Wrecking Crew '98

Overview

Wrecking Crew '98 is a versus action puzzle-platformer developed by both Nintendo R&D1 and Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo for the Super Famicom (via the Nintendo Power cart-writing service) in Japan on January 1998, with a retail release later on May 23, 1998.

Based on the 1985 NES platformer Wrecking Crew (and its 1984 arcade predecessor), Wrecking Crew '98 puts a new spin on the platforming action as a split-screen competitive game similar to the Puyo Puyo series. The game also includes a recreation of the 1985 NES original.

In Wrecking Crew '98, players navigate the 6×8 playfield as a platformer and are tasked with revealing and then clearing colored panels in the background, either by destroying them directly or by forming a three-or-more line of the same color panels (horizontally or vertically) using either gravity, pulleys found at the edge of the playfield (which shifts the entire row), or a lucky revelation. Forming a larger line or a chain reaction hinders the opponent in one of four ways (including monster enemies to dodge and spawning/hiding panels).

The game's Story Mode stars the hero Mario, who returns to his home from a vacation to find massive skyscrapers being constructed by Bowser as his secret hideouts (along with Foreman Spike, who holds a bitter rivalry with Mario). Donning his "Magic Hammer" from his days as part of the Wrecking Crew, Mario sets out to demolish the buildings.

It is known for being the Mario series' last Super Famicom release, and later received a digital release (as a Virtual Console title) for the Wii U in Japan on September 28, 2016. It was later included in the Nintendo Switch Online service for the Nintendo Switch on April 12, 2024, where it received its first worldwide (albeit untranslated) release.

Gameplay

Unlike most versus action-puzzle games, which has players either controlling a falling piece or a cursor, Wrecking Crew '98 is played like a platformer (similar to Wario's Woods). While some aspects of it are similar to the original Vs. Wrecking Crew and Wrecking Crew, namely with a button to bash the wall behind the character, it includes several new twists (including jumping and ledge climbing).

The main controls include jumping (B) and bashing (Y or A), which can be combined to perform a jumping bash. Pressing up while jumping causes them to climb over the ledge (unless there's a gap above them), and pressing down causes them to fall through the ledge. There is also a button (X) to add a row of panels from the top to their side of the playfield, which is useful for speeding up their game and spawning Bomb Panels.

Unlike the original Wrecking Crew, which just tasks players with clearing all destructible panels from the stage, Wrecking Crew '98 is a one-on-one game in which the first player to have a panel above the top line for three seconds loses the match. They must destroy panels by either bashing them directly, forming a three-or-more line of matching panels (horizontally or vertically), or through the explosion of Bomb Panels (which spawn every two times the player adds a row to their playfield). Each panel is affected by gravity, and over time panels covered with bricks fall from the top of the playfield (which must be bashed once to reveal).

On one side of each player's playfield is a column of handles, each of which causes the row of panels to shift towards the center (right for the left player, left for the right player) and loop around to the other side (similar to Yoshi's Cookie).

Panels

The game includes panels of four colors and shapes, each of which correspond to different "attacks" that occur once the player forms either a large line or a combo chain with panels of the same color:

• Red Panels, signified with a skull, can cause monster enemies to spawn from the pipe at the top of their playfield, which will walk around (sometimes pausing) and fall down gaps before exiting from the center pipe. Bumping into them causes the player's character to become stunned for a short time, and they can be jumped on to push them in a particular direction. They can hinder the "all clear" bonus by their presence. There are several types of monster enemies (each based on various construction objects and vehicles), with more bothersome enemies spawned through larger lines, combo chains, and having more than four enemies on the playfield at once.

• Blue Panels, signified with an arrow pointed upwards, can cause colored panels to rise from the bottom at particular columns. The location and amount are based on the location and size of the matched line, with horizontal lines causing a smaller rise from multiple columns and vertical lines causing a larger rise from one column.

• Green Panels, signified with a double-sided arrow, can cause entire rows to have their panels covered up in bricks and randomized (even causing Bomb Panels to revert down to regular ones). The location and amount is based on the location and size of the matched line.

• Yellow Panels, signified with a square, can cause Iron Plates to drop from the top of their playfield, which can only be destroyed by Bomb Panels and cannot be covered up by Green Panels. The location and amount are based on the location and size of the matched line.

Characters

All playable characters must be unlocked by defeating them in Story Mode (other than both Mario and Nasubi Kamen, who are unlocked from the start, and both Peach and Luigi, who are unlocked after clearing the game).

Mario, Luigi, Nasubi Kamen, Spanner Gon, and Blackey return from the original Wrecking Crew, with design updates to make them more in-line with the mainline Mario series. Koopa, Koopa Troopa, and Peach also return from the overall Mario series.

• Mario - The game's main protagonist.
• Nasubi Kamen - Stage 1 opponent. One of Blackey's eggplant-like minions. Better known outside of Japan as "Eggplant Man".
• Noko Noko - Stage 2 opponent. One of Koopa's turtle-like minions. Better known outside of Japan as "Koopa Troopa".
• Spanner Gon - Stage 3 opponent. One of Blackey's wrench-like minions. Better known outside of Japan as "Gotcha Wrench".
• Blackey - Stage 4 opponent. A construction foreman in charge of Koopa's secret hideouts, as well as Mario's rival. Better known outside of Japan as "Foreman Spike".
• Koopa - Final boss. The King of the Koopas and Mario's arch-enemy. Better known outside of Japan as "Bowser".
• Peach - Mario's love interest, who appears in the game's ending.
• Luigi - Mario's brother, who appears in the game's ending.
• Onigiri - Stage A opponent. A sentient rice ball.
• Onnanoko - Stage B opponent. A mysterious young girl with some ghastly powers.
• Oyaji - Stage C opponent. A middle-aged construction worker who laments the building he had to construct.
• Dogu - Stage D opponent. An ancient robotic figure based on real-life dogū figurines.