01.31.2007 WARIOWARE: SMOOTH MOVES REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY!
Want a copy of WarioWare: Smooth Moves? All you have to do is register an account for TheLastBoss and leave a meaningful comment on this post for a chance at getting a copy of this game. Don't want Smooth Moves? I can't blame you, just suggest a game you want me to review for another giveaway in the next few weeks instead. Here's how it works:
- Step 1: Readers pick a game for me to review (This week you chose Smooth Moves for the Wii)
- Step 2: I dig into the game for one night, and write up a First Impressions mini review (I skipped this step this week because this game sucks)
- Step 3: Within a week of the First Impressions post, I finish it with a followup full review post. (this post!)
- Step 4: Readers leave meaningful comments on the review to qualify to win.
- Step 5: I announce a random winner a few days later, and everyone that loses gets mad but thinks up new games for me to review
Also - sorry, but I will only giveaway games to readers that live in USA for the time being. What game will I be reviewing next? That's up to your comments, so think about your request while you read my review for WarioWare: Smooth Moves:
GAMEPLAY: 6.5/10
I've heard plenty about the WarioWare games in the past, but this is the first game in the series that I've played, and I picked a terrible place to start. The wacky mini game multiplayer that this series offers is unique, and it's something I really wanted to try out, but WarioWare: Smooth Moves does not deliver. It's rare that I go out of my way to play a multiplayer game, but when I do, I want to play multiplayer. Crazy logic, I know. In Smooth Moves, before you get a chance to play 'multiplayer,' you have to first play through an hour and a half of single player story mode. This setup does just as good of a job at teaching you the different Wiimote setups as it does making your friends yawn while they wait their turns. Some games require you to shake the controller, others have you hold it still until the correct moment. There's almost 20 different Wiimote uses and the scenarios are as ridiculous as I had hoped (tipping the remote slowly to make someone drink juice without spilling, reaching out your hand to save a girl falling off a cliff, etc), but once you finally get past single player the multiplayer barely lasts any longer. The 'multiplayer' is actually pass and play, ruining the addictive interactions I was hoping for. The game is as fast paced as I wanted it to be, but when the fun's over every 15 seconds it kills the momentum completely. There's a few multiplayer games where you and another can share a Wiimote and an attached nunchuk, but that sounds as fun as having someone play jump rope with my dick.
The controls can be frustrating too. It wasn't often that they were unresponsive, but for me and my friends it seemed like we all had one Wiimote setup that would never agree with us. And I'm pretty sure that reason is because if you move too fast (for the fast paced mini games) the Wiimote sensor bar can't figure out what you're doing and just doesn't respond to your actions. For me it was often dumbbell movements that would never register. When I fuck up and hit the wrong button in a game, then the blame is on me, but when a game punishes you for something that's out of your control, then you have some very angry feeling towards your Wii. In other words, I know a lot of people will buy this game looking forward to enjoy their Wii at its maximum potential, but even if you can get past these apparent problems, the game still ends in a few hours. At least Tomb Raider: Legend had some boobs and Lost Planet had some aliens. The replay value of a few dozen mini games is low when you have to jump through so many loops just to play them. If you're willing to play this game purely single player then it will probably be bearable for multiple replays, but I imagine the majority of Wii gamers were hoping for maximized multiplayer action, and that's the exact opposite of what Smooth Moves delivers.
PLOT PROGRESSION: 5/10
Obviously this game wasn't going to have a lot of plot, and my Final Scores for game reviews aren't an average, so this isn't going to hurt the overall review too much. The plot is as basic as WarioWare finding a "Form Baton" (aka Wiimote) that has ancient magical powers. You run off with the relic and travel around town helping out random people with their problems. Bed time stories, stray cats and dogs, and even robot inventors - any goofy scenario will do. The game switches up setups enough to make it constantly fresh, but the only levels that really impressed were the retro ones that have you catching fish as Animal Crossing characters, breaking bricks as Mario, and a few other appearances I won't spoil for you. The game eventually opens up some side shops that offer longer mini games where the goal is to set a high score and gain bragging rights, but none of them were too enjoyable. I liked the one game where random shaped blocks would fall down the screen and challenge you to balance them on a beam that you could move and tilt with your Wiimote, but by level 20 it got boring and I wasn't even half way through the screen selection of possible puzzle levels.
