Wrecking Crew (video game)

From Free net encyclopedia

{{Infobox CVG |title = Wrecking Crew |image = Image:Wrecking Crew.png |developer = Intelligent Systems |publisher = Nintendo |distributor = |designer = Hirokazu Tanaka(sound) |engine = |version = |released = Image:Flag of Japan.svg 18 June 1985</br>Image:Flag of the United States.svg October 1985 |genre = Retro/Platform |modes = Single player |ratings = ESRB: Not Rated (NR) |platforms = Famicom/NES |media = 192-kilobit cartridge |requirements = |input = }} Wrecking Crew was a game for the Nintendo Family Computer (also known as the Nintendo Entertainment System) starring Mario. The game was also released for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

In this game, the player controls Mario as he works to destroy certain objects on the level. The levels were composed of several different looping levels which were linked by ladders, or in some cases, not. Level design was key, and levels were designed to have the destructable ladders, columns, bombs, and blocks, destroyed in certain order. To make things more complicated, the player must figure out the puzzles while avoiding fireballs, monkey wrench and eggplant enemies, and a construction foreman named Spike (Blackey in Japan). It is often believed that Spike was the basis for the Wario character in the later games (much like how Donkey Kong's Pauline was the basis for Princess Peach).

The player is also allowed to design up to four of his or her own levels in a special design mode. The game would save the level to cassette tape; however, since the Famicom Data Recorder device needed for this purpose was only available in Japan (intended for use with Nintendo's Family Basic), the saving option was effectively unavailable to U.S. customers (the game's U.S. manual states that "Save and Load menu selections are not operable in this game; they have been programmed in for potential product developments.")

An arcade version was released under the title of Vs. Wrecking Crew, which allowed two players to play simultaneously.

In 1998, Nintendo released Wrecking Crew '98, a sequel for the Super Famicom which took a more competitive approach. It featured characters from both the original Wrecking Crew (including Spike), as well as the usual cast of Mario characters (Luigi, Bowser, and Peach). The game feautred the original Wrecking Crew game with some recoloring done, and also had a remake of the game called Wrecking Crew '98. The only similarity between the two games is that players control a person using a hammer to destroy blocks. The premise was instead that blocks were falling in from the sky at a constant pace, and the player must destroy blocks and move rows left and right to line them up in sets of three or more of the same type of panel. If they were able to elimnate multiple chains at the same time, in a row, or have a chain of more than three, than an attack would come at the other side. The game must always be played with an opponent in another playing field on the other side, unlike the original.

[edit]