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It’s no secret that the Wii U is in serious need of support as far as good, quality experiences go. The company, has acknowledged third parties won’t invest in the Wii U until it sees a big rise in consumer base and in order to do that Nintendo has seen it as their duty to release the big games that will draw these gamers in. Sadly all we’ve seen so far is launch titles NintendoLand and New Super Mario Bros U and while they were both great games in their own right, six months down the line gamers are understandably looking for more. Finally Nintendo have released Game & Wario, a game that looks set to offer plenty more unique mini experiences thanks to the Wii U’s gamepad. Is this an encouraging first step for Nintendo?
Game & Wario is basically a mini game collection mixing together twelve single player experiences (some of which also feature two player options) and four multiplayer ones. Those expecting a true successor the the WarioWare series, stop reading now. Let me just say, while the game might feature the same sort of style and in one case the same microgames we’ve all come to know and love from the series, this isn’t a sequel. This is actually something quite different which is good and bad.
The biggest problem with Game & Wario is its consistency. While one moment you may find yourself loving a truly unique experience that really takes advantage of the gamepad’s extra touch screen, the next you’re playing a game that feels… just plain boring. Kung Fu for example sees you tilting the gamepad to manoeuvre a young ninja named Cricket across a series of platforms with the touch screen providing a bird’s eye view of the action. Hardly ground breaking. Likewise Ashley plays much like a horizontal shooter with the touch screen needing to be touched occasionally when you get hit. It hardly screams “only possible on the Wii U”.
There are however, fantastic games to be found here. Design is great fun despite being alarmingly simple in concept. The game throws a number of measurements at you (5cm straight line, circle with radius 3cm and so on) in which you attempt to recreate as accurately as you can. Once you’ve finished the five drawings, you’re attempts are then crafted into a robot. It’s weird, it’s fun and is even more so when playing with a friend. Sadly with little in the way of variation and only two players at once, this feels like it could have been so much more.
Shutter makes good use of the gamepad’s extra screen by having you search around an environment for five individuals and capturing their ugly mug with a camera. Switching your focus between the television for a wider view and the gamepad to get a good, zoomed in shot is a tough balance but hugely rewarding.
Then we head back to the realm of mediocrity with Ski, Taxi and Bowling offering overly basic and fairly unappealing distractions. Even Bird offers an experience that could have easily been replicated (and has been for a matter of fact) elsewhere.
Gamer is a true stroke of genius however calling back to the days when we would play games after our bedtime whilst trying not get caught by our parents. With the gamepad displaying the series’ trademark microgames and the television acting as your bedroom you’ll not only have to content with the increasingly manic games but also the watchful eye of your mother as she wonders by your window and door. It’s a real shame more isn’t made of this idea.
Patchwork is a nice little puzzler where the aim of the game is to place different shaped tiles onto a grid to form an image. Pirate is a rhythm based affair where you’ll lift the gamepad to block incoming projectiles in time with music. It has a very Rhythm Heaven feel about it. Lastly Arrow is basically a target gallery where firing is handled via dragging back on the touchscreen. That’s your twelve games and while there are certainly some misses to be found, the hits manage to outweigh them.
Like any game in the Wario series, multiplayer is where things really excel. Disco is a fun little rhythm based game where players must repeat beats in time with music. Islands too, while fairly unadventurous is a neat target based game where you and up to four other players take turns to flick Fronks on targets for the most points.
Fruit features a clever idea that uses the extra screen in a unique and interesting way. The gamepad user uses the screen to move around an environment whilst discretely stealing apples. The catch here is the other players will be using the television to keep an eye out for strange activity eventually making their choice as to who they think is the thief from a long line-up of candidates. It’s almost like a game of Assassin’s Creed where blending into the crowd is key to victory.
Sketch however is where I found myself having the most fun. For what is essentially a glorified version of Pictionary, the presentation and general high amount of silliness is what helps elevate the fun to the zany heights of past Wario titles. Sadly though, four multiplayer experiences is your limit.
Surprisingly I found myself having a lot of fun with the little extras. Obtained via a giant chicken vending machine these experiences are as weird as they are wonderful. Whether it’s racing a toy car around a room with the gamepad offering a first person view or speaking into a dogs ear and having it bark back to a large crowd.