Once you get to multiplayer there's a clever reward system where the one with the most mini game points at the end of a game gets more safety ropes tied to their Mii than the others. The point of the game is then to cut the ropes at the top of the screen not knowing which Miis they lead to on the bottom. So even if you come in last you can still get the last laugh. Add to this brief amount of material some interactive credits that let you kill every programmer, designer, and director Mii involved with making the game, and you've got yourself 2 nights of fun with friends at the most.
AUDIO/GRAPHICS: 7/10
The graphics were actually done well - the cartoony style was perfect, but still changed enough to purposefully terrible polygon games now and then to keep things interesting. The only complaint is that there weren't many graphics. The game boils down to one world map screen with some icons, and then a few dozen interchangeable mini games. Each level has its own intro with unique audio and visuals to set the mood, but besides a different interface nothing changes at all from one level to the next. Mario Party at least offers different rules and routes as you get further in the game. The music ws usually great - one of the most memorable levels was one where you actually had to embarrass yourself and dance along with the characters on screen. Your hand had to keep rhythm to the music and mimic the dancers perfectly or the song would end and you'd have to start all over.
EXPECTATIONS: 5/10
I'm tempted to flip the disc over and reinsert it looking for more content. We all know that Wii Sports was a polished tech demo for the Wii, but this is basically just its goofy expansion. There should have been more mini games, the story mode should have been much longer and not mandatory, and pass and play 'multiplayer' never should have been uttered in the Intelligent Systems studios. I'm disgusted that most online big business sites are giving this game 9/10 reviews, yet giving Twilight Princess slightly less. Complete bullshit. I can love kiddy games like Mario Party or Harvest Moon - I even had fun playing rushed Disney games like Bug's Life on PS1 when I was babysitting my neighbors a bunch of years ago, but TheLastBoss doesn't put up with pieces of shit, and this game is borderline another roll of toilet paper.
WORTH RENTING? There's a lot better that you could rent for the Wii, I'd suggest waiting to play this until one of your friends is dumb enough to buy it. If you love the series though, then this is an easy game to finish in one rental without being rushed.
WORTH BUYING? Absolutely not. I'd only suggest buying it if it was a gift for gamers under the age of 13 that could replay the game for hours and still not beat it.
WORTH AN AWARD? Fuck no, not even worth getting drunk to play. Sorry Jason, I know you were expecting a drunk review as well, but this game isn't worth spending any more time on. I'd be drinking to depression. If your friends ask you about Smooth Moves just quickly change the subject to Mario Party 8. WarioWare on the Wii is a huge disappointment for now.
FINAL SCORE: 5.5 / 10 (That means it's bad)
It has single player potential but they just didnt follow through, multiplayer also hasn't followed through but the drunk party multiplayer is actually the best thing the game can be used for. Maybe it was rushed or they ran out of ideas, or something, about half way through and then started using those magnets with random words on them, just making weird phrases and seeing if they can make a game..
As far as Smooth Moves goes, I'll wait until it drops in price, but I'll probably still buy it because I don't want to miss an entry in the series. Still, thanks for the heads up.
And for the game to review next week, how about some Hotel Dusk action? I've recently gotten pretty excited about it, and I'm this close to buying it right now anyway.
Not worth a buy, but I thought it was damn fun.
Not sure about Twisted, it's the only in the series I haven't played. I really liked the original one, though.
2nd, I actually liked it, Single Player is very short but fun for a group until mario party gets here. I like that it uses 1 remote (for people who only have 1, and it allows up to 12 players), But sucks for people who got 4 remotes/nunchucks (me) and haven't used them much besides sports.
And i said it on the last review, lets see hotel dusk!
I have come to realize that the wii is great for some things, especially party games, but as of now its no substitute for gamers. You will still need a ps3 or a 360.
However, now that the excitement wore off, i can start FFXII (i didn't want to go back and forth, i hate doing that in FF games). And Then God of War II, and some DS games to hold me over till i know if i want a ps3 (and for some games to come out) or a 360 (and for both to get cheaper and see who wins in BR vs HD-DVD).
