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WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase Review for Nintendo Wii

WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase Review for Nintendo Wii

I’ve played so many WarioWare games throughout the years that the novelty has worn off a little. It truly was one of my favorite games back in the days of the GameCube, but after a while, the new micro-game collections didn’t have a whole lot more to offer, save for the Wii’s WarioWare: Smooth Moves, which employed fun yet slightly unpolished motion controls and more original micro-games.

WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase screenshot

Luckily, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have brought a whole new idea into the mix with WarioWare D.I.Y. In the DS version, you don’t just get to play games; you get to create them. However, the Wii version, WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, is a little different. This one is all about playing and sharing. The title includes 72 premade micro-games that you can play at any time, one at a time, or mixed up in play sessions within the “Game Blender.” These titles are split up into categories, depending upon their creator. You’ll see a few familiar faces here; everyone got back to work and created games that match their taste and personality. Mona’s all into weird games, while Jimmy T. brings in his sports specialty. Ashley the Witch, more sinister than ever, couldn’t be more into food stuff, and then there’s Orbulon, 18-Volt, Dribble and Spitz, etc. with their own cadre of games as well.

These games all have simple point-and-click controls, steering away from Smooth Moves’ motion-sensitive challenges. In WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase, most games require a click or two to select the right choice, fix what’s wrong, move, hit something, or jump. The Wii Remote is fairly user-friendly for newcomers, though the system works better on the DS, where you just tap the screen with the stylus. While some of the games will look familiar, there isn’t as much repetition of old games this time around as there was in previous titles. Most of the 70+ offerings feel fresh and new, presenting new challenge within a well-known formula. As always, each stage includes a few rounds of micro-games, as well as boss battles.

WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase screenshot

What’s beautiful is the games included in the Wii version are different from those of the DS title. If you own both, you’ll be able to transfer the Wii micro-games to the DS library. On the same token, all games you have created on the DS version can be sent straight to your D.I.Y. Showcase library on the Wii, so you can share them with friends and play them on the big screen. Unfortunately, the graphics of the homemade games look a bit stretched on the TV screen compared to the sharp details you may have originally created on the handheld. But, other than that, it’s neat to be able to play them without frying your eyeballs while staring at the tiny DS screen. Another way to obtain new micro-games is downloading them from the “NinSoft” store, which features new additions every week, all free of charge.

In addition to sharing games, you can share and download music tracks as well as comics. There’s a comic section where you can read the odd comic strips you’ve unlocked while playing. All these elements are transferable between the Wii and the DS, though there seems to be more perks for owners of the DS title than for those who downloaded WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase off WiiWare. Then again, the latter one only costs $8, versus the $35 you have to shell out for the handheld game.

WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase screenshot

WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase doesn’t improve the series as far as gameplay or visuals. It’s all the same wacky stuff, packed with 2-5 second games that get faster and faster till you lose. Still, between the 70+ new micro-games and the downloadable ones, plus the ability to transfer the DS creations to the big screen, there’s a good value in this title, which makes it better than the mere “showcase” the name implies. If you own the DS version, WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase could be the perfect partner, letting you share your creations via Nintendo Wi-Fi. If you don’t have the DS version, D.I.Y. Showcase is still a fun pastime full of crazy micro-games that don’t make you get off the couch. Plus, there’s an unlockable multiplayer mode (up to four players) for those who want to compete in micro-game challenges, just like we used to do on the GameCube!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.7 Graphics
Following the typical WarioWare visual flare, the presentation is wacky, colorful, and very basic. Games look even more primal than cutscenes. However, everything has its charm. 3.5 Control
Point-and-click to move; Point-and-click to turn on; Point-and-click to jump. It’s almost all about Point-and-click in this game, which works better on the DS than on the Wii. 3.9 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The game comes with plenty of original tunes for the different mini-games. Also, you can import your own DS tunes and listen to them. 3.9

Play Value
If you’re a fan of this micro-game series, WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase shouldn’t be disappointing. It includes 72 micro-games, plus you can import the ones created on the DS and play them, share them with friends, and download even more from the “NinSoft Store” for free. In addition, there’s an unlockable multiplayer mode that the DS doesn’t offer.

3.9 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase comes with more than 70 premade games to play, but players who have access to a broadband Internet connection can wirelessly download a virtually endless supply of user-generated games, or upload their own DS creations to share with the world.
  • Sharing new content is the real key to WarioWare: D.I.Y., and there are a number of ways for players to participate:
  • Using a local wireless connection, friends can swap micro-games, comics, and music they have created in the DS version.
  • Nintendo will regularly make new micro-games available for download to players who have access to a broadband Internet connection.
  • Experience the games you’ve created with the Nintendo DS system on your TV. Each of the elements in these new games then becomes a part of the player’s toolbox. The WiiWare game also includes an unlockable multiplayer mode that lets up to four people play micro-games competitively.

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