All in all what Game & Wario has to offer the player is somewhat of a mixed bag. While there are some truly unique gameplay experiences to be found here, sadly a lack of depth and a handful of unimaginative mini games prevent Game & Wario from being the top tier Nintendo title we so sorely wanted it to be.
6/10
Game & Wario is basically a mini game collection mixing together twelve single player experiences (some of which also feature two player options) and four multiplayer ones. Those expecting a true successor the the WarioWare series, stop reading now. Let me just say, while the game might feature the same sort of style and in one case the same microgames we’ve all come to know and love from the series, this isn’t a sequel. This is actually something quite different which is good and bad.
The biggest problem with Game & Wario is its consistency. While one moment you may find yourself loving a truly unique experience that really takes advantage of the gamepad’s extra touch screen, the next you’re playing a game that feels… just plain boring. Kung Fu for example sees you tilting the gamepad to manoeuvre a young ninja named Cricket across a series of platforms with the touch screen providing a bird’s eye view of the action. Hardly ground breaking. Likewise Ashley plays much like a horizontal shooter with the touch screen needing to be touched occasionally when you get hit. It hardly screams “only possible on the Wii U”.
There are however, fantastic games to be found here. Design is great fun despite being alarmingly simple in concept. The game throws a number of measurements at you (5cm straight line, circle with radius 3cm and so on) in which you attempt to recreate as accurately as you can. Once you’ve finished the five drawings, you’re attempts are then crafted into a robot. It’s weird, it’s fun and is even more so when playing with a friend. Sadly with little in the way of variation and only two players at once, this feels like it could have been so much more.
Shutter makes good use of the gamepad’s extra screen by having you search around an environment for five individuals and capturing their ugly mug with a camera. Switching your focus between the television for a wider view and the gamepad to get a good, zoomed in shot is a tough balance but hugely rewarding.
Then we head back to the realm of mediocrity with Ski, Taxi and Bowling offering overly basic and fairly unappealing distractions. Even Bird offers an experience that could have easily been replicated (and has been for a matter of fact) elsewhere.
Gamer is a true stroke of genius however calling back to the days when we would play games after our bedtime whilst trying not get caught by our parents. With the gamepad displaying the series’ trademark microgames and the television acting as your bedroom you’ll not only have to content with the increasingly manic games but also the watchful eye of your mother as she wonders by your window and door. It’s a real shame more isn’t made of this idea.
Patchwork is a nice little puzzler where the aim of the game is to place different shaped tiles onto a grid to form an image. Pirate is a rhythm based affair where you’ll lift the gamepad to block incoming projectiles in time with music. It has a very Rhythm Heaven feel about it. Lastly Arrow is basically a target gallery where firing is handled via dragging back on the touchscreen. That’s your twelve games and while there are certainly some misses to be found, the hits manage to outweigh them.
Like any game in the Wario series, multiplayer is where things really excel. Disco is a fun little rhythm based game where players must repeat beats in time with music. Islands too, while fairly unadventurous is a neat target based game where you and up to four other players take turns to flick Fronks on targets for the most points.
Fruit features a clever idea that uses the extra screen in a unique and interesting way. The gamepad user uses the screen to move around an environment whilst discretely stealing apples. The catch here is the other players will be using the television to keep an eye out for strange activity eventually making their choice as to who they think is the thief from a long line-up of candidates. It’s almost like a game of Assassin’s Creed where blending into the crowd is key to victory.
Sketch however is where I found myself having the most fun. For what is essentially a glorified version of Pictionary, the presentation and general high amount of silliness is what helps elevate the fun to the zany heights of past Wario titles. Sadly though, four multiplayer experiences is your limit.
Surprisingly I found myself having a lot of fun with the little extras. Obtained via a giant chicken vending machine these experiences are as weird as they are wonderful. Whether it’s racing a toy car around a room with the gamepad offering a first person view or speaking into a dogs ear and having it bark back to a large crowd.
All in all what Game & Wario has to offer the player is somewhat of a mixed bag. While there are some truly unique gameplay experiences to be found here, sadly a lack of depth and a handful of unimaginative mini games prevent Game & Wario from being the top tier Nintendo title we so sorely wanted it to be.
6/10
A good review, like a breath of fresh air.
