data/claims/wrecking-crew-history.yamlWrecking Crew (history and reception)
Game: Wrecking Crew.
Wrecking Crew came out for the Famicom in Japan on 18 June 1985, a Nintendo cartridge numbered HVC-WR. wrecking-crew-history/release-japan
p. 238, In All These Games, Wrecking Crew date banner — the banner "US: 10.18.1985; JAPAN: 6.18.1985" with the NES tag is image text the OCR does not carry; read from the page image (Internet Archive leaf n238)JAPAN: 6.18.1985懐かしファミコン パーフェクトガイド (Perfect Guide of Nostalgic Family Computer) · PDF p. 123, ファミコンソフト完全目録, 1985 column, no. 044 — the text layer's reading of the row "044 1985/06/18 『レッキングクルー』 任天堂", which the scout checked on the page image0441985/06/18 rレッキングクルーj任天堂Our translation044. 18 June 1985. Wrecking Crew. Nintendo.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · preface (unnumbered page before p. 1) — from the booklet's opening thanks for buying the Family Computer cassette Wrecking Crew; the OCR spaces the Japaneseクル ー(HVC-WR)Our translation(Wrecking) Crew (HVC-WR)Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The Encyclopedia banner is checked on the page image, and the preface's locator is the unnumbered page before p. 1.The Encyclopedia is Nintendo's own guide, published in 2015; the catalog is an unattributed retrospective mook. No period source for the Japanese date was found, and the Famicom booklet prints none.
Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Wrecking Crew came out for the NES in North America in October 1985. Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia gives the day as 18 October, the date it gives every NES game on that page. wrecking-crew-history/release-na
PDF p. 14 — one row of the list's Title, Licensee, and Released columns; it gives a month, not a dayWrecking Crew Nintendo October 1985Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years, 1985-2015 · p. 238, In All These Games, Wrecking Crew date banner — the banner "US: 10.18.1985; JAPAN: 6.18.1985" is image text the OCR does not carry; read from the page image (Internet Archive leaf n238). The same page gives "US: 10.18.1985" for every NES game on it (Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr. Math, Tennis)US: 10.18.1985Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The statement says the Encyclopedia gives 18 October to every NES game on its page (lead, after the audit's page check).Disputed: Joe Blenkle's review of the console in Computer Entertainer's February 1986 issue says Nintendo of America introduced the NES to the New York City area "a little before Christmas, 1985" (computer-entertainer-1986-02, The Nintendo Entertainment System). No period document found gives the game's North American day.
Cited by: Wrecking Crew
In February 1986 Computer Entertainer listed Wrecking Crew among the 15 games that accompanied the NES "in the markets where it is available", at $35 in Nintendo's Programmable Series with Excitebike. wrecking-crew-history/ce-1986
p. 13, Nintendo Updateis accompanied by 15 games in the markets where it isComputer Entertainer, Vol. 4, No. 11 (February 1986) · p. 13, Nintendo UpdateEXCITEBIKE and WRECKING CREW (Programmable Series at $35)Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Nintendo sold Vs. Wrecking Crew in Japan as a new game in its VS. System arcade series, pitched as a pair who keep smashing a giant building and as a game that two players make "100 times" the fun. wrecking-crew-history/vs-arcade
p. 1 — the scan has almost no text layer; the scout read these lines from the page image好評 VS.システム シリーズ 新製品 VS.レッキングクルーOur translationNew product in the popular VS. System series: Vs. Wrecking CrewVs. Wrecking Crew (Japan) flyer · p. 1巨大なビルをひたすら壊し続ける愉快な2人組登場。Our translationThe cheerful pair who keep on smashing a giant building have arrived.Vs. Wrecking Crew (Japan) flyer · p. 12人でプレイすると楽しさ100倍Our translationPlayed by two, it's 100 times the funChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The flyer prints a 1984 Nintendo copyright line and no release date, so it shows that the arcade version existed and what it advertised, not when it came out.
Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Mario, or Luigi, is a demolition worker who must smash every designated wall in a building to clear the stage. wrecking-crew-history/premise
p. 4, 3. 遊び方 — the OCR spaces the Japanese and drops the line's start, "マリオ(ルイージ)は、WREC-"KING CREW (ビル の 解体 屋 )Our translation(Mario (Luigi) is the) WRECKING CREW (building demolisher)Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 4, 3. 遊び方 — the OCR reads 璧 for 壁 (wall) and 壌 for 壊 (smash)決め られ た 璧 を 、 す べ て た た き 壌Our translation(He must) smash all the designated wallsSuper Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years, 1985-2015 · p. 238, In All These Games, Wrecking CrewIn this game, Mario and Luigi work as a demolition crew. The goal is to destroy all the walls in each stage.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking CrewMario and Luigi are in the wrecking businessChecked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
One player plays Mario on the first controller; in the two-player game the second controller plays Luigi. The A or B button swings the hammer at walls. wrecking-crew-history/players
p. 2, controls — the page image (Internet Archive leaf n3) reads "1-PLAYER GAMEの場合 Ⅰコントローラーでマリオを操作します。" (in a 1-player game, controller I controls Mario); the OCR drops the numeral Ⅰ1 -PLAYER GAME の 場合Our translationIn a 1-PLAYER GAMEWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 2, controlsコ ント ロー ラー で マリ オ を 操作 し ます 。Our translation(You) control Mario with (controller I).Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 2, controls — the page image reads "2-PLAYER GAMEの場合 Ⅰコントローラーでマリオを操作します。Ⅱコントローラーでルイージを操作します。" (in a 2-player game, controller I controls Mario and controller II Luigi); the OCR garbles the numeralsコ ント ロー ラー で ルイ ー ジ を 操作 し ます 。Our translation(You) control Luigi with (controller II).Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 2, controls — under the heading "Ⓐ・Ⓑボタン" (A and B buttons), which the page image shows and the OCR garbles; the image reads "アタックボタンです。押すと、マリオ(ルイージ)がハンマーで壁等をたたきます。"アタ ッ ク ボ タン で す 。 押す と 、 マ リオ (ルイ ー ジ ) が ハン マOur translation(The A and B buttons) are the attack buttons. Press them and Mario (Luigi) (strikes walls and so on with) the hammerWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 2, controls — the OCR reads 璧 for 壁 (wall)ー で 璧 等 を た た きま すOur translation(with the hamm)er (he) strikes walls and so onThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking CrewYou can also choose to enlist Luigi to help with the action.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Checked p. 2 on the page image; the notes give its controller numerals and buttons, and the walls line is quoted.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Monsters that live in the building attack the player for wrecking their home, and fireballs and a nasty old man, Blackie, attack in other ways. Nintendo's 1987 English guide calls the monsters Gotchawrench and Eggplant Man, and names fireballs and Foreman Spike among those trying to stop the crew. wrecking-crew-history/enemies
p. 4, 3. 遊び方 — what the monsters living in the building say as they attack Mario (Luigi)「 住 み 家 を 壊さ れ て な る も の が 」Our translation"We won't have our home wrecked!"Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 4, 3. 遊び方 — the sentence goes on "おじさんが、いろいろな攻撃を仕掛けてきます" (attack in various ways)他 に も 、 ファ イア ボー ル や 意地 悪Our translationBesides them, fireballs and the nasty (old man)Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 4, cast — the monsters' Japanese names (スパナゴン, ナスビ仮面); the OCR reads ク for 2 and ピ for ビスパ ナ ゴ ン 1 スパ ナ ゴ ン ク ナス ピ 仮 面Our translationSupanagon 1, Supanagon 2, Nasubi KamenWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7 — the OCR reads し for じ意 地 悪 お し さん の ブラ ッ キ ーOur translationBlackie, the nasty old manThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking Crew — the text layer reads "bout" for "about"there are monsters (Gotchawrench and Eggplant Man) running bout, fireballs, and Foreman Spike all trying to stop the wrecking crew.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: No longer equates Foreman Spike with the manual's Blackie; the 1987 guide's foes are listed apart, and the Blackie line's locator is p. 7.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Touching a fireball or a monster costs a life and restarts the stage. Blackie tries to knock the player down by hitting from behind, a fireball flies in when the player stays too long on one floor, and dynamite breaks a run of walls but blasts the player to the bottom unless he gets clear at once. wrecking-crew-history/hazards
