WarioWare: Get it Together! went in a unique direction for the series when it was released back in 2021, so it came as a nice surprise when Nintendo and Intelligent Systems announced that the Switch would be getting a second WarioWare game that follows a more familiar gameplay format. WarioWare: Smooth Moves (2007) helped to introduce the fun and wacky world of WarioWare to a more mainstream audience with its use of motion controls for its collection of microgames, and now, the latest series entry, WarioWare: Move It!, feels like a more direct successor to that beloved Wii title. Having now played WarioWare: Move It!, let’s find out if it’s worth your coin or reeks of garlic.
Once Wario discovers that he has a chance to win a vacation to the relaxing Caresaway Island with the purchase of a garlic burger, he does what any sane man would do and orders 50 of them. To his luck, he wins the grand prize trip, allowing him (or rather, forcing him) to bring along 20 of his friends. Caresaway Island is home of mysterious Form Stones that are said to bring good fortune to those who hold them, and Wario is gifted some when he arrives on the island. Form Stones are shaped almost exactly like Joy-Con, and are sort of a meta way to explain why you’re doing what you’re doing in-game. Each stage in the Story Mode, which can be played by yourself or with a friend, shows the adventures of each character on the island.
The Story Mode basically functions as a tutorial and can be beaten in just a couple of hours. As you progress, you’re introduced to new formations and ways to hold the Joy-Con controllers that will be used to play lightning fast microgames in rapid succession. The pose is called out by name right before a microgame starts, allowing you to get into position and prepare yourself for what comes next. Then, when the microgame soon begins, you must complete the vaguely explained task before a short timer runs out, indicated by a depleting bomb fuse on the bottom of the screen. Failing to do the task will result in losing a stock, and if you lose all four stocks, you get a game over. For the standard stages, you’ll only be required to beat a set number of microgames (usually around 10 or so) without losing all your stocks, and it will continuously get faster and faster, with a boss stage, which is just a more challenging microgame, to end it off. Even if you get a game over though, you’re given a second chance simply by mimicking a pose; your stock will be refilled, returning you right where you left off.
Any sort of challenge comes later in the post-game, but that doesn’t mean the Story Mode doesn’t also have any value outside of teaching you the ropes and introducing you to the microgames. On the contrary, I actually really enjoyed the Story Mode for what it is. Each stage begins with a charming 2D animated cutscene featuring the adorable cast of WarioWare characters, complete with full voice acting and surprisingly witty dialogue. Since Wario is no longer voiced by Charles Martinet, the new voice does take some getting used to, but the actor does a good job portraying the charisma of the anti-heroic character.
As for the microgames themselves, there are over 200 of them to discover, and the variety is frankly outstanding. Most of them heavily rely on motion controls, and although I’ve personally grown quite tired of motion controls over the years, I was surprised to find myself really loving most of the ideas presented here. The controls work near flawlessly, and every time I failed a microgame it felt entirely like the fault of my own rather than finicky motion detection like some other games fall victim to. Paired with well-executed HD Rumble for added immersion, WarioWare: Move It! takes full advantage of the technical features of the Joy-Con, and there are even microgames that use the underutilized and often forgotten IR motion sensor. With so much variety, there is, of course, bound to be a few duds here and there, but the large majority of the microgames are incredibly fun, silly, and chock-full of creativity that only Nintendo can muster. Experiencing each microgame for the first time, not knowing what might possibly come next, is a big part of what makes the Story Mode so wonderful despite its short length.
After beating the main Story Mode stages, you’ll unlock Megagame Muscles, a high-score based stage with rapidfire microgames that require lots of movement. While not nearly as intensive of a workout as a game like Ring Fit Adventure, it definitely had me working up a sweat after playing it a few times. By getting a score of 4400 or higher, you’ll then unlock the All Mixed Up stage, which is when things really start to get heated and the replayability of WarioWare becomes apparent. In All Mixed Up, all of the microgames are shuffled together to see how many you can complete in a row, only this time, there are no second chances. If you manage to get through at least 30 before losing all four stocks, you’ll unlock even more difficult challenges. It’s a bit strange why these stages are found under the world map in Story Mode and don’t have their own dedicated mode on the main menu, but I suppose their existence is what matters in the grand scheme of things.
Speaking of which, Megagame Muscles isn’t the only thing that you’ll unlock after beating the main Story Mode, as you’ll also unlock three 2-player exclusive stages: Showdown, Switching Gears, and Double Act. Showdown is a 1v1 battle stage where two challengers play the same microgames side by side, with the first to lose all their stock declared the loser. Switching Gears has you each taking turns, with one person playing microgames while the other uses a contraption to make the games easier to see. Lastly, Double Act is a compilation of only the co-op microgames, bringing you to work together. Again, it seems like these stages would be a better fit as separate modes in Party Mode rather than being in Story Mode, but it’s no big deal.
That leads us to Party Mode, the meat and potatoes of WarioWare multiplayer shenanigans. Party Mode features four modes designed for 2-4 players; Galactic Conquest, Listen to the Doctor, Medusa March, and Go the Distance, and a fifth mode that requires 4 players: The “Who’s in Control?” Show. There is also a 2 player only mode called Copycat Mirror, but that’s on the main menu separate from Party Mode for some reason. All of these modes offer a unique twist as to how the microgames are played, but the microgames are always the core of the gameplay. The most notable of the bunch is Galactic Conquest, which can be described as a simplistic version of Mario Party. You earn points for winning microgames, and the winner gets to advance across mystery tiles by rolling a die. Once a player reaches the goal, the player with the most points wins. All of the Party Modes are worth trying at least once, and having a variety of ways to experience the microgames keeps things fresh.
WarioWare: Move It!, much like its predecessors, is meant to be enjoyed in short bursts, and at that, it excels greatly. Although the Story Mode is short, taking only a couple of hours to finish, the replayability of the microgames and side modes is what really makes WarioWare worthwhile. Going for high-scores is fun even by yourself, but getting competitive with friends is even better. With over 200 microgames to learn and master, WarioWare: Move It! is an excellent party game that gets your heart beating and your blood pumping, while also giving more than a few laughs along the way. As long as you go in with the expectation of it being a silly microgame collection that doesn’t take itself too seriously, WarioWare: Move It! is a great time!
8/10
A copy of WarioWare: Move It! for review purposes was provided by Nintendo UK.
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