Wardner (Genesis) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Mentix Software's 1991 platformer for the Sega Genesis, Wardner.
Wardner began life as an arcade platformer, developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in 1987 in both Japan (as "Wardner no Mori") and in the US (as "Pyros"). The game was ported to the Famicom Disk System the following year, and it made its final public appearance on the Genesis in 1991 as Wardner in the US, and as Wardner no Mori Special in Japan.
Wardner begins much like Ghosts 'n Goblins: Prince Alamode and Princess Pudding are getting friendly with one another in a remote corner of a dark forest. A wizard with psychotically glinting eyes happens to be passing by when he takes notice of the pudgy princess and kidnaps her, our cross-eyed prince and would-be hero gives chase.
The gameplay is typical of an arcade platformer from the mid/late 80s. You fire at enemies with a magic blast that can be upgraded between levels at the shop, and take lots of tricky jumps across wide chasms, all while cursing the tight timer.
In spirit, it reminds me a lot of games like Kid Niki and Hammerin' Harry. The controls are rigid in a way that can feel restrictive until you become familiar with them, but then you'll appreciate how reliable and consistent they are. Death isn't something that you can blame on shoddy programming here.
The gameplay is rock solid and I have had a lot of fun with Wardner over the years. I just wish that it was a bit harder. Especially considering the number of ways its mechanics parallel those of Ghosts 'n Goblins, this has to be one of the easiest Genesis platforners I've played. Then again, the arcade game wasn't particularly difficult, either. Certainly not what you'd expect from a Toaplan production.
The Genesis conversion keeps relatively faithful to the earlier versions, but the graphics are a fair downgrade from the arcade version. There are a lot of elements that have been simplified, probably thanks to the cramped size of the cartridge's memory. The original arcade game weighed in at about 6 megabits, and even though 8 megabit Genesis carts were becoming commonplace when Wardner was released in the spring of 1991, Mentix went with a 4 megabit cart, despite the game carrying a $50 sticker price at retail.
But really, unless you're intimately familiar with the arcade game (and really, how many people would be in the year 2021?), you aren't likely to notice that anything is missing. The graphics still manage to convey an appealingly gloomy tone (gotta love the blood splatters on the wall!), and some of these enemy designs are fantastic. Just check out the boss battle at 7:06! How screwed up and awesome is that transformation?
Wardner provides a straightforward, no-frills platformer that harkens back to the early days of 16-bit arcade action games, and in 1991, it would've made for a great weekend rental. If that sounds good to you, you'll probably have a blast with it.
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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@viebgsibrvfdibenociegvuibx6448]

The thumbnail is gold.

[@auricauric8150]

I never could finish this game as a kid. THX>

[@LPetal86]

Quintessential late 80's/early 90's fun to be had here it seems. Those boss designs are great and seeing it juxtaposed with the portly, almost chibi-esque characters is a charmingly quirky contrast. That spider boss transformation is cool.

[@yusakug]

I can't help but think of Eric Cartman when I see the main character.

[@MrVariant]

yeah lol at least better than that game with the inflation fetish adventures of chris.

[@demontanez7724]

This would be the game version of the dedtotated wam kid.

[@magoid]

I was here thinking South Park creators stole their cartoon design from this, before I saw your comment.

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

Indeed, clearly the "Stick of Truth" was a lot different than I remember.

[@axis19752]

Lol! Can't unsee it now.

[@cherokeefit4248]

This was an early arcade game I played back in the day at the mall. It was an unique game for its time. It was alright.

[@NintendoComplete]

This quirky platformer is a fun and easy, but weird, adventure. I was pretty surprised to find out that the original arcade game was made by Toaplan.

[@roberthanthonymartinezrive7383]

Hey Alex! Do you plan to make more playthroughs of Toaplan games? It would be cool to see you playing titles like Knuckle Bash, Dogyuun, Pipi & Bibi's, Ghox, Rally Bike, Guardian and Demon's World, which were some of their non-shoot 'em up titles :) (P.S. I highly recommend you Out Zone! It's one of my favorite Toaplan titles out there :D)

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

Toaplan did have this odd tendency to step out of the shooter wheelhouse we know and love. Personally, my "whuh?" moment was when I found out they're the ones responsible for Snow Brothers.

[@roberthanthonymartinezrive7383]

@@YukaTakeuchiFan Yet, when they did, most of that stuff Toaplan did was pretty decent. Obviously my favorite was Snow Bros.

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

@@roberthanthonymartinezrive7383 Y'know, I was considering adding exactly that? Back when I used to goof around on MAME and other 'any way you can play' methods a lot more, a Toaplan logo was generally a sign that you were gonna have at least a decently fun time. Honestly, another 'whuh?' moment came when I decided to take a shot at actually PLAYING the Genesis version of Zero Wing, only to find that there was actually a damn solid game and good music behind that intro sequence.

