In this game, the player controls Mario as he works to destroy certain objects on the level. The levels were composed of several different looping levels which were linked by ladders, or in some cases, not. Level design was key, and levels were designed to have the destructible ladders, columns, bombs, and blocks, destroyed in certain order. To make things more complicated, the player must figure out the puzzles while avoiding fireballs, monkey wrench and eggplant enemies, and a construction foreman named Spike (Blackey in Japan). It is often believed that Spike was the basis for the Wario character in the later games (much like how Donkey Kong's Pauline was the basis for Princess Peach). However, as Pauline has recently come back in Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, it should be assumed that Spike is still a separate character from Wario. Luigi appeared in this game as a second player, dressed in uncharacterstic purple. An arcade version was released under the title of Vs. Wrecking Crew, in keeping with Nintendo's two-player simultaneous arcade releases of the time.
