Wario World (lost early build of GameCube platformer; 2002)

Early logo from the E3 Build.

Status: Lost

Wario World is a platformer released in 2003 by Treasure for the GameCube. The game centers around Wario and his quest to regain his treasure from the evil gem, Black Jewel. The game was well-received by players and critics, only criticizing its short length. The game was later re-released in 2004 as a player’s choice title.

The game went through many development with an early build being shown at E3. While photos and videos of this build exists, the build has never been dumped online.

E3 Build

Wario World was shown at E3 2002^[1] with a slated release for November 11th, 2002. In the build, it shown many notable differences from this build and the final version.

Differences include:

Unused enemies (e.g. Crab Tanks and Flower Mummies).^[2]
Horror Manor was darker.
The Brawl Doll boss had red eyes.
Wario doesn't move around when performing a Wild Swing-Ding.
The Glue Globes lacked textures.
The pillars lacked were less detailed.
Different punching and coin collection sounds.
Beanstalk Way had a solid blue background.
Wonky Circus was much different.
Pecan Sands had a larger stage design, and differed greatly.
The Heart Gauge was larger, and had a lighter shade of red.
A gauge for different kinds of gems and coins, absent from the final version.
A scorpion-like creature that shot bombs, also absent from he final version.
The Sandworm's design was completely different.
A regular Ankiron in Horror Manor, instead of a Skeletal Ankiron.
A Cractyl-like enemy with similar attacks, but a different design.
Clown-a-Round's stage was different.

After the game was shown, it was delayed two times to May 26th, 2003 and then a month later on June 23rd, 2003. It is believed that the game had to be changed due to the limited capacity of the GameCube and to avoid a T-rating from the ESRB.^[3]

Availability

As of today, no leaks of the build have been dumped online. This build has a low chance of ever leaking in full, as Nintendo is well known for protecting early builds of games.

Gallery

Photos

Screenshot of the Crab Tanks and Flower Mummies that never made it into the main game.
Wario fighting the Big Scorpion.
A regular Ankiron inside the presumed early Horror Manor basement.
Wario in an area that's similar to Pikmin 2's level, 'Wistful Wild'.
Wario in an early trapdoor room for Wonky Circus.
An early view from inside Horror Manor.