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Review : WarioWare for GBA
Warioware is a cool surreal collection of mini games for the GameBoy Advance. It is one of the most creative games I have played in a long long time.
The plot is that Wario is trying to develop a new videogame and so he samples other games to learn from them.
The game play consists of over two hundred super simple mini-games that are thrust at the player in rapid MTV like succession. You have a moment to figure out the game and perform a simple task. The game are quite amusing and include bit of old NES games and simplistic but wacky games that are usually controlled by the D-pad, one button and timing. The games are Neo-Retro and cutting edge and they feel like a student produced Java applet.
I guess that Nintendo has taken note of the growing number of Flash and cell phone mini games and so they put their own unique spin on them. There are lots of unlockable mini-games including a version of Dr. Mario called Dr. Wario!
It reminded me of the 2600 and Colecovision days and like flipping through channels of video games. At first I hated it and thought it was stupid but after I played it my enjoyment grew exponentially.
Only Nintendo could make it and it is chock full of Japanese wackiness. It would never have gotten made by a US company.
This is pure ADHD gaming! It is more than the sum of the parts and is almost abstract Dadaist videogaming. Warioware puts you in an alpha zen state with the uki uki waku waku feeling!
Who says there are no creative games left?
Jake at June 3, 2003 
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Comments
I've been wanting to get Wario Ware ever since I've heard of it. Sounds like the perfect game to just pick up to kill the boredom other games can induce after long periods of time.
Posted by: Arluss at June 3, 2003 11:43 AM
Jake- It looks like it is, but would you rate this game appropriate for an 11 year old?
Posted by: puunum at June 3, 2003 12:32 PM
This game is rated E for everyone by the ESRB ( http://www.esrb.org/esrbratings_guide.asp ). It is a bit weird but there is nothing that a 11 year old could not handle.
Posted by: Jake at June 3, 2003 12:36 PM
hehe...it looks cuuuuuuuuute! ;)
Posted by: Lilly at June 3, 2003 12:38 PM
Yeah puunum I think that Tod "the bod" should be able to handle it but....i dont know it might throw you into a siezure if you have too much TEQUILA!!! DA DA DA DA DA DA DA...DA TEQUILA!
Posted by: pete at June 3, 2003 8:52 PM
I agree wholeheartedly... it is a refreshingly creative spin on old school games. i love playing the individual games on the grid... they start coming at you so quickly it makes me giggle with excitement every time i play.
mad props to nintendo. and thank god there is a nintendo to give us innovative games like this.
Posted by: Jay at June 3, 2003 10:55 PM
Hey Petey- There's no need to discuss my personal weaknesses on Jake's website. (You don't want me to start airing yours.) Hey Jake- I saw the game in an Fred Meyer's add today. But the game was for GB SP. "Todd the Bod" only has a GB Advance. Is it available for the Advance, or are you also trying to get my son an upgrade on his handheld? (Guys always conspire.) Because it's true that an Advance won't play SP games,right? Though I know the SP will play Advance games.
Posted by: puunum at June 4, 2003 10:03 PM
It will play on both systems. They are technically the same just different screens. It needs any gameboy advance both the SP or the regular one.
Posted by: Jake at June 4, 2003 10:51 PM
Hmmm...I didn't like it. I got sent a copy a while back and gave it away because it annoyed the crap out of me. I like a game with a little more complexity I guess. Or maybe it was too complex? I'm not sure which.
Posted by: Mici at June 5, 2003 7:18 AM
One of the most fun and addictive games i've EVER played. I'd recommend it to anyone. It never gets boring to me, as I always get drawn into trying to break my old scores and can't stop once i've started. Although I love all Wario Ware games, the first one for GBA and Touched for DS are 2 of my all-time favorite video games ever. The characters are cute and the music and graphics are very catchy as well, and I get a kick out of its crude humor at times.
Posted by: Ashley at May 2, 2008 1:09 AM
