I first played this game when I was 7, then played again to completion at 17, and I’ve just finished my third run at 27… hope I’m alive and well for my fourth!

This game is incredibly frustrating and I love it so much for it. The twist in design where nothing kills you but instead annoys you to death baffled me when I first laid my hands on it as a child, and still does. Upon hit, very enemy gives Wario an unavoidable transformation that can be infuriating or used to his advantage. The design plays around this, laying in every level 4 treasures behind smart puzzles and challenges which the player must keep coming back for, using every resource as he gets power ups and unlocks secret paths.

On top of that, the charm and colorful vibe impregnated in every level and enemy, tied to Wario’s classical “comical mischief” personality and characterization makes me enjoy going through every level.

Even if the segmentation may be a bit overkill, the thrill of checking with excitement every new treasure to see if its a power up or some new path inside a previous level keeps me hooked every time I play it.