Wrecking Crew (universe)

Wrecking Crew (universe)
Developer(s)	Nintendo Hamster Corporation
Publisher(s)	Nintendo Hamster Corporation
Genre(s)	Action
Console/platform of origin	Arcade
First installment	VS. Wrecking Crew (1984)
Latest installment	Arcade Archives VS. Wrecking Crew (2020)

The cover of Wrecking Crew for the NES (1985)

The Wrecking Crew universe (レッキングクルー, Wrecking Crew) refers to the Super Smash Bros. series' collection of stages and properties that hail from the Wrecking Crew series of games. It is a sub-universe of the Mario series, and has no characters that hail from it, making it the only Mario sub-universe with this distinction.

Franchise description

Before Mario had cemented his occupation or abilities, Mario and Luigi would have numerous jobs from game to game. In the Wrecking Crew sub-series, their role is that of demolition workers. Wrecking Crew was initially released in arcades as part of the Nintendo Vs. System line in 1984 before being ported to the Famicom and NES in 1985. In this game Mario (and Luigi in Co-op) could not jump, so he had to approach levels methodically, demolishing them in the right order all while avoiding enemies like sentient wrenches and Foreman Spike. It is notable for being one of the first games with a custom level editor. This game has been re-released several times, including an updated version on Famicom Disk System, a port for Game Boy Advance as part of the Famicom mini collection, and on Virtual Console.

An official sequel was released exclusively in Japan in 1998 on Super Famicom titled Wrecking Crew '98. Initially released as a downloadable only title as part of the Nintendo Power download game service, it was released on a standard cartridge later that year. While gameplay is largely similar to the original, updates include new features like story mode, versus mode and tournament mode. The game was released in North America for the first time on Nintendo Switch Online in April 2024.

In Super Smash Bros.

One of Mario's palette swaps resembles Foreman Spike; this costume reappears in all future Smash titles.

One of Luigi's palette swaps resembles his outfit from Wrecking Crew. This costume reappears in all future Smash titles.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Trophy

• Eggplant Man

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

Item

• Golden Hammer

Music

Source Track

• Power-Up Music (this song is used both as a proper music track on the Mario Bros. stage and when using the Golden Hammer item.)

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS

Item

• Golden Hammer

Music

Source Track

• Wrecking Crew Retro Medley

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

The Wrecking Crew universe is given greater representation in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, with a stage, two music tracks and a masterpiece.

Stage

• 
  Wrecking Crew (Starter)

Item

• Golden Hammer

Music

Original Track

• Wrecking Crew Medley

Source Track

• Wrecking Crew Retro Medley

Masterpiece

• Wrecking Crew

In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Stage

• 
  Wrecking Crew (Starter): returns as a retro stage.

Item

• Golden Hammer

Music

Original Track

• Wrecking Crew Medley: A medley of "BGM A" and the power-up theme from Wrecking Crew.

Returning Track

• Wrecking Crew Medley (for 3DS / Wii U): A medley of tracks from Wrecking Crew including, "Game Start", "BGM A", "Bonus Round", and the power-up theme. Returns from Smash for Wii U.

Source Track

• Wrecking Crew Retro Medley: A medley of tracks sourced from Wrecking Crew, including "Game Start", "BGM A", "Round Clear", "Bonus Round", "Power-Up", and "Game Over".
• Power-Up Music - Wrecking Crew: The power-up theme sourced from Wrecking Crew.

Spirit

An Eggplant Man appears as a spirit.

No.	Image	Name	Type	Class	Slots	Base	Max	Base	Max	Base	Max	Ability
115		Eggplant Man		★	1	954	4773	434	2172	520	2601	No Effect

Games with elements appearing in the Super Smash Bros. series

Wrecking Crew

• Playable characters:
  • Mario's brown costume in Smash 64 is a reference to Foreman Spike.
  • Mario's green alternate costume in all Smash games is based on his outfit on the Japanese box art of Wrecking Crew.
  • Luigi's pink alternate costume in all Smash games is based on his outfit in Wrecking Crew.
  • Wario's brown alternate costume in Brawl is based on Foreman Spike; arguably a more accurate take in comparison to Mario's black and white costume.
  • Warios's green overalls costume in Brawl, Smash 4, and Ultimate is based on Mario's appearance in this game.
• Stage:
  • A stage with the same name appears in Smash for Wii U and Ultimate.
• Item:
  • The Golden Hammer and its theme appears in Brawl and Smash 4.
• Trophy:
  • Eggplant Man appears as a trophy in Melee.
• Spirit:
  • Eggplant Man appears as a spirit.
• Music:
  • "Famicom Medley" (Brawl): Contains a section of "Bonus Round".
  • "Power-Up Music - Wrecking Crew": The music played when Mario/Luigi picks up a Golden Hammer sourced from this game.
  • "Wrecking Crew Medley (for 3DS / Wii U)": A medley of "Game Start", "BGM A", "Bonus Round", and "Power-Up".
  • "Wrecking Crew Retro Medley": A medley of tracks sourced from this game including "Game Start", "BGM A", "Round Clear", "Bonus Round", "Power-Up", and "Game Over".
  • "Wrecking Crew Medley": A medley of tracks from this game including "BGM A" and "Power-Up".
• Misc:
  • This game appears as a masterpiece in Smash for Wii U.

Wrecking Crew '98

• Playable characters:
  • Mario's brown costume in 64 was changed to black in Melee onwards, more closely resembling the design of Foreman Spike from this game.

Trivia

• Despite Golden Hammer originating from Wrecking Crew, its Trophy is still classified as being part of the Mario series in Super Smash Bros. 4.
• Despite having its own series symbol in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, when listening to the Wrecking Crew Retro Medley in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, the series symbol does not show up.
• Despite Eggplant Man originating from Wrecking Crew, its spirit is still classified in the Mario series in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
  • Strangely enough, its trophy is not classified in the Mario series in Super Smash Bros. Melee.