Its funny that there are 2 great games for ps2 i want, but still no ps3 games in the near future.
I'd hope for a review of Vanguard for PC if possible, but if it's strictly consoles, maybe Fusion Frenzy?
I have no idea which reviewable games are coming out anytime soon, though, apart from Sam and Max episode 3.
Totally not what I was expecting Fronz! I was kind of looking forward to this game, and seeing many reviews on other sites and now seeing yours makes me thing that their reviews were just out of hype.
Well, thats disappointing, way to ruin my hopes and dreams Fronz!!! Just kidding. I'll probably just do that, try it out at a friend's house or something.
Nintendo creates potential...they just haven't been living up to it. Tsk tsk...
Oh well, put up a review for Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Even if you don't, try to get your hands on it and play it anyway.
Meaningful comments.
More Meaningful comments.
Really meaningful comments.
That should cover me. I'll also make the same request I made last week. How about a review for something for the PSP? Metal Gear Portable OPs Maybe? I'd even take Pirates.
Anyway, thanks for the review, which was great, as I expected. Keep kicking ass
Having had limited exposure to the Wii (I don't have one), I remember being impressed by the audio in WiiSports, and from your little blurb about it in WW, it seems to be something Nintendo is consistently doing right. Just something I noticed.
Hopefully, dev teams will be able to take this game and start using the Wii mote to it's full potential, finding new ways to incorporate the 20 different positions/movements and what have you.
"The Chef - you comment needs more cowbell. Perhaps I should make it a random comment throughout the week, and not just one article, that way you guys dont gangbang my reviews and then not call the next day"
Believe me. If anyone has a fever for which the only cure is more cowbell, it's me. I was just being a smartass, which is my only hobby these days besides video games. In truth, I love this site, and I check pretty much everyday, when I'm am sitting here at work pretending to write menus. Just thought a nice dose of smartass might help the day go a little faster.
2) Look...I get it okay...Wii is the cute console, and PS3 is the big ugly stepsister that you keep locked in the basement and throw sticks at sometimes out of boredom, but to have any fun whatsoever, the games first have to be fun period. I own 6 games for my Wii now (Sports, Madden 07, Trauma, CoD3, which completely sucked btw, Zelda, which is insanely awesome, and NfS: Carbon, which was an x-mas gift from my wife ... who doesn't play video games...so be nice :P) and each one of them in their own right have been a semi fun gaming experience, and I have played WarioWare at a friend's house and after maybe about 5 minutes of giggly delight it's kind of like...so...umm...What's on ESPN tonight anyway?
COME ON!!! If Mario Party 8 blows I'm not even kidding Miyamoto's getting a letter...I love him to death...but ya...I've had just about enough of this.
iruleu
I assume the reason they locked the multiplayer was to force everyone to play through the single player mode and learn the forms. Stopping the game to explain each form each round would slow down multiplayer games to a crawl. And it sounds like you were expecting simultaneous multiplayer, but I think that's impossible for a 5 second microgame. You can blaze through the single player in under an hour, anyway. Take turns with your friends or something.
Frankly, I welcome the single remote multiplayer, since finding a second remote for sale anywhere in the known universe has become even more difficult that procuring a Wii.
WarioWare is a game you pop in for 10-15 mins at a time, for years after the initial purchase.
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Now I'm just checking if HTML works because regular pressing Enter doesn't insert line breaks.
BTW, if you girlfriend (or whatever) is not into video games (but has an open mind) Mario Party is a great way to introduce them. Girls LOVE Mario Party!!!
When it comes to the momentum aspect I don't see how they could have fixed the issue other than lowering the crazy amount of odd ways to hold the wiimote. With almost a dozen ways to hold it you're going to be spending more time getting used to each position than having fun with the crazy 5 second minigames. This is something that was never a problem in the DS installments. You had your stylus and your touch screen and everything was fluid.
Overall I'd say the game would grow on me with time, but only after I'm done with Zelda :)
Thanks for the review!
The main conflict comes from the fact that it's supposed to be a party game yet a) you have to play it solo for 2 hours to unlock multiplayer and b) every game is pass and play killing all the fun competitive opportunities the previous games had.
I don't see why the dancing game couldn't be played with 4 people at once- seriously that'd be hilarious fun!