Final Glimpse: twist and shout!
WarioWare Inc. MegaMicrogame$ surprised the gaming community when it debuted on the Gameboy Advance. The concept was simple yet incredibly innovative. The game was composed of a quick sequence of mini-games that gave the player scant seconds to decide what to do before the next game is introduced. The games were so swiftly introduced and resolved that Nintendo titled them “micro-games” as opposed to mini-games. These microgames ranged from a Metroid excerpt that allowed Samus to defeat Mother Brain to a game that has players aiming a finger into a nose. The microgames come at you randomly and as you successfully progressed through the title, they begin to come at you more swiftly as well. This simple, hectic, yet surprisingly addictive formula made for one of the most appreciated and inventive GBA titles of its time.
WarioWare: Twisted! is the long awaited sequel to MegaMicrogame$ and introduces an interesting twist. In addition to a new batch of microgames, Twisted! also offers a new gameplay mechanic. The cartridge is larger than normal, and it actually sticks out of the Game Boy Advance. The purpose of this is a sensor, similar to the one used by Boktai. However, there is a major difference. Boktai’s sensor detected sunlight for a game about killing vampires. WWT’s gyro sensors detect motion for use in all of the 200+ microgames. Some situations may have the player twisting the GBA to position a mouth to catch falling food or to position a basketball player to slam dunk at the right moment.
Like the original WarioWare, the player will have only seconds to figure out what to do and to do it. However, the gyro sensor isn’t as complex as it may sound. It doesn’t detect any and all movement, but detects more simplified movements, such as shifts up and down or right to left. It doesn’t give 360 degrees of interactivity, but that doesn’t detract from its ability to deliver an experience comparative to the original WW. The range of microgames that have already been revealed seems to denote an experience just as varied and intense as the initial WarioWare. Also, like the first WW, there are a number of tributes to NES classics that will be included, although how they will incorporate the motion-based gameplay still remains to be seen.
At this stage, the graphics seem to be a step up from the original WarioWare, with visuals that are more colorful and better articulated. This is particularly important considering the hectic pacing of the gameplay which requires both alertness and reflexes as well as an instant awareness of what is happening onscreen, especially since the gamer has only seconds to act after introduction to each scene.
