The WarioWare series has been around for 20 years and has consistently provided some great titles over the years in the form of Smooth Moves and D.I.Y. The latest entry, WarioWare: Move It!, continues the chaotic tradition of delivering a rapid-fire onslaught of whacky three-second microgames and promises a hilariously good time with friends. The game’s over-the-top silliness, creative multiplayer modes, and offbeat scenarios make it a standout party game. However, some aspects of the game raise questions about its longevity and overall appeal.
“There were many times throughout my playthrough of WarioWare: Move It! when I laughed uncontrollably with others at the bizarre and absurd microgames we were playing.”
The story of Move It! is as shallow as a puddle, with Wario and friends winning a free vacation to an island paradise. While the narrative is not the focal point of WarioWare games, Move It! feels notably lacking in substance. There are only thirteen stages, and you essentially play a level per character with some combined levels in between. However, despite the lack of content, it’s still incredibly enjoyable. Playing through the campaign with a friend is the best way to experience the game, and it might also be its biggest downfall.
There were many times throughout my playthrough of WarioWare: Move It! when I laughed uncontrollably with others at the bizarre and absurd microgames we were playing. The game perfectly encapsulates the laughter of others and spreads it around the room like wildfire. However, I didn’t feel as if I had the same experience playing solo. Instead, I sat almost silently playing the game, with maybe the occasional scoff when I am, once again, plunging myself into a giant nostril.
“The story of WarioWare: Move It! is as shallow as a puddle.”
The heart of the game lies in its microgames, and Move It! delivers exceptionally on this front. From removing flies from your bottom by shaking your body to a one-meter race, the microgames offer a blend of bizarre and amusing challenges. There are even cameo appearances from other Nintendo games that feature as a microgame, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario 64. In terms of variety, WarioWare: Move It! keeps you guessing what is coming next, and you’ll struggle not to crack a smile. However, there were some circumstances where it wasn’t all sunshine and garlic.
The limitations of the Switch’s motion controls become apparent during more challenging and fast-paced modes. While the technology meets the demands of the story mode, it struggles to keep up during intense post-credits activities and the competitive Party mode. There were circumstances where the joy-cons would delay or not register the actions I was doing, and when time is of the essence, there is no chance for recovery. This became a frustrating occurrence in some microgames, but fortunately, it rarely happened more than once per round.
“The heart of the game lies in its microgames.”
One of the major drawbacks of WarioWare: Move It! is the relatively short-lived experience due to the limited number of microgames. Despite boasting over 200 microgames, you may quickly recognize many of the games after playing for a few hours. While this still feels like a large number, and there will no doubt be some games you’ll rarely experience, playing a microgame multiple times diminishes the novelty factor. This is especially true if you’re playing with friends who are experiencing the game for the first time. Luckily, Move It! shines in its multiplayer modes.
WarioWare: Move It! is best played with friends, and Party Mode takes full advantage of the game’s wackiness. There are five party modes, with a couple being similar to modes from previous games. I particularly enjoyed Galactic Conquest, a board game mode that essentially affects you negatively every time you have to roll the dice. This leveled the playing field for