Most games require cheat codes before players get unlimited lives, but the gameplay of Wario Land 3 revolves around the concept of invincibility. Wario can't die, but the various creatures in the game can transform him temporarily into an alternate form. Get hit by a zombie, and you turn into a zombie until you are healed by light from a street lamp. Let the mad professor hit you with his potion and you become invisible, meaning security cameras can't see you, but you also can't see yourself to make precision jumps. Each alternate form has a specific strength and weakness, and figuring out how to use the transformations to solve puzzles is half of the game's fun. It may seem counterintuitive, but to succeed at this game you'll need to deliberately try to get hit by certain enemies at various points in the game. Is this the anti-Mario, or what?

The graphics are clear and colorful, and the animations for both Wario and the other denizens of the land he's trapped in are very fluid. The sound effects are so-so, but the strange soundtracks that play on each level are catchy. Considering the limitations of the Game Boy Color, it's nice to have a game that combines some of the best graphics the system can output with some of the most phenomenal gameplay ever developed for any title. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Twists like invincibility and transformations make for some exciting gameplay considerations
• Terrific background graphics, smoothly animated characters, and a catchy soundtrack
• One of the best Game Boy Color games ever released

• May be too difficult and frustrating for younger players