WarioWare: Smooth Moves Review - Wii

6.5

Gameplay: 6
Graphics: 7
Audio: 7
Multiplayer: 4
Innovation: 6

Introduction

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ (don't you love stupid punctuation?) was presented as a fresh, quirky GBA title, the likes of which had never been seen before and would never be seen again. Somewhat ironically, though not unpredictably, it was subsequently seen again in the form of a Gamecube disc, a DS cart, and then back in the GBA with a gyroscope to boot. But now, with its fifth incarnation in as many years, the license feels watered down, which is a damn shame.

Gameplay

If you’ve still not quite gained an understanding of the series, WarioWare is about lightning-fast challenges requiring quick thinking, but little skill. If that sounds like a criticism, it’s not. The challenge in the games comes from having to perform these rapid-fire tasks in increasingly less time as the game progresses. Plus, each microgame has several variations, each with different difficulties, so when you get a mix of all these different games it can really become quite difficult. Eventually, you’ll face off against a ‘Boss Stage’, which thankfully removes the time limit in favour of longer, more extended challenges.

And that’s basically the entire game. You’ll play different characters’ challenges, each of whom have got themselves into a bit of humorous trouble. As you progress through the game, which should take about two hours, max, you’ll discover new ways to hold the Wiimote – sorry – “Form Baton". This is probably the best part of Smooth Moves. An absolutely deadpan voice describes the poses, which range from ‘The Big Cheese’ (hands at your hips), ‘The Elephant’ (held at your nose) and ‘The Discard’ (put down on the ground to be picked up at the appropriate moment). The hilarious descriptions are genius – absolute genius – and I’m not kidding when I say they’re they most enjoyable part of this WarioWare title. Oh, and eventually you’ll unlock one mode that contains games requiring a nunchuk (aka “Balance Stone”), which is a welcome departure from the sillier Wiimote poses.

The problem with Smooth Moves is that the underlying focus of the game has shifted. WarioWare for the GBA was something fresh and wacky. Twisted! is the best in the series for the same reason, and an innovative technology. However, with Touched! and Smooth Moves it lost its way; it became a demo for the new types of control the DS and Wii, respectively, could provide. Sadly, it never really capitalises on the new technology. The Wii version has the most power and largest storage medium of any of the titles so far, but it’s not any bigger or more fully featured than previous games. Lets look at some examples.

In the Gamecube version (which itself was just the first GBA title with some added multiplayer), multiplayer was simultaneous with four people. However, Smooth Moves forces you to pass the controller back and forth between all the players in seconds – a task which is made even more difficult because, being the good little Wii players that we (continued next page)