WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$!

"ADD fun Redux"

Well here goes my review:

Graphics: 6.5/10
For the most party the graphics here are about 80% from the GBA game and 20% new stuff. All of the microgames are exactly as they were in the GBA version with no upgrade. The graphics the Gamecube introduces are solid graphics that are expressive and very sharp, but overall they aren't anything to write home about. They don't push the Gamecube's hardware to the limit, but they do provide nice aesthetical touches.

Sound: 9/10
Wario Ware doesn't have some licensed soundtrack or any fancy orchestrated tunes, what it does have is some killer tracks that keep you on the edge of your seat and ready for action. Nintendo did a good job with the sound here because contrary to what they did with the graphics, they did give the music an overhaul. It is clearer and takes advantage of the Gamecube's sound capabilities. New voice clips from the characters and the other silly sounds are all great and add to the silliness and hilarity of this game.

Story: 0/10
There is really no story here. The GBA version had a loose storyline to it, but in this version it has been removed and the game works more like a skills test in single-player mode instead of a dumb story like the GBA.

Controls: 9/10
This game has the most simplistic controls of a game other than Pong or Kirby Air Ride. The directional pad/analogue stick and the A button are all that work on the minigames. The B button has some functionality in multiplayer modes but nothing related to actually do anything important. That being said, the controls for the most part are great and respond quickly and acurately. There are only perhaps like 5 or 6 games I can think of that could have benefitted from tighter control for them.

Gameplay: 10/10
This is where Wario Ware shines. There is no equal to this game anywhere out there. 200+ microgames that require quick thought and control to complete in 5 seconds or less. They come at you in rapid succession and force you to stay on your toes. This may seem like an odd premise for a game, but once you sit down and play a couple microgames you'll be hooked. The silliness and totaly randomness of the game benefits from the way the game is played. The big difference from the GBA version to the Gamecube version is the addition of 12 multiplayer modes that involve battling against 2-16 other players or helping eachother out to see how good you can do as a team. The multiplayer modes are very inventive and fun to play overall. Some are better than others, but the variety and sheer fun will keep you playing for hours. They range from a straight forward elimination mode to an e-reader themed card match to a mode that requires players to listen to the doctor's orders to win.

Overall: 8/10 (not an average of the scores)
All of this adds up to create a one of a kind type of game that should not be missed if you have plenty of friends and enjoy flat out whacky humor. There is enough to do here to warrant buying it as a single player game, but nothing more than the GBA version offered in that regard. Fortunately this game comes with a $29.99 price tag which means even if you already have the GBA version it is still worth paying another $30 for the multiplayer aspect and the rankings the game gives players in singleplayer and multiplayer mode to see how you stack up against everyone else. In my opinion if this game sounds like something you're interested in then go ahead and buy it since the price isn't through the roof like most games. But if you're still wary of what this game is all about then rent it and see if it's for you. This game has broad appeal and provides hours and hours of unique entertainment so overall I recommend it to everyone.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/09/04