I've been working on a fangame for quite some time. It's focused on Wario's debut, Super Mario Land 2. Besides an expanded recreation of said game it also includes a new campaign that shows how Wario took over the island and got his castle.
It's somewhat of a mix of how a Mario and Wario game plays. Generally speaking every element from the original game returns, but Wario got his extensive moveset and abilities from his own games, alongside multiple gimmicks that are derived from his games and a few new ones even.
After an ambush leaves him stranded on the island, Wario must conquer all six zones around Mario's Castle and crush the last remnants of Mario’s influence. He will also snatch every last coin and treasure in sight while he's at it!
Currently it is somewhat of a metroidvania. You explore the zones and find treasure which can unlock paths to new areas. Sometimes you even find Power-Ups which act as permanent upgrades and allow you to solve puzzles and cross more unique hazards.
Even a few reactions return, such as getting set on fire or being squashed.
It is somewhat similair to Wario Land 3, though not exactly the same.
You will also stumble upon Challenge Pipes, which transport you to linear levels that play very similair to Wario Land 1 and Wario Land 4. Their objective can vary, for example you could reach the end of a linear level and suddenly a timer starts which forces you to run to the beginning again. Sound familair?
There are also multiple minigames. Some are WarioWare references! In general the game has many references. From Wario World to even Wario's Woods there is something for everyone, I believe.
There will be a demo available at SAGE 2025 which begins...tomorrow I believe? Though there isn't a lot accessible yet. I mainly feature it there to gather interest and find potential playtesters for private gamebuilds, because let me tell you...playtesting this over and over again takes time and makes me go crazy.
