Motion Sensing
Each WarioWare game has made its own impact on the gaming world with a gimmick of some kind. WarioWare Inc., the first WarioWare game released, gave players a new way to play mini games: in rapid fire succession. Because each game only takes about three to five seconds to complete, the gameplay is incredibly fast and can hold anyone’s attention. Later, this GBA game was ported to the GC but with four player support including co-op and Vs modes. Not soon after the DS was released, Wario made another appearance that utilized the touch screen with this rapid fire mini game style of gameplay. But perhaps Wario’s best WarioWare title comes with motion sensing technology.
WarioWare Twisted, just like the other WarioWare games, has a new gimmick. Built within the game pak is a gyro sensor that allows players to control gameplay in a new way. Instead of using the D-pad to control the action on screen, players now physically tilt and turn their GBAs to complete each mini game. It sounds a little crazy but the result is nothing short of wildly entertaining.
Just like previous WarioWares, the only clue to completing each three to five second mini game is a one or two word hint. Each game is simple enough to figure out in that short amount of time, especially with a little bit of practice. Some games are tougher than others, but that is thanks to the progressive difficulty and fun factor.
This game comes packaged in a thicker box, about two or three times the standard GBA packaging, because the game is housed in a custom made cartridge. The bottom of the cartridge is normal GBA sized while the top part juts out with a half circle shape, much wider than any other GBA cart produced which is why the box packaging is much thicker than normal. This top part is where the gyro sensor is located. Although the cartridge features both a rumble feature and gyro sensor, it is solidly made and will never jump around within the GBA slot of your GameBoy Advance.
Strange shaped cart
Control is basically manipulated by tilting the GameBoy either left or right. This motion sensor takes away the use of the D-pad. The game configures itself after every stop in the gameplay to maximize comfort. I personally played this game sitting up, laying on my back, and on my side and never experience one hiccup with the control. But what makes the control so solid and precise is the rumble feature. Whenever the game is tilted, the cartridge will generate a slight rumble, helping to enhance the illusionary movement. But this simple vibration is a great clue as to how much the system is being tilted. Without this rumble feature, the game would not have been the same.
When you first start, all games can be completed by a simple twist of the system. Some of these games include guiding a Wario glider to a treasure chest, making the sun tilt away to a moon, or dropping a ball through a maze. But within time, games will become more complex and will also include the use of the “A” button. Using the gyro sensor is gimmicky, but it will never grow repetitive or stale.
After every set of stages, a boss battle will take place. Here, the mini game is usually a little bit longer and requires more patience and skill to complete. But once this boss stage is completed, a new set of stages will become unlocked. Plus, Souvenirs are also awarded for every completed level. There are well over 100 of them to collect and add an extra feature to the game. Souvenirs are basically simple mini games that have no other purpose than to be fun. For example, the player can play a piano by tilting a cursor over the desired key, then tap “A” to play the note. The Ski Jumping mini game is exceptionally good as the player must tilt the system to generate speed and direction, then tap “A” at the exact moment of lift off by the ramp, then adjust the direction of the flight while in air to obtain the maximum distance. Souvenirs is one of the best set of unlockable mini games I have ever seen in a video game. They are quick, a blast to play, and have the potential to retain their entertainment value for a very long time. Plus, there are a ton to unlock.
While the graphics surely do their job and fit the wacky mood of the game, they do not push the system in any way. It is also important to note that this game can be played on the original GBA, the GBA SP, the GBA Micro, the Nintendo DS, and the Nintendo DS Lite. After testing this game out on every system, I must say that the DS Lite is probably the best system to play this simply for the backlighting and lighter weight. Since the player is going to be tilting the system, seeing what actually goes on during this movement can be difficult without the proper lighting. But no matter what system you play this game on, the bigger sized cartridge will surprisingly never get in your way.
The music is just as quirky as the gameplay. If you played a WarioWare game before, you’ll know exactly what to expect in the sound department. In fact, this game would not be as quirky if the unique sound effects were eliminated or changed from this game. While the musical tunes are not exactly what you would call catchy or hummable, they certainly fit the atmosphere and personally of each of the games they work with.
Without question, WarioWare Twisted is quite the entertainment package. And just like Kirby Tilt N’Tumble and Boktai before it, Twisted is a game that can only be played on a handheld system. With the Nintendo Wii coming out in the next few months, gamers will be experiencing a new way to play their games by motion sensing tilt control technology. But these gamers should know that games like Kirby Tilt N’Tumble and WarioWare Twisted paved the way for this next wave of revolutionary gameplay. Before the Wii is released, it is recommended that you give Twisted a whirl, because if the Wii is half the fun as this WarioWare game, the gaming community can look forward to a very special treat.
