Nintendo Turned Wario Into a Fan-Favorite Character Exactly 22 Years Ago

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Wario has become one of Nintendo’s most recognizable characters. Originally a comedic villain known for his silly antics and bad temper, he’s grown into a beloved fan favorite, especially thanks to his appearances in Nintendo’s multiplayer party games. He’s also starred in his own series of games, with the WarioWare titles consistently being among Nintendo’s most fun and creative offerings.

Considering his boisterous personality and villainous appearance, it’s not surprising Wario began as a bad guy. What is surprising is how soon after his first appearance he became a playable character. Nintendo made a smart decision by keeping his wild, over-the-top personality intact. Twenty-two years ago today, Nintendo showed everyone how fun Wario could be as the star of his own game, and he’s remained one of their most enjoyable supporting characters ever since.

How Wario’s First Starring Role Didn’t Erase His Villainous Nature

I remember when Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 first came out in Japan back in January 1994 – it eventually made its way over to North America and Europe, and honestly, it was a game-changer. Before this, Wario was just a villain – he first showed up in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992 as the main bad guy. I figured he’d stay that way, another rival for Mario like Bowser, especially in the Game Boy games. But Wario Land really turned things around and made him a totally playable, and seriously popular, character!

Rather than keeping him as a villain, Nintendo made Wario the main character in his own game, Mario Land. Wario Land built upon the familiar gameplay of existing Mario games, but with unique additions that gave Wario his own distinct style. His famously greedy personality became a key part of the game – collecting coins would open up new areas, create save points, or even be used to attack. Wario gained a powerful shoulder charge, which feels like a step between Mario’s simple jump attack and the more complex combat systems in later games. Players could also stun enemies, pick them up, and throw them at each other.

As a huge fan, I always thought it was cool how Wario’s adventures felt similar to Mario’s, but still totally his own thing. Wario Land really nailed that! It wasn’t as fast-paced as a typical Mario game, and honestly, that was perfect for the Game Boy. The handheld just couldn’t always keep up with Mario’s speed. Wario’s style – quick bursts of action and messing with the environment – fit the Game Boy so much better. Plus, it had multiple endings depending on how much treasure you grabbed, which was a really neat touch!

How Wario Went From Surprising Star To Nintendo Fixture

A key element of the original Wario Land was that Wario remained a rough, unapologetic character. Unlike Donkey Kong, who became more heroic over time, Wario didn’t become more likable. Nintendo actually emphasized his negative traits – his greed and bad temper – and used them to create interesting gameplay. He was a true villain, happily destroying anything in his path to get what he wanted, and the games provided plenty of other bad guys for him to clash with. This trend continued in later Wario Land titles like Wario Land 2, which removed traditional health and lives, and instead focused on unique power-ups that transformed Wario into different forms.

These games stood out from the crowd with their quirky and playful style, featuring smart puzzles, expansive worlds to explore, and challenging boss fights – all made better by this unique approach. They also introduced Captain Syrup as Wario’s main rival, a memorable and unrepentant female villain who actually defeated Wario in Wario Land: Shake It!, the last game in the Wario Land series. Since the original Wario Land, Nintendo has released several other platforming games starring Wario, and the Game Boy versions were particularly successful, receiving strong sales and positive reviews.

Wario’s popularity likely led Nintendo to include him as a main character alongside Mario, especially for players who first met him in games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, and Nintendo’s sports titles. When Nintendo wanted a central character for their collection of mini-games, Wario’s chaotic humor and creative gameplay made him a perfect fit. While WarioWare is now his main series, it’s important to remember his roots in Wario Land. Nintendo could have easily made Wario a simple, recurring enemy, but by making him a hero, they created a beloved character who has starred in over a dozen games.

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2026-01-21 22:12