p. 12, MISSファ イア ボー ル に 当たっ た 時 、 ミ ス と な り ま す 。 モン スタ ー に 当たっ た 時 、 ミ ス と な り ま す 。Our translationHit by a fireball, you lose a life. Hit by a monster, you lose a life.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7ミ ス を する と 、 そ の ステ ー ジ の 最初 か ら 再 スタ ー ト し ます 。Our translationWhen you lose a life, you restart from the beginning of that stage.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7マ リオ (ルイ ー ジ ) に 出会う と 、 裏 か ら た た いて 落Our translationwhen (Blackie) meets Mario (Luigi), (he tries) to knock him down by hitting from behindWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7同じ 床 に 長 時 間 い る と 、 フ ァ イ ア ボー ル が 飛ん で 来 ま すOur translationIf you stay a long time on the same floor, a fireball comes flyingWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7ダイ ナマ イト を 利用 する と 、 壁 の 連続 壊 し が で きま すOur translationUsing dynamite, you can break walls in a chainWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 7す ぐ 左 右 ど ちら か に 逃げ な いと 、 爆 風 で 飛ば され 、 下 まで 落ち て し まい ます 。Our translation(after hitting dynamite,) unless you escape at once to the left or right, the blast blows you away and you fall to the bottom.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Locators are p. 7 and p. 12, from the scan's page numbers.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
The game has 100 stages, and the player can start at any of them; the higher the number, the harder the stage. A stage's building has walls, doors, ladders, floors, pillars, and drums, and is tall enough to span more than one screen. After every fourth stage comes a bonus stage, where a coin is hidden among a row of walls and the player races Blackie to find it. wrecking-crew-history/stages
p. 6 — the OCR reads 苗 for 面 (stage); the sentence ends "数字が大きくなる程むずかしくなります" (the larger the number, the harder it gets)100 苗 まで の ステ ー ジ が あり 、 ど の ステ ー ジ か ら で も チOur translationThere are stages (1) to 100, and you can (take on) any stageWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 6数 字 が 大 きく な る 程 む ず か し く な りOur translationthe larger the number, the harder (it) getsWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 8ステ ー ジ ナン バー 4 の 倍数 面 の 後に 「 ボ ー ナ スス テー ジ 」 が あり ます 。Our translationAfter each stage whose number is a multiple of 4 there is a "Bonus Stage".Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 8の 中 に コイ ン が 1 枚 か くさ れ て いま す 。Our translation(Among the walls lined up in a row,) one coin is hidden.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 8ッ キ ー よ り も 先 に 、 コ イン を 見 つけ まし ょ う 。Our translation(Find) the coin before (Blackie) does.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking Crew — the text layer reads "to to" for "to"The buildings are so tall you have to go from one screen to to the next and deal with different kinds of walls, doors, ladders, floors, pillars, and drums.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Design mode lets the player place walls and characters to build stages of his own, four at a time, played in a row. Connecting the Family BASIC keyboard (HVC-007) and its data recorder (HVC-008) saves them to cassette tape. wrecking-crew-history/design-mode
p. 13, 4. DESIGNモードの使い方いろ いろ な 壁 や キャ ラク タ を セッ ト し て 、 自 分 だ け の オリ ジ ナ ルス テー ジ を 作っ てOur translationset various walls and characters, and make your own original stagesWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 13, 4. DESIGNモードの使い方 — the OCR reads オ for the digit; the page image (Internet Archive leaf n14) reads "1度に、4ステージ分作ることができ" (you can make 4 stages' worth at a time)ステ ー ジ 分 作る こと が で き 、 連 続 し て プレ イ で きま す 。Our translation(You can) make (4) stages' worth (at a time) and play them in a row.