Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Sys.
Genre: Party/Mini-Game
Release Date: 1-15-2007
By my own admission, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for the Nintendo Wii is one of the titles that really attracted me to buying my Wii. The DS releases in the Wario series have all been fun, and have truly showed off the capabilities and uniqueness of Nintendoâ┚¬â”žÂ¢s winning handheld system. So it is no surprise to me that Nintendo is aiming to once again show off the abilities of its new system with another chapter in the Wario Ware games. Set within the launch window Wario Ware: Smooth Moves will remain true to its nature with a dazzling array of mini-games for you to play. Some will be brand new and should truly showcase the Wii-moteâ┚¬â”žÂ¢s capabilities, and some will be old favorites brought to life on the Wii that should have even the most seasoned player trying them again and again as they learn the game all over again with the new control scheme.
First off, there is some kind of story behind Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. It revolves around how Wario found the Wii-mote in the first place, and then makes use of the Wii-mote once he has it in his possession. In addition to this each character has its own storyline throughout the game as well. Youâ┚¬â”žÂ¢ll begin the game with a series of introductory levels that will serve as a tutorial in how to use the Wii-mote in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. Since this is a brand new way to play a Wario Ware game this will be a welcome addition to new and more seasoned fans alike as it provides a way to get past the learning curve without becoming too frustrated. Speaking of which, due to the vast variety of mini-games contained within Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, there will be several different ways to hold the Wii-mote throughout game play. Some include holding the Wii-mote the same way you would hold a rope in a tug-of-war game, holding it vertically in front of you, and also placing the Wii-mote up against your nose. But every game has its own nuances and this promises to vastly vary the game play from game to game as you progress through Wario Ware: Smooth Moves.
Graphically, Wario Ware: Smooth Moves should be very impressive. Obviously compared to the DS versions it will be a completely different experience, but this game should also show off that the Wii can certainly make a game not only fun and innovative but also very easy on the eyes. Videos are added at various points of the game to explain the â┚¬Å”storyâ┚¬Â or other parts of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves, which should delight fans of the series. From all accounts playing the mini-games in 3D should be amazing. The Wii takes the unique graphics stryle of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves and really makes it shine as it displays everything with itâ┚¬â”žÂ¢s more powerful hardware when compared to the DS and Gamecube which were the previous systems the Wario series was released on. It also adds a lot to the game. Since items and objects now have volume and depth to them you can rotate things in full 3D and play games in different ways that were nearly impossible (or at least not nearly as smooth) on other systems.
Now the heart of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves is in the games itself, and on that front (as you might expect if youâ┚¬â”žÂ¢re reading this) this title is loaded with both old and new games to keep all ranges of fans interested. The good thing is that despite having a new control scheme with the Wii-mote early reports say that the games themselves will be very easy to learn and the learning curve should be very, very small. This should be a definite plus since some of the newer games are even more eccentric then the games on past additions of Wario Ware have been. Some of the highlights include keeping traffic flowing smoothly between a boys and girls bathroom, a curling style game, and putting apples into a basket with what looks to be an elephantâ┚¬â”žÂ¢s trunk. A lot of the old favorites promise to return as well with an all new look and control scheme to them. Overall, this should be the title after The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess that will be a must own for Wii owners. Slated for a release date of January 15th, 2007, make sure you get your hands on this new Wii title.