GENRE
	Party Game
	DEVELOPER
	Nintendo
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	WII EXCLUSIVE
	Yes
	EXPECTED RELEASE DATE
	January 15, 2007
	BUY NOW AT

In the spring of 2003, another star was born. WarioWare, Inc. Mega Microgame$ for GBA was launched and became an instant hit with its crazy characters and manic gameplay. Nintendo had created yet another stellar franchise that would line their pockets and entertain the masses for years to come.

Three years and three additional WarioWare titles later, Nintendo allowed the attendees at E3 2006 to test drive the latest in the series, WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Get ready to swallow your pride and indulge your inner child.

media

impressions

The general premise of any WarioWare title is the idea of adaptation. The player must constantly adapt to the drastically changing gameplay almost every 5 seconds. One second you’re told to fix the leaks in a pipe and the next you’re putting a fire out by swinging a peeing statue over the blaze. It’s a little crazy, but it’s good crazy.

Smooth Moves doesn’t stray far from its GBA roots in terms of visuals or presentation. Bright, pleasant and simple still describe it well. The fun, cartoon-like art style fits the gameplay perfectly and adds to the overall charm of the entire experience.

Almost every new entry into the WarioWare franchise has been built around a different input method for controlling the game.

The original WarioWare, Inc. Mega Microgame$ utilized the standard buttons on GBA. WarioWare: Mega Party Game$ for GameCube was essentially WarioWare, Inc. Mega Microgame$ with some multiplayer interjected into it. WarioWare: Touched! was played using the touchscreen and microphone on Nintendo DS. Finally, WarioWare: Twisted!, was controlled almost entirely by a built-in gyroscopic sensor that required the player to tilt and turn their GBA in every direction.

Nintendo is continuing this trend of innovative input methods with WarioWare: Smooth Moves by taking full advantage of the unique gameplay possibilities afforded by the Wii remote, minus the nunchuck attachment.

The short demo at E3 allowed you to play through just six rounds of mini-games, regardless of whether you won or lost. Before each mini-game would start, you would be instructed on how to hold the Wii remote. A picture would pop up showing the controller being held, along with a title of the style being demonstrated. For example, you may see the title “The Chauffer” above a picture of a Wii remote being held on its side by two hands. You adjust the remote accordingly, the word “Turn” appears on the screen and, finally, a driving mini-game ensues requiring you to turn the remote like a steering wheel to stay on the road.

With over 15 different ways to hold the remote to operate the over 200 different mini-games, Wii owners who pick this game up will have plenty of reasons to whip this game out at every social gathering.

word on the street

As soon as TIME magazine released their hands-on impressions of a WarioWare title for Wii within a week of E3 2006, buzz surrounding the game began to build on the internet. A WarioWare game on Wii made perfect sense for the target consumers Nintendo had in mind. Imaginations started to work overtime as Nintendo fans around the world began to dream up all the wild things you could do with the Wii remote in a WarioWare title. It’s safe to say, after witnessing the reaction from E3, that WarioWare: Smooth Moves is going to be a much sought-after title when it finally launches for Wii.

press release notes

The WarioWare team took an idea so wacky, it could only be made with the latest technology: the Wii Remote. With about 200 lightning-quick microgames and controls that range from scribbling to flailing, WarioWare: Smooth Moves takes interactive gaming to a whole new level. All players need is a Wii Remote and their best moves to be the champ. With games that are as much fun to play as they are to WATCH people play, WarioWare: Smooth Moves brings the party to its feet. It's hilarious for players and audiences alike.

overall

WarioWare: Smooth Moves is set to deliver one of the greatest party games in recent years. Even with the short amount of hands-on time we had with this title, it was still enough to convince us that this game belongs in the gaming library of anyone that’s a fan of party games.