[@roberthanthonymartinezrive7383]

@@YukaTakeuchiFan Seriously, in the span of 10 years, Toaplan released good games after good games. I also feel the same way but with Atari Games, who published Knuckle Bash in America but they were a bit more inconsistent with their output. Marble Madness, Paperboy, Gauntlet, 720, S.T.U.N. Runner, Road Riot 4WD, California Speed, Primal Rage and the San Francisco Rush series to name a few were all decent little titles, even with their flaws.

[@jindmand]

I played this when I was like 6, and have spent years trying to figure out what game it was. Thank you... could never get past that spider lady lol

[@vinnyvp2170]

Same here! It came in a cartridge that also had Moonwalker in it

[@o0pinkdino0o]

This was my #1 arcade game. 10p and I could get to the last level

[@TheRealHedgehogSonic]

I never thought there'd be an arcade game about Cody's mom fighting off a non-sus person who's actually a horrific spider monster.

[@therealseanw.stewart2071]

Wow, the bosses are terrifying. You wouldn't be able to tell how disturbing this game really is just going by the look of the main characters, who look like they were rejected from Magical Puzzle Popils or something.

[@lioncoria6242]

K lindo recordar con estos juegos Saludos desde la CDMX

[@mrmadmight266]

I beat the arcade version of it a long time ago,but not this megadrive/genesis version of it.

[@OuroborosChoked]

Interesting how this is different in a lot of little ways from the original arcade game. Adding bosses was mostly an improvement, but splitting the last stage into three separate stages without giving the player enough time on the last stage feels like a kick in the nuts. You were going at a good pace with all the powerups and the extra clock and you _still_ didn't have enough time. Feels unfair.

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

Crazy thing is, you mention a few things being simplified from the Genesis version - but I looked up a longplay of the arcade version a while ago (my first exposure to this one was the Big Bad Gameathon), and that fake hostage situation at 7:06? While the situation itself isn't unique to the Genesis version, the fact that said fake hostage is the ACTUAL second boss rather than a normal-ass enemy after a re-run of the flying dragon boss IS unique to this version. Guess Toaplan wanted to trip up arcade players. (Also, I like how the final boss has a unique reaction to seeing you return for a second shot at him upon losing a life. You almost NEVER see that sort of thing in ANY game.)

[@G0thCrayon]

Ubiquitous Eric Cartman comment, but now I hear his voice in my head screaming "LIGHTENING BOLT! LIGHTENING BOLT!" like that poor LARPer that was featured on that Daniel Tosh show.

[@fernandoteixeira6495]

Amazing game

[@alanpiper3711]

For anyone that may find interest in this.. With the aid of this crafting & building game that is like Minecraft but is a side scroller called Terraria. I re-created this game called Wardner, but I drew more from the original arcade version called Pyros. They changed alot of the level layout when they translated the arcade to the home console version. My Terraria world is called Wardner's Pyros , but don't go looking for it because I do not have this up on the net. I did this on the Nintendo Switch.

[@random_an0n]

post vid or it didnt happen

[@solarflare9078]

22:49 First ever boss to remember your deaths against them?

[@MediaRavenEditor2024]

I never played that game before.

[@Dorian_Scott]

Same here, man. Same here.

[@Dorian_Scott]

*_Soooo..._* am I the only one that thinks that the protagonist of this game looks like the _Lemmings_ from... well, *_Lemmings_* ? Maybe it's the eyes or the lack of a nose?

[@jojjua8859]

7:06 reminds me of my wife

[@G0thCrayon]

Acid reflux of that magnitude would make anyone cranky.

[@random_an0n]

i think it was a warning of bipolar women lol

[@lucianothewindowsfan]

Huh? Never heard of it before!

[@Snuffedstar2004]

7:07 What. The. Hell?

[@rockymitsu]

In the arcade this boss is only a enemy

[@MoluskToeCheese]

Did u play this growing up?

[@solarflare9078]

Maaan, imagine if we got a ROM size that was bigger than the arcade game (8 Mbits). We could have more detail than the arcade game like Atomic Runner.

[@dakotathacker3821]

are there any rpg/jrpg games for the Genesis?

[@NintendoComplete]

Check out Phantasy Star 2-4

[@arrigolazzaretto6973]

Pier Solar and the great architects. Wonder Boy IV (not a real rpg)

[@retrosoul8770]

Phantasy Star IV, Shining Force 1 and 2, Pier Solar

[@Sucker_MC]

Beefcake!

[@johnr4836]

wardner lol

[@iiiiii1449]

Not crazy about the music.

[@solarflare9078]

Still better than the arcade for sure