Overview
Vs. Wrecking Crew is a single-screen platformer developed and released by Nintendo for arcades (using NES-based Vs. System hardware) on July 1984.
One of the few Vs. System games to be released before their corresponding home NES titles, Vs. Wrecking Crew features notable differences to its 1985 NES counterpart, including single-screen non-scrolling levels, two-player simultaneous multiplayer, and less puzzle elements (with no blockable barricades and no way to put the game in an unwinnable state).
In the game, players control one of Nintendo's mascot Mario Bros. (Mario & Luigi) as they use their hammer to destroy all breakable blocks and ladders while avoiding monsters (which can be difficult, as neither Mario or Luigi can jump). Both Mario and Luigi has their own "layer" (with Mario in front of the walls and Luigi behind the walls), and can knock each other (as well as monsters of the opposite layer) down to the bottom of the playfield by bashing while they're on the other side. Hindering their progress are giant monstrous wrenches, known as the Gotcha Wrench, which can move between layers using doors that can be opened with the hammer.
The game later received a digital re-release for the Nintendo Switch as part of HAMSTER's Arcade Archives series on May 1, 2020.
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