Wario Land 4 is one of my all time favorite 2D platformers. It's a unique take on the genre, adding innovations that are beloved by fans of the genre even today. For me though there are two things I would point to that make it truly one of a kind. How it looks and how it sounds.
The sprite work in Wario Land 4 is some of the best I've ever experienced in games, and what they were able to accomplish on the Game Boy Advance is remarkable. The boss and level designs are packed with vibrancy and color, and Wario's transformations and reactions are endlessly entertaining. These elements made for a memorable experience and gave the game a personality that transcends beyond your standard Nintendo platformer.
The soundtrack and sound design by Ryoji Yoshitomi is unlike anything else on the GBA. The heavy use of synth and sampling adds a fuzzy crunchiness, which is a huge part of the game’s personality. Genre-wise it offers everything from blues and funk, to pop and jazz. There's even some lullabies and psychedelic rock! It’s all over the place, yet so layered and brilliantly mixed. Some tracks like Palm Tree Paradise go the extra mile of featuring full lyrics, which is practically unheard of for a handheld game of this time.
If you haven’t played Wario Land 4 I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a phenomenal game from the GBA catalogue and the kind of weird ass Nintendo game that I wish we saw more of these days.
