LogFAQs > #982744531

#18. WarioWare: Twisted! (2004)
Total Points: 22
List Appearances: 10
First-Place Votes: 1
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Writeup provided by Bitto
WarioWare as a series is about playing a set of randomized micro-games that speed up and get harder. While the first game can play it loose since it created the idea, every game since then plays with a certain gimmick. WarioWare Touched deals with the touchscreen, Smooth Moves deals with the Wiimote being in certain "stances," etc. In these sequels, each stage usually focuses on a different concept, like Touched uses small swipes on one stage, big rotations on another stage, dragging the stylus in another, etc. It's a good idea, but for some reason, most of these sequels never really clicked on to me. It could be the micro-games, it could be the presentation, it could be something else. But Twisted...that one follows this idea and executes it very well.

Twisted has a huge cartridge with a gyroscope attached, basically making the GBA into a motion controller. As mentioned, every stage has an idea with this motion control, like short swipes back and forth, rotating while also using the GBA buttons, micro-games focused on shifting gravity, etc. I really enjoyed each stage of this WarioWare game, which isn't really something I felt towards any other WarioWare other than the first one and Gold. I'm not really sure why, but I have a few ideas why.

Presentation goes a really long way in WarioWare. A big part of WarioWare's appeal is the quirkiness of it. There's an energy in the presentation in aesthetics, humor, and soundtrack. WarioWare Twisted feels like the only sequel that captures the presentation of the original game and that honestly helps a ton. Mona's probably my favorite stage since it's simplistic enough to get really high scores and the entire stage is set to the soundtrack of Mona Pizza, which I really enjoyed. I'm rather partial to the stages for Dribble & Spitz, Crygor, Orbulon, 9-Volt, and Warioman.

I also feel like the micro-games are just...better in this game? It feels kinda silly saying that since each micro-game is a few seconds at best, but when you're playing them over and over again, you get a sense of what feels good and what feels ehhh. I do like the addition of the Fronk micro-games, which are absurdly fast micro-games that can be included in any stage to keep you on your toes. But really, the micro-games just feel like they got it "right" and test you on different skills even if they're all based on the same concept. The final micro-game where you have to rotate the GBA and tap A at the same tempo and pattern as Wario was so notable that I felt every final micro-game in WarioWare since then has some variation of this idea.

This game also just has an incredible amount of extras. A bunch of them are stupid or meaningless trinkets that you'll use once and forget about, but I do like unlocking things a lot. Sometimes you get something that you just really like. There's this one trinket about this yoga instructor that says "Relaaaax" when you rotate him and that has been living in my head rent-free ever since I got this game.