental hazards by transforming into various forms. Each transformation grants Wario unique abilities, which are essential for solving puzzles, overcoming obstacles, or reaching previously inaccessible areas.

For example, Wario might become Fat Wario after eating a specific fruit, allowing him to smash through strong blocks. Or he could turn into Zombie Wario when touched by a zombie monster, enabling him to fall through weak floors. Understanding and utilizing these transformations is key to progression.

Levels often contain multiple hidden paths and require players to backtrack and re-explore as Wario gains new abilities. The game also features a day and night cycle that affects environments, revealing new paths or enemies. Coins collected are used to play golf mini-games, which help unlock more treasures or access deeper parts of the music box. Wario Land 3 heavily emphasizes exploration and puzzle-solving through Wario's unique transformation mechanics.