Wardner (GEN)

Wardner

Platform: Sega Genesis Year: 1991 Developer: Dragnet

This page is for the Genesis version of the game. For the arcade version, see Pyros (ARC). For the Famicom Disk System version, see Wardner no Mori (FDS).

Wardner is an action-platformer originally developed by Toaplan and published by Taito in the arcades under the name Pyros. It was released for the Genesis in 1991, developed by Dragnet and published by Mentrix Software, and is the only home console release of the game in North America. Interestingly, the North American release uses the same name as the European arcade release. In Japan, the game was called Wardner no Mori or Wardner's Woods, and the Japanese Mega Drive release tacked on the word "Special" to signify changes from the arcade original.

A mysterious figure approaches Dover and his girlfriend, offering to take them on an adventure. After the kids oblige, the figure ends up kidnapping Dover's girlfriend, and he must rescue her.

The game takes the approach of having only a few levels, but each being brutally hard. One hit kills you (without the Magic Mantle, which adds an extra hit), enemy fire is everywhere, and even the time limit isn't too lenient. This isn't helped by one of the last stages being a maze. Throughout the stage, Dover must avoid the various tricks and traps of each area. Dispatching enemies will yield various rewards such as gold and crystal balls. The gold is used to buy upgrades between the levels.

Because the Genesis version runs on similar hardware as the arcade original, it plays, looks, and sounds similar enough. For the most part, it's the same game as the original, but some of the bosses and enemies have changed.

The game was positively received by critics, though many drew comparisons to Ghosts 'N Goblins in terms of difficulty, gameplay, and even the map screen that appears between levels.

Screenshots

The title screen (Japanese version). Stage 1, in the forest. The first boss. Dragons, why'd it have to be dragons?! Buying items in the shop. Game Over.

Music

Wardner's music is taken from the arcade score by Osamu Ohta, and ported over to the Genesis by Dragnet musician Kazuo Okabayashi. Most of the music is spot on, though most of it seems to be played a half-step flat from the arcade original, but has the advantage of being in standard tuning whilst the arcade original plays a ¼ step sharp. The Genesis uses its YM2612 chip while the arcade original used the slightly more powerful YM3812 chip, resulting in a similar sound. Another thing changed with some of the songs are their tempos.

Interestingly, the ending theme from the arcade original is not present in this game, and instead, a new theme by Kazuo plays. However, it is an arrangement of Nodoka.

The song titles are taken from the album TATSUJIN ~TOA PLAN GAME MUSIC SCENE ONE~ (see below). Like the arcade version, some of the game's VGM files are mistitled with other sections of the games, and were fixed for this page.

Recording

#	Title	Composer	Arranger	Length	Listen	Download
01	Nodoka	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	0:55		Download
02	Mori no Naka	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:25		Download
03	Kobito	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	0:27		Download
04	Shop	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:09		Download
05	Koujou Ato	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	0:39		Download
06	Hi no Yama	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:38		Download
07	Shiro no Naka	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:38		Download
08	Chika e	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:12		Download
09	King	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:09		Download
10	Ending	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	1:20		Download
11	Game Over	Osamu Ohta	Kazuo Okabayashi	0:04		Download

Credits

• Ripper: MusicFox
• Recorder: Doommaster1994
• Game Credits:
  • Music: Osamu Ohta credited as Toa Plan
  • Music: Kazuo Okabayashi
  • Music Arrange [sic]: Kazuo Okabayashi
  • Sound Effect [sic]: Kazuo Okabayashi
  • Sound Effect [sic]: Masaharu Ohno

(Source)

The game's credits are seen after beating the game. Interestingly, this is the only version of the game that has credits. The album TATSUJIN ~TOA PLAN GAME MUSIC SCENE ONE~ (see below) credits Ohta as the arcade version's composer as "Ree Ohta".

Albums

TATSUJIN ~TOA PLAN GAME MUSIC SCENE ONE~ 1989-06-25

Game Rip

Format	Download

Audio Devices

The game uses the YM2612 for music and sound effects. The game uses Kazuo Okabayashi's sound driver.

Releases

USA Title: Wardner Platform: Sega Genesis Released: 1991-04-25 Publisher: Mentrix Software     Japan Title: ワードナの森スペシャル (Wardner's Woods Special) Platform: Sega Mega Drive Released: 1991-04-26 Publisher: Visco

Links

• gamefaqs.gamespot.com/genesis/586584-wardner - GameFAQs.
• mobygames.com/game/35873/pyros/ - MobyGames.