WarioWare Twisted!

This has to be the strangest game I've ever played on the GBA. Not having played the first WarioWare, Inc. for the GBA, I had no experience with Wario and his quirky assortment of micro-games. That first game garnered rave reviews for its highly unusual presentation of seemingly simple little games, strung together in fast-paced, timed challenges. With the original look and design of many of the games, coupled with unlockable gadgets and games, the game was a winner. Now, Nintendo has released a second version of Wario for the GBA (along with a third game, Wario Touched! for the DS), that incredibly manages to not only capture the magic of the first title with essentially the same format of fast-paced micro-games, but also add a new "twist" to the mix by requiring players to use the handheld itself as the control system by way of an innovative motion sensor in the game cartridge.

Part of the challenge of playing WarioWare Twisted! is the absolute ignorance of the player as to what games are coming up, and the rules required to win. Often, players won't even know the games have suddenly begun, as they are often started right after the animated introduction, with no warning. A player can literally be half-way through a series of game challenges, before realizing "hey, that's a real game, not a movie!" Figuring out what's going on, and the rules, are part of the fun, though.

At first, I didn't care for the control method at all. It was just too different. However, after playing several times, it began to grow on me. Simply moving the GBA back and forth and around in circles doesn't seem like a big deal, but it's incredible the use the motion sensor is put to in playing the games. The motion sensor is tied to a rumble feature, which really enhances the gameplay. It did gross me out in one game, though, where a piece of food is guided through a stomach and out a rectum, with corresponding vibrating as it went out the bottom, yuck! One game may require keeping a walking stick figure upright as he traverses a hilly landscape, another to hit a falling water droplet. Players will need to disarm approaching samurai warriors, and "whack-a-mole." One series of games features 9-Volt, who has a collection of games based on old Nintendo classics. Some of these are the toughest to figure out in the entire game, as I never did learn what I was supposed to be doing in the "Check" game in this section, a game that featured ice hockey players and what looked like one of those ice-cleaning machines. Maybe if I was familiar with ice hockey.......

As noted above, the games are often strange and surreal. Each game has its own distinct look and character, ranging from black and white stick figures to movie-style animations straight from the '60's. Some of the humor is just plain weird in a distinctly Japanese way, but is still recognizably funny. Part of the fun of playing the tons of games is the thrill of the unknown, as players won't know what games are coming up in a particular series until they're played, and then the order is always random thereafter. The rules are never explained, and often a series will have to be played many, many times to be successful. There is a boss stage at the end of each series, and if lost, players will have to start over at the beginning of the series, my only real complaint with this game.

One of the totally cool aspects of this game is the use of the unlockable items, a standard feature in many games, true, but one here that is actually implemented in the manner it should be; it adds new stuff that is fun to play with, instead of simply offering enhancements to existing material. The souvenirs are divided up into different categories of music, toys and micro-game add-ons. The originality and fun is evidenced in toys like a music box, which is wound by twisting the GBA, to then play a typical music-box tune while the Pizza motor-bike girl spins on top. Simple, but fun, especially for kids!

Speaking of kids, another great feature is the ability to transcend age groups. Many games claim to be for all ages, but not many truly are. WarioWare Twisted! is for all ages. Kids and adults alike will absolutely enjoy playing these funky little games, each with its own charm. Replayability is also a definite plus, as everyone will want to continue playing the games over again to gain better points and unlock all the goodies. And, the games are fun to play in and of themselves, besides the goals of finishing them. A true winner!

Gameplay: 9.0
This game is a hoot! At first, I wasn't sure about the motion sensor style of playing, without using the directional pad, but as I continued to play, it really grew on me. The games themselves are all anyone could ask for in terms of variety and uniqueness. The unlockables are fun and cute, and the replayability factor is high. Really, the only reasons I didn't give the gameplay rating a 10 were the lack of a multi-player mode for any of the games, and the neccessity of having to play each series over again to beat the boss stage each time, the last which admittedly may not bother most players.

Graphics: 9.0 
I absolutely enjoyed the range of graphic styles across the games, a hard-to-manage feat considering the sheer number of games.

Sound: 9.0
The music in most GBA games leaves me cold, ranging from tolerable to highly annoying. Well, the music here fits in very well with the varying themes of the games, and the souvenirs are also tuneful for the most part. Upbeat and snappy, never grating.

Difficulty: Medium
The games range in difficulty, which is to be expected with 200 micro-games. Some are extremely easy, some are pretty difficult. However, only a certain number of games have to be won in each series in order to advance to the boss stage.

Concept: 10
A perfect presentation!

Multiplayer: N/A 
There really should have been a multi-player option for some of these games.

Overall: 9.5
One of the best games ever for the GBA, and one which will probably be the best game for the GBA this year. With the hours of enjoyment available due to the replayability, plus the wide age range that can play, this is a definite must-have game for everyone's library.