Wario Land 4/The Curious Factory


 * Stage: The Curious Factory
 * Location: Ruby Passage, Stage 1
 * Time: (Normal/Hard/Super Hard) 3:30/2:50/??

What is so curious in The Curious Factory, first stage of Ruby Passage? Treasure and hazards.

Stage Specific Gimmicks

 * Rotate Platforms: There are two types of rotating platforms in this stage.  One type with four platforms is shown in the left, where it will rotate if Wario is standing on one of the side platforms, in order to gain balance.  The other with only two will rotate all the time.
 * Steam Hammer and Pump Machine: The steam hammers will try to squash anything below, and if they failed to, they can create tremor, enough to let Wario drop his handheld item.  Luckily, Wario himself will not be damaged, but instead becomes Flat Wario if squashed.  Other than water ponds, Wario can get into one of the pump machines and return to normal.

Normal Version

 * Room 1: You start in the left end of a long corridor with conveyor belts.  Strangely, the conveyor belt affects nothing but yourself, even the coins can sit on it before flashing.  You will encounter a new enemy - the Spiked Roller.  Stomp him only when his spiked head is rolling away, otherwise you take damage.  Proceed to the right.
 * Room 2: You will find another Spiked Roller.  Use the rotate platform to proceed to upper floor.  To the upper left is a tunnel to a Big Diamond, but in order to get inside, you must get Flat Wario from next room, return here and squeeze inside.  The first Stone Chest is guarded by another Spiked Roller in the lower right.  Leave the room from upper right.
 * Room 3: Here comes the first array of steam hammers.  Even if you get smashed, there is a pump machine not far away.  Get to lower floor, break the left wall to find a pipe to Bonus Room 4.  To the right is another set of steam hammers and pump machine before leaving the room.
 * Bonus Room 4: Pick up the old man and bring to upper left corner, and use him to choke into the wall and enable green blocks, then roll down the slope to break in the portion with a Big Diamond.
 * Room 5: You must get to upper left corner of the room with those rotating platforms.  Two of the paths are frog-sealed, so ignore them.
 * Room 6: Two Spearmen are guarding the conveyor belts.  Break the obvious block on the left to find a pipe to Bonus Room 7.  Break the left wall at upper left corner to find three Bouncers.  Leave from upper right corner.
 * Bonus Room 7: This one is tricky.  You must first throw the rock into right shaft, then get smashed, fly inside and take a wash, then bring the rock to break a hole in the portion of Big Diamond, and finally crouch in or get flattened again and fly in.  Whenever you throw the rock, watch out for the ground-shaking hammer.
 * Room 8: Another large room with lots to do.  Take out the Spear Mask on the conveyor belt, then jump over the gaps.  The Key Ghost is above the third gap.  Fall off the second gap to find the Frog Switch, but do not press it too early.  At the bottom floor, the left corner needs Fire Wario to break in, the hole to Room A at the right corner needs a super slam, and in the middle sits the second Stone Chest.  It is time to escape from upper right corner after clearing everything.  Hurry up!
 * Room A: Fall to the bottom, and climb up to claim the Gems and a Big Diamond above.  Jump in the upper left corner to return to Room 8.
 * Room 9: Take out the Spear Mask and go down.  Collec the Gems and reach the bottom, with another Spear Mask guarding the third Stone Chest.  While you shall leave from the left, get smashed into Flat Wario first.
 * Room 5 (revisited): Now you must fall down, reach the lower right corner and drop in.  Being flat may look like a time loss, but you will find it worthy later.
 * Room 10: If you are still flat, land on the right platform and squeeze inside for the CD Chest.  Otherwise, continue to drop down and move left.  In the next large room, jump over the platforms in the air to collect Gems, and finally reach the upper left with a Big Diamond.  Below is a long conveyor belt with a Spiked Roller patrolling.  For whatever path, you will reach the upper left corner with fourth Stone Chest.  Now leave from the pipe above.
 * Room 3 to 1 (revisited): You appear after the first set of steam hammers.  While escaping, try to avoid being hammered and lose time.

High Score: 13440

Hard Version
Only the differences will be listed.
 * Room 1: There is one more Spike Roller.
 * Room 2: Two more Spike Rollers.  You must get into upper left for first Stone Chest.
 * Room 3: Each set of steam hammers has a guarding Spear Mask.
 * Room 5: A new type of enemy, the Rocket Bird, appears in the room without loot.
 * Room 6: No Bouncers, but each conveyor belt has a Spearman.  The second Stone Chest is in the upper left corner.
 * Room 8: No Stone Chest, but there are three more Spear Masks, one on the floor and two on the conveyor belts.
 * Room A: Beware of the Rocket Birds.  You must reach the top for the third Stone Chest.
 * Room 9: No Stone Chest, but two more Spear Masks.
 * Room 10: Two more Spike Rollers on the long conveyor belt.  You must jump over the spinning platforms to reach the fourth Stone Chest.

High Score: 13340