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 13, 4. DESIGNモードの使い方ファ ミリ ー ベ ー シ ッ ク で 使用 し て いる キー ボー ド (HVC-007) と 、 専 用 デー タレ コOur translationthe keyboard (HVC-007) used with Family BASIC and the dedicated data (recorder)Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 13, 4. DESIGNモードの使い方ー ダ (HVC-008) を 接続 する こと に より 、 オ リ ジ ナ ルス テー ジ を 、 カ セッ ト テ ー プOur translation(recorder) (HVC-008), by connecting them, (you can save) original stages to cassette tapeThe Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking CrewThis amazing programmable game even lets them design their own building before they knock it to smithereens.The Official Nintendo Player's Guide (1987) · p. 154, Wrecking CrewBuild your own building, and you get to choose how many monsters you want to have running around!Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: The note gives p. 13's page image, which reads 4 where the OCR reads オ.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
In Design mode the player picks from 15 kinds of pieces, only Mario can be placed, not Luigi, and there are no bonus stages. wrecking-crew-history/design-limits
p. 15選択 で きる キャ ラク タ は 15 種 類 あり ます 。Our translationThere are 15 kinds of characters you can choose.Wrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 16, 注意DESIGN モ ー ド で 、 セ ッ ト で きる プレ イヤ ー は マリ オ だ け で 、 ル イー ジ は セッ ト でOur translationIn DESIGN mode the only player you can place is Mario; Luigi (cannot be) placedWrecking Crew Famicom instruction booklet (Japan) · p. 16, 注意DESIGN モ ー ド で は 、 ボ ー ナ スス テー ジ は あり ませ ん 。Our translationIn DESIGN mode there are no bonus stages.Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Locators are p. 15 and p. 16, from the scan's page numbers.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Wrecking Crew '98 was a Nintendo Power download title, and a retail version came out in Japan on 23 May 1998. wrecking-crew-history/wrecking-crew-98
In All These Games, 1998, Wrecking Crew '98 — the entry's heading, which the OCR reads with "°" for the apostrophe; the entry's first line breaks off in the OCRWRECKING CREW °98Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years, 1985-2015 · In All These Games, 1998, Wrecking Crew '98 — the OCR reads "ttle" for "title"Nintendo Power downloadable ttle. A retail version of the game was released in Japan on May 23,1998,Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Cut "an update of the game"; the entry's heading replaces the broken quote.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Wrecking Crew was remade for the Game Boy Advance as Famicom Mini 14. wrecking-crew-history/famicom-mini
In All These Games, Famicom Mini 14FAMICOM MINI 14: WRECKING CREWSuper Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years, 1985-2015 · In All These Games, Famicom Mini 14 — the OCR reads "Wrecking Grew" before itremade for the Game Boy Advance as part of the Famicom MiniRevised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: "Was remade" for "Nintendo remade", since the quote names no one.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia records later appearances of the cast: Foreman Spike in a game outside the Wrecking Crew series, and Eggplant Man, as Kid Eggplant, in Chibi-Robo! Plug into Adventure!. wrecking-crew-history/later-characters
In All These Games, the entry after Mario Party 3 — the entry's title is not in the OCRForeman Spike makes his first appearance outside the Wrecking Crew series.Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia: The Official Guide to the First 30 Years, 1985-2015 · In All These Games, Chibi-Robo! Plug into Adventure!The Eggplant Man enemy from Wrecking Crew, known here as Kid Eggplant,Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-11-06: Cut the year and platform, which the quote doesn't give.Cited by: Wrecking Crew
Rus McLaughlin's 2010 history of Super Mario Bros. for IGN says Shigeru Miyamoto spent so long on Super Mario Bros. that he had to "cede much of Wrecking Crew" to others. wrecking-crew-history/ign-miyamoto
paragraph beginning "Miyamoto spent so much time perfecting Mario"Miyamoto spent so much time perfecting Mario, he was forced to put R&D4's other major project - The Legend of Zelda - on hold, and cede much of Wrecking Crew, a Famicom game staring the brothers Mario, to others.Checked by a second AI model, 2026-11-06.The article names no source for this, and names no one who took the game over.
Cited by: Wrecking Crew