In 1992, Wario made his first appearance in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins on the Game Boy as the final boss to Mario. He was designed to be the evil counterpart of the Nintendo mascot, and due to his instant popularity, was given his own games with both the Wario Land and WarioWare series. Due to the success of those games, Wario was even brought into more popular Nintendo titles, including the various Mario sports-themed games, such as Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario and Sonic Olympic Games, and even Super Smash Bros.

Ever since the first entry in the series with 2003’s WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!, the large variety of microgames have had players glued to their Nintendo consoles as they try to survive and beat their high scores. His latest title, WarioWare: Move It! looks to bring the raw garlic munching, flatulence-fueled biker and gang on a whole new wild ride of crazy, manic, and addictive microgames exclusive to Nintendo Switch.

After seeing a commercial advertising a chance for a trip away at a resort, Wario orders fifty garlic burgers, eventually leading to him winning and setting off to Caresaway Island. Upon hearing he can take twenty friends, Wario’s friends ask to come along. He reluctantly agrees, and when they arrive at the island, the locals give the gang stone Joy-Cons called Form Stones, which can be used to help them out in situations, and these come in real handy with the events about to unfold.

Along with Wario, other familiar characters also return from previous games including Mona, Dr. Crygor, Penny, Mike, Ashley, Orbulon, Kat, Ana, Jimmy T, and more, each with their own set of microgames and boss levels. Unfortunately, Waluigi isn’t included, yet again. Hopefully, the just as wicked brother of Wario will one day finally get his due.

The game’s plot is simple and enjoyable with a bright, cartoony vibe, but it wastes no time in getting players straight into the game with some helpful tutorials to explain the different poses and the legends behind them. The various microgames will keep players on their toes, testing their reflexes and eye coordination, speeding up as players progress successfully. This also increases the difficulty factor and adds to the intensity, creating a very challenging and addictive game that will keep players coming back for more. As players progress through the story, more microgames will become available for players to test their mettle.

The previous game, WarioWare: Get It Together!, had each character play like they’re in a 2D platform game, but in this new entry, WarioWare: Move It! lives up to its namesake by bringing back the motion controls as seen in 2006’s WarioWare: Smooth Moves on the Nintendo Wii, making it only the second game in the series to do so. This time, players will hold both Joy-Cons, and before each microgame begins, they’ll see the pose they need to hold before playing the microgame as required.

The 200-plus microgames include a large variety of unique themes and have their own conditions for completing them, whether it’s stopping a train at a station, balancing stacks of bowls, mopping a floor, staying dry in the rain, laying an egg, cutting through bamboo like a samurai, and so much more.

Various microgames are even throwbacks to many Nintendo classics through the ages including Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Metroid, Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Pikmin, Nintendogs, and Ring Fit Adventure, just to name a few. Players will be given four lives and will need to make them last as they attempt to conquer the microgames with increasing speed, especially boss battles, also with their own themes and conditions for success. There will never be a dull moment in this chaotic party game.

The microgames in Story Mode can be played both in single-player or 2-player co-op, which will either make things easier or more frustrating, but overall, they’re absolute fun. Some microgames will have players take turns, and others accommodate both players, requiring them to work together. Party Mode can have up to 4 players, with each player holding a single Joy-Con and competing against each other. Whether it’s teaming up with a friend for double the fun or testing your friendship with three others, there is so much fun to be had, with hours upon hours of mayhem, but unfortunately, like many Nintendo games, there is no online play.

The overall presentation has a very simple but very lively bright and colourful cartoon style, and a diverse cast of characters, menu screens, maps, as well as all of the microgames. The large variety of upbeat music perfectly suits each character’s personality as well as the microgames included. Sadly, Charles Martinet doesn’t return to voice Wario, as his retirement was announced this year. His successor, Kevin Afghani, has taken over Charles’ iconic roles, including Wario, as well as Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros.

Wonder. Kevin’s version of Wario actually does sound very fitting and while casual fans won’t mind the change, diehard fans will certainly notice the difference. That’s not to say Kevin Afghani is doing a bad job, it’s just still too early to accept him as the new voice and we will certainly miss hearing Charles Martinet in future Mario games.

The large variety of microgames, the cast of colourful characters, and the increasing speed, intensity, and difficulty of the addictive gameplay will surely keep players coming back for more. WarioWare: Move It! is another solid entry in the WarioWare series, and a fantastic party game for friends to come over, join in on the madness, and have an absolute “WAAAHHHHH!!!” of a time!

Written by: Sammy Hanson