Wario Ware Inc.: Mega Party Games

About a year ago Wario Ware made its debut on the Game Boy Advance in the form of Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Microgame$. This was one of the craziest, zaniest, wackiest games anyone could ever play, yet at the same time was so very fun and addicting. Nintendo has remade this game in a more multiplayer-geared fashion on the GameCube under the alias Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Party Game$. This is in no way a sequel to the hit GBA title, but more of a clone with an added multiplayer mode.

The core gameplay of Wario Ware is based on multiple mini games. These games come one at a time, and are preceded by a single word telling you how to play the game. Using this single word clue, you must figure out how to play the very quick game that follows. These mini games contain some of the weirdest content ever to be seen in a video game, including sucking up snot from a runny nose, shaking a dog’s paw, or even playing a second of an old Nintendo game like Zelda or Metroid. These games continue until you run out of lives by either failing the games or not completing them in time. They start slow so you can get used to them, but end up becoming insanely fast.

The single player mode is very simple. In the beginning you must complete 25 levels from each character in the game. The different characters have a common theme throughout all their games, and as I mentioned before they get faster and harder the longer you can last. After you complete that, a handful of options open up allowing you to play different combinations of the games, or to leisurely play one game at a time. This is good for both practice and unlocking more modes.

While the GBA Wario Ware was based solely on single player, with only a few multiplayer games, Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Party Game$ is all about the multiplayer. The multiplayer mode starts much like single player mode; only a couple games are open at first, but the more you play the more you unlock. Wario Ware’s multiplayer modes vary quite a bit, and are some of the most creative ideas I’ve ever encountered in my many years of gaming. Up to four players can play some of the multiplayer games, while other games can support up to 16 players all sharing the same controller. One example is the Jump Forever game from the original Wario Ware. It can now be played by 16 players, each player taking a turn to jump the rope once. Once one of the players screws up the whole game is over, so you have to work together as a group to jump as long as possible.

Other multiplayer games include one where the player must follow a specific instruction while playing one of the mini games. This instruction can be anything from reciting your mother’s name as you play to acting like you’re about to sneeze. The other players then judge how well you followed the instructions. The one that followed instructions best wins. I want to talk about more of the modes, but half the fun is finding them yourself.

The single player games are still fun even though they are practically identical to the GBA games. Some new features have been added that can be earned through playing single player so that veterans of Wario Ware won’t leave that part of the game untouched. Things like a sound test or the ability to re-watch movies can be earned by playing solo.

The graphics in the game vary from microgame to microgame. Some will look as if they were drawn by a child while others will look like a claymation. There is such a variety to the look of each game, giving the game character. Graphics are definitely not the focus of the overall game, and the way each game is done graphically fits really well. The sound effects and music fit as well and are quite funny at times.

Wario Ware, Inc: Mega Party Game$ has offered some of the most fun 4-player gaming I have ever had. It’s hard not to yell at someone that just screwed you up or laugh hysterically at some of the things that happen while playing this game. This game will have you competing in some of the craziest ways you could never imagine. The only gamers that will be disappointed with this game are the ones that don’t play multiplayer games and already have the Game Boy version; everyone else needs to play this game.

Gameplay: 9.0
If you enjoyed the Game boy version, you will recognize every game and love them just as much as you always did. The small direction pad makes some of the games needlessly frustrating, but the joystick is usable and a fine substitute. If you have never played Wario Ware, then I must encourage that you pick this game up immediately whether you have people to play with or not.

Graphics: 8.5 
There’s really no way to rate these graphics, because they aren’t “good” by today’s standards. However, they fit the game very well and add character to the overall package. These graphics are best described as appropriate for what they convey.

Sound: 8.6
The sound is also appropriate, providing little zany sound effects and music for the mini games. The music will pick up the pace as the games get harder, making the whole experience much more intense.

Difficulty: Easy to Hard
The different mini games have their own difficulty to them. Each person is different, and any game may be hard for one person and easy for the next. Understanding and playing the game is easy, but it can get to the point where it’s downright impossible.

Concept: 9.6 
I think the whole concept of Wario Ware is great. Tons of weird mini games coming at you one after another, each increasing in difficulty and speed is surprisingly addicting. The game could use more mini games, because if you play a lot like I do you begin to recognize all the games.

Multiplayer: 9.5
This is the one thing that makes this game better than its GBA release - without it, it would actually be worse. The multiplayer games included are creative, competitive, and fun. Up to four players can duke it out in a bunch of different competitions, or you can get up to 16 people together and share a single controller for some insane and fast-paced fun.

Overall: 8.6
Mega Party Game$ ends up being a prettier version of its younger brother Mega Microgame$. The single player mode is exactly the same, except with a nicer interface and some options removed, and the multiplayer modes are just different ways to compete in the same games. These are not bad things at all since the game was great in the first place, but at the same time many people will expect more (as I did). At any rate, with the $30 price tag you absolutely cannot go wrong.