Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Multi-player: Up to 12 players alternating
Release Date: Jan 17th, 07
ERSB Rating: E 10+



Warioware: Smooth Moves is just as random as before, with more than 200 new microgames, tons of extra features, and the best party game to hit the Wii yet thanks to its 12-player mode! The motion sensitivity of the controller is used to the fullest extent of its abilities and it fits the WarioWare series perfectly. Crazy 5 second microgames await you and you have to figure out how to play, and win quickly.

Introduction:

"Wario is relaxing on his couch in Diamond City, gorging, when out of nowhere, a strange little creature steals his food and takes off. Wario, being one not to give up his food easily, chases the tiny thing which leads him into an old building called the Temple of Form. Inside he finds a magical treasure called the Form Baton. There are many ways to move and hold the baton and legend has it that if the holder overcomes the test of using these forms, he or she can overcome any challenge. Wario steals the baton when suddenly a boulder starts rolling towards him. Wario escapes with the treasured "Form Baton" and lets out a comical laugh. The story is very short however, as you can complete it in one day if you tried, and the story doesn't make much sense at all, but hey, when did WarioWare make sense?



Controls:

The games starts you off with the basic Remote Control form, you quickly shake through microgames that involve little more than pointing at a target and shooting, or moving a torch light at a man hiding in the dark. Within the first few minutes, you'll already be familiar with the Umbrella form, where you must hold the remote upwards and, for example, swat an insect or knock on a door. The Chauffeur form is usually used by turning the remote on its side and holding it with both hands like a steering wheel which is perfect for driving games. The first few forms are extremely easy to grasp, but as you learn more forms, it gets more difficult. The controls get a 5/5 for its simplicity and innovation.

Gameplay:

WarioWare is known for it's crazy and frantic microgames and Smooth Moves is more of the same, with alot more microgames and features. But this time, there are new ways to play by using the functionality of the Wii-mote. There are 19 different positons (Forms) you hold the Wii-mote, and an instruction will flash for 1 second telling you how to hold it before each micro-game begins. By using the Wii-mote to play microgames, you succeed and move on in the story. Some examples of forms are the thumb wrestler, which you hold the tob of the wii-mote pointing up in the air. A microgame using this form are shifting gears or knocking on a door. Another one is the discard, where you put the Wii-mote upside down on a flat surface and you have to pick it up at the right time such as answering a phone when it rings. The funny thing about this microgame is that the speaker says "Sorry, wrong number" or "WAZZZZZZZZZZUUUUP!!!". Once you've discovered all 19 forms, the game focuses on the zanyness involved in playing all 200 microgames. Part of the fun of playing any WarioWare game is the joy of discovering new stuff (and, more to the point seeing what warped, random humour they can throw at you next), but thankfully, the microgames are plentiful. Some minigames are sometimes frustrating to beat such as the balancing the broom on your hand microgame. But all in all, Whether you're guzzling a drink without spilling it over your face, or squating, you'll be playing with a smile on your face. The gameplay gets a 5/5




Sound:

The sound and music are pretty good, but you can't really pay attention to it anyway with all the random microgames being thrown at you anyway. In my opinion, 9-Volt's music is top notch, taking music from retro games like Animal Crossing, Mario, Metroid and Zelda and inserting them into microgames. But the rest are half-decent. 9-Volt's awesome music pushes the sound to get a 4/5

Graphics:

The graphics are done in art-style which most Warioware games are. The microgames range from NES graphics to Gamecube graphics but they don't go up from there. It would have been nice to see some more microgames that had graphics that pushed the Wiis capabilities but Warioware is known for fun, not graphics. I give the graphics a 4/5

Replay Value:

The replay value in this game is phenominal. Once you beat the game, you can play multi-player, which is where this game really shines. Being able to play up to 12 people can get extremely frantic, and using the wrist strap here isn't an option since you get about 5 seconds to pass the Wii-mote to the next person. Miis play a part in multi-player as you use a Mii to distinguish between each other in two multiplayer modes. Also the Miis are in a few microgames as well, which is a nice feature. The story mode, while being extremely short, when you go through stages in succession, this gives you access to unlockables, and adds greatly to the longevity. The replay value gets a 5/5


Pros:

+ Alot of unlockables
+ Over 200 microgames
+ Innovative controls
+ Addictive and Fun
+ Up to 12 players
+ Tons of replayibility

Cons:
- The story is too short
- The controls are unresponsive sometimes

Overall this game gets a 4.7/5. This game is a must buy. The first two games you should be picking up for your Wii is WarioWare Smooth Moves and Twilight Princess.

Here is a trailer of how the Wii-Mote's motion sensor is used

12 person Multiplayer

Thank you for reading my review.