WarioWare: Smooth Moves Review

Platform: Wii
ERSB: E10+ Everyone10+
Genre: Action/Mini Games
Number of Players: 1-12
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: January 17 07
Official Website
Writer: Netzach

Rating: 8.25

How smooth are your moves?

Smooth Moves is the 5th installment in the WarioWare family, and the 1st installment on the Nintendo Wii. For those of you who have never played a WarioWare game before let me explain the basics. The game is made up of a collection of mini games that last for no more then 5 seconds which are presented at a rapid speed. 4 wrong, and you have to begin at the beginning again. Got it? Let’s Move!

Graphics:
This game was an eye pleaser! Beautiful bright colors and cartoon-style characters are how this game really pulls the player in. There are no high-end graphics here; instead the art of this game is the simplicity and creative. The mini-game graphics are pretty good, but nothing riveting about them, reminds me a lot of the Gamecube graphics. Though this is the case, it really doesn’t matter because you are only looking at these mini-game graphics for about 5 seconds tops, and then are thrown back into the eye pleasing cartoon-style.

Controls:
This game really makes use of the Wii-mote. With so many innovated ways to hold the Wii-mote it really fulfills the potential that the Wii has to offer. Instead of having a long and dragged out tutorial, the game explained the new positions as the game continued. As you progress in the stages, the game will teach you new Wii-mote positions to complete each stage. The controls are neither strenuous to perform nor hard to understand.

Sound:
The music for Smooth Moves was really fun. It really got you into a groove while playing the game. As the levels get harder the music speeds up, and you really feel the pressure to complete the stages. Though the music can get repetitive as the stage continues, you won’t mind because the music isn’t playing for very long. Each stage has its own music that goes along with the theme. For example the stage that is in a Disco Hall really makes you feel like you’ve gone back to the 70′s. Another great thing with the sound is that almost every game uses the built in Wii-mote speaker. When you play the telephone mini-game, and when you place it next to your head, a random comment comes from the speaker.

Flow:
This game was smooth. There is very little loading time and the positions of the “Baton” explanations were short and sweet…though the monotone guys sometimes made me feel I was in a bad yoga class.

Fun Factor:
Fun doesn’t begin to cover this game. There is the element of competition as the stage goes on and the mini-games are entertaining to perform and complete. Plus there are different stages that you unlock along the way, that test and develop your skill. There is a fitness mode, a mode that sees how many stages you can complete before screwing up and others. For supreme fun factor, play with friends. You will have a laugh over how weird you look performing some of the moves, like the Elephant or the Big Cheese.

Female Aspect:
First of all, you incorporate your Mii into the games at the beginning when you begin your profile. Also there are cute girls as the center of some stages’ storylines. The storyline femmes are not your typical hot chick. There is your scientist, witch and of course, the cheerleader. Just to round out the group.

Replay Value:
The great thing about this game is the replay value. Upon completing the single player mode, you will unlock the multi-player mode which you can play with up to 12 players. Once you have finished the game, you still can unlock different mini-games and positions for each stage of the game by replaying them. Also after you have completed the game, some games appear where you can use the nun chuck. So the more games you unlock, the larger variety of games that can be experienced.

Smooth Moves has my vote for fun times, zany antics, and the only time you won’t feel like a complete dork performing the moves.