WarioWare Twisted Review (no fat)

Game Description

WarioWare Twisted - Welcome to the Madness

Are you fond of games which require absolutely no practice in order to get into? Games which come with an instruction manual but which isn’t really needed? Well regardless of whether this is the case or not, you’ll probably still enjoy WarioWare Twisted – adequately named, this is one of the most original concepts for a game imaginable.

For those who are not familiar with the series, WarioWare games generally consist of lots and lots of tiny games which you play in sequence in order to progress. The tasks which you will be required to complete can simply be termed diverse. It could quite literally be anything, but this particular release makes things that little bit more interesting. There is an integrated rumble pack/motion sensor into the cartridge to make things more interesting as well.

WarioWare Twisted Storyline

For what it’s worth, there’s a story available in the game but don’t get too hung up on it – you really won’t care when you’re bursting through levels and making your handheld console feel as if it has been left in your jean pocket before being put through a spin cycle. Expect lots of dirty looks from passers by as you frantically move your GBA to accommodate for the controls required on screen. In saying this, not all of the sub games use the controller, but a lot of them do.

Basically you spend your time going through each character in the game and each character has its own group of little sub games. Every time it is your turn to play a character, a random game in their group is selected for you to play, before moving on to the next character. Extremely simple concept…but addictive all the same.

What makes things even more addictive is that ever time you defeat a Boss, you are treated to a random unlockable. The unlockable can be anything from pointless sound effects to extra sub-games. Needless to say, it is the sub games which you will find to be the most sought after.

WarioWare Twisted Gameplay

The game is very easy to pick up and play but there’s plenty of depth there to keep you occupied for long periods of time. The motion sensor/rumblepack aren’t just gimmicks – they’re central features of the game and its innovation alone is enough to bring a smile to the face. The feature suits a handheld console very well –particularly the GBA – you can quite happily swing a GBA without worrying too much of the possibility of it smashing if it hits the ground – you don’t quite get the same impression with the Nintendo DS.

The controls are analogue in nature – a fact that opens up a whole range of possibilities for the machine. What’s to stop this being used in racing games in place of the rudders? Even the menu shows off the capabilities of the device with the buttons rumbling upon selection and the movement of your GBA determining the position of the menu.

WarioWare Twisted - Challenging Diversity

It’s the variation that makes this game though – you can quite easily find yourself timidly tapping a button for a level, then find yourself having to skillfully negotiate a maze using the tilt. This all sounds ok until you realize that you have a (really short) time limit to adhere to in order to complete your task so it may not be as easy as you might think at first.

WarioWare Twisted Multiplayer…not

The major shortcoming of this game, however, is the lack of multiplayer. It’s a shame that this is a limiting factor because there is so much potential in this game if it was an on-the-fly competition. All in all, there are over 200 games up for grabs, though, so the developers could perhaps be forgiven for not including a multiplayer option for the game.

WarioWare Twisted Graphics

In true Nintendo tradition, the graphics are just sufficient to let you know what's going on in a nice, easy to follow, cartoon-like environment. The animation is beautiful though, even if sometimes it is difficult to keep eyes on the screen when being so dynamic with your handling of the console.

WarioWare Twisted - Summing Up

Hand held consoles were designed with games like this in mind. You can’t really get away with games like this on a console – but there is a certain charm about playing this game on the small screen which makes it so well suited to the hand held world. So if you like games that are fun without requiring you to get too involved, this is the game for you. If you like really serious games and you cringe at the thought of something cartoony, you’d best let this one rest on the shelf.

WarioWare Twisted - Cost

The game currently retails for $29.99