It’s no secret that the Wii U is in serious need of support as far as good, quality experiences go. The company, has acknowledged third parties won’t invest in the Wii U until it sees a big rise in consumer base and in order to do that Nintendo has seen it as their duty to release the big games that will draw these gamers in. Sadly all we’ve seen so far is launch titles NintendoLand and New Super Mario Bros U and while they were both great games in their own right, six months down the line gamers are understandably looking for more. Finally Nintendo have released Game & Wario, a game that looks set to offer plenty more unique mini experiences thanks to the Wii U’s gamepad. Is this an encouraging first step for Nintendo?
Game & Wario is basically a mini game collection mixing together twelve single player experiences (some of which also feature two player options) and four multiplayer ones. Those expecting a true successor the the WarioWare series, stop reading now. Let me just say, while the game might feature the same sort of style and in one case the same microgames we’ve all come to know and love from the series, this isn’t a sequel. This is actually something quite different which is good and bad.
The biggest problem with Game & Wario is its consistency. While one moment you may find yourself loving a truly unique experience that really takes advantage of the gamepad’s extra touch screen, the next you’re playing a game that feels… just plain boring. Kung Fu for example sees you tilting the gamepad to manoeuvre a young ninja named Cricket across a series of platforms with the touch screen providing a bird’s eye view of the action. Hardly ground breaking. Likewise Ashley plays much like a horizontal shooter with the touch screen needing to be touched occasionally when you get hit. It hardly screams “only possible on the Wii U”.
There are however, fantastic games to be found here. Design is great fun despite being alarmingly simple in concept. The game throws a number of measurements at you (5cm straight line, circle with radius 3cm and so on) in which you attempt to recreate as accurately as you can. Once you’ve finished the five drawings, you’re attempts are then crafted into a robot. It’s weird, it’s fun and is even more so when playing with a friend. Sadly with little in the way of variation and only two players at once, this feels like it could have been so much more.
Shutter makes good use of the gamepad’s extra screen by having you search around an environment for five individuals and capturing their ugly mug with a camera. Switching your focus between the television for a wider view and the gamepad to get a good, zoomed in shot is a tough balance but hugely rewarding.
Then we head back to the realm of mediocrity with Ski, Taxi and Bowling offering overly basic and fairly unappealing distractions. Even Bird offers an experience that could have easily been replicated (and has been for a matter of fact) elsewhere.
Gamer is a true stroke of genius however calling back to the days when we would play games after our bedtime whilst trying not get caught by our parents. With the gamepad displaying the series’ trademark microgames and the television acting as your bedroom you’ll not only have to content with the increasingly manic games but also the watchful eye of your mother as she wonders by your window and door. It’s a real shame more isn’t made of this idea.
Patchwork is a nice little puzzler where the aim of the game is to place different shaped tiles onto a grid to form an image. Pirate is a rhythm based affair where you’ll lift the gamepad to block incoming projectiles in time with music. It has a very Rhythm Heaven feel about it. Lastly Arrow is basically a target gallery where firing is handled via dragging back on the touchscreen. That’s your twelve games and while there are certainly some misses to be found, the hits manage to outweigh them.
Like any game in the Wario series, multiplayer is where things really excel. Disco is a fun little rhythm based game where players must repeat beats in time with music. Islands too, while fairly unadventurous is a neat target based game where you and up to four other players take turns to flick Fronks on targets for the most points.
Fruit features a clever idea that uses the extra screen in a unique and interesting way. The gamepad user uses the screen to move around an environment whilst discretely stealing apples. The catch here is the other players will be using the television to keep an eye out for strange activity eventually making their choice as to who they think is the thief from a long line-up of candidates. It’s almost like a game of Assassin’s Creed where blending into the crowd is key to victory.
Sketch however is where I found myself having the most fun. For what is essentially a glorified version of Pictionary, the presentation and general high amount of silliness is what helps elevate the fun to the zany heights of past Wario titles. Sadly though, four multiplayer experiences is your limit.
Surprisingly I found myself having a lot of fun with the little extras. Obtained via a giant chicken vending machine these experiences are as weird as they are wonderful. Whether it’s racing a toy car around a room with the gamepad offering a first person view or speaking into a dogs ear and having it bark back to a large crowd.
