WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

"One of the zaniest titles on the GBA."

Every now and then a game comes out with such original gameplay ideas that blow you away. For some reason, a game like that is never expected. WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$ is a perfect example of such a game. In fact, WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$ is, in my opinion, Nintendo's most original game out on the Game Boy Advance right now.

Gameplay: 9/10

You play this game by getting through “microgames”, which are mini-games with one word commands and a very short time limit (usually four to six seconds, sometimes a little more) to do them in. After completing a microgame, you score a point. After completing a certain number of microgames, you enter the “boss game”, which is only slightly harder than a microgame to accomplish. Overall, this system works very soundly, and is executed with little to no flaws.

One microgame, for example, has you catching a falling stick by pressing the A button. Another example is having to dodge an object by pressing the A button to jump. Some microgames require precision; you must hit a certain button at a certain time to succeed. Some have you using the control pad to move to a random spot instead. One character (Orbulon) has a collection of microgames that require thinking, concentrating, or staring at something before choosing your move.

This game features Wario, a character from Nintendo's Mario franchise, as the star attraction. But there are other zany characters, such as Jimmy the disco freak, 9-Volt the old-school Nintendo gamer, Orbulon the intelligent alien, and others. Each character hosts his or her own compilation of different microgames, based on genre. One character hosts sci-fi games, one hosts nature games, one hosts Nintendo games, and so it goes on in that pattern. The final character, Wario, hosts random games that are not based on any genre.

Along the path, there are a few levels that involve you playing a “remix” of all the microgames from the last three levels that you played. There are also bonuses for accomplishing more than a certain number of points in a game, such as a compilation of every single microgame in a round of its own. There is also a boss exclusive stage, a stage where the microgames are hard to complete, and a stage where the microgames go by very fast (“Thrilling Mode”).

Another element of gameplay is the Grid. The Grid separates each individual microgame from all of the characters, and puts you against only one particular microgame. If you achieve a certain score, you will have cleared the microgame. There are a total of exactly 213 microgames to clear, so you will have fun clearing them all.

Nintendo also threw in regular games to entertain yourself if you want to take a break from the game. These include a Wario version of the NES Dr. Mario, the Fly Swatter game from Mario Paint, and a good few others. In addition, there are games that are full length versions of individual microgames. One game, called “Paper Plane”, has you guiding a paper airplane through narrow corners and sown slopes to set the highest score. Another, “Jump Forever”, instead has you jumping rope at increasing speed until you miss one. These games are entertaining.

Also, there are games that can be played multiplayer on the same Game Boy Advance, such that one player only presses the R button, and the other player only presses the L button. As limited as these applications seem, they do add a bit to the fun of WarioWare.

Graphics: 10/10

The graphics look great on the Game Boy Advance. Dr. Crygor's microgames are where the graphics truly look amazing. Wario sticks to good graphics as well. Some of the visuals (such as 9-Volt's 8-bit NES games), while not as good as they could be, added to the feel of this game.

Each character has his or her own graphical style. Dribble and Spitz try to stick to the basics, while 9-Volt chooses 8 bit graphics. Orbulon goes for basic shapes and colors as well. The graphics go along with the game so perfectly that, in the end, everything flows along. The Game Boy Advance is very supportive of these graphics as well.

Replayability: 9/10

This game has a good bit of replay value, and even more if you are trying to clear all of the games in the Grid. WarioWare lasts a long time and is fun and enjoyable to play when you are bored. In addition, there are tons of unlockables to keep you busy.

Game Boy Player:

I enjoyed playing this on the Game Boy Player. The only real difference is that some games work better with the GBA or GBA SP than with a GCN controller, but if you have a link cable you can easily solve this problem by using your GBA or GBA SP instead. The graphics really don't shine, but playing this game on the big screen rather than the GBA screen makes for a very enjoyable experience.

Overall, I'd recommend picking up this game to anyone. The great graphics and replayability are excellent, and single player is very well done. There are a few good games out there with better replayability than this. This game has a lot on it, including the microgames, the NES games, the full games, the Grid, and the two-player features. WarioWare Inc.: Mega Microgame$ is definitely one of the most amazing and entertaining games to play.

Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 10/10
Replayability: 9/10

Final Score (not an average): 9/10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/30/05, Updated 04/27/05