Overview
Mario swings a hammer, but this isn’t combat—it’s demolition. Wrecking Crew tasked players with destroying every wall, ladder, and pillar in 100 single-screen stages. The catch: destroy things in the wrong order and you’d trap yourself. Enemies patrolled constantly, forcing strategic destruction under pressure.
Fast facts
- Developer: Nintendo R&D1.
- Protagonist: Mario (demolition worker).
- Stages: 100 levels.
- Feature: Level editor.
Gameplay mechanics
| Action | Function |
|---|
| Hammer swing | Destroy objects |
| Climb | Use ladders |
| Movement | Cannot jump |
| Strategy | Destruction order matters |
Destructible objects
| Object | Properties |
|---|
| Brick walls | Standard destruction |
| Ladders | Can be destroyed |
| Pillars | Support structures above |
| Bombs | Chain reaction explosions |
| Drums | Push, don’t destroy |
Enemies
| Enemy | Behaviour |
|---|
| Gotchawrench | Patrols platforms |
| Eggplant Man | Follows Mario |
| Foreman Spike | Rival, destructive |
Puzzle elements
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|
| Trapped areas | Plan destruction order |
| Enemy avoidance | Use doors, timing |
| Bomb chains | Strategic placement |
| Completeness | Destroy everything |
Level editor
| Feature | Capability |
|---|
| Design Mode | Create custom stages |
| Object placement | Full tool set |
| Save | Famicom Disk System |
| Share | Custom challenges |
Foreman Spike
| Role | Detail |
|---|
| Rival character | Competitive antagonist |
| Behaviour | Destroys walls, interferes |
| Two-player | Competitive mode |
| Legacy | Recurring Mario character |
No jumping
| Design choice | Effect |
|---|
| Hammer only | Different from platformer Mario |
| Ladders only | Vertical movement restricted |
| Puzzle focus | Strategic planning |
See also