All in all what Game & Wario has to offer the player is somewhat of a mixed bag. While there are some truly unique gameplay experiences to be found here, sadly a lack of depth and a handful of unimaginative mini games prevent Game & Wario from being the top tier Nintendo title we so sorely wanted it to be.
6/10
Game & Wario is basically a mini game collection mixing together twelve single player experiences (some of which also feature two player options) and four multiplayer ones. Those expecting a true successor the the WarioWare series, stop reading now. Let me just say, while the game might feature the same sort of style and in one case the same microgames we’ve all come to know and love from the series, this isn’t a sequel. This is actually something quite different which is good and bad.
The biggest problem with Game & Wario is its consistency. While one moment you may find yourself loving a truly unique experience that really takes advantage of the gamepad’s extra touch screen, the next you’re playing a game that feels… just plain boring. Kung Fu for example sees you tilting the gamepad to manoeuvre a young ninja named Cricket across a series of platforms with the touch screen providing a bird’s eye view of the action. Hardly ground breaking. Likewise Ashley plays much like a horizontal shooter with the touch screen needing to be touched occasionally when you get hit. It hardly screams “only possible on the Wii U”.
There are however, fantastic games to be found here. Design is great fun despite being alarmingly simple in concept. The game throws a number of measurements at you (5cm straight line, circle with radius 3cm and so on) in which you attempt to recreate as accurately as you can. Once you’ve finished the five drawings, you’re attempts are then crafted into a robot. It’s weird, it’s fun and is even more so when playing with a friend. Sadly with little in the way of variation and only two players at once, this feels like it could have been so much more.
Shutter makes good use of the gamepad’s extra screen by having you search around an environment for five individuals and capturing their ugly mug with a camera. Switching your focus between the television for a wider view and the gamepad to get a good, zoomed in shot is a tough balance but hugely rewarding.
Then we head back to the realm of mediocrity with Ski, Taxi and Bowling offering overly basic and fairly unappealing distractions. Even Bird offers an experience that could have easily been replicated (and has been for a matter of fact) elsewhere.
Gamer is a true stroke of genius however calling back to the days when we would play games after our bedtime whilst trying not get caught by our parents. With the gamepad displaying the series’ trademark microgames and the television acting as your bedroom you’ll not only have to content with the increasingly manic games but also the watchful eye of your mother as she wonders by your window and door. It’s a real shame more isn’t made of this idea.
Patchwork is a nice little puzzler where the aim of the game is to place different shaped tiles onto a grid to form an image. Pirate is a rhythm based affair where you’ll lift the gamepad to block incoming projectiles in time with music. It has a very Rhythm Heaven feel about it. Lastly Arrow is basically a target gallery where firing is handled via dragging back on the touchscreen. That’s your twelve games and while there are certainly some misses to be found, the hits manage to outweigh them.
Like any game in the Wario series, multiplayer is where things really excel. Disco is a fun little rhythm based game where players must repeat beats in time with music. Islands too, while fairly unadventurous is a neat target based game where you and up to four other players take turns to flick Fronks on targets for the most points.
Fruit features a clever idea that uses the extra screen in a unique and interesting way. The gamepad user uses the screen to move around an environment whilst discretely stealing apples. The catch here is the other players will be using the television to keep an eye out for strange activity eventually making their choice as to who they think is the thief from a long line-up of candidates. It’s almost like a game of Assassin’s Creed where blending into the crowd is key to victory.
Sketch however is where I found myself having the most fun. For what is essentially a glorified version of Pictionary, the presentation and general high amount of silliness is what helps elevate the fun to the zany heights of past Wario titles. Sadly though, four multiplayer experiences is your limit.
Surprisingly I found myself having a lot of fun with the little extras. Obtained via a giant chicken vending machine these experiences are as weird as they are wonderful. Whether it’s racing a toy car around a room with the gamepad offering a first person view or speaking into a dogs ear and having it bark back to a large crowd.
All in all what Game & Wario has to offer the player is somewhat of a mixed bag. While there are some truly unique gameplay experiences to be found here, sadly a lack of depth and a handful of unimaginative mini games prevent Game & Wario from being the top tier Nintendo title we so sorely wanted it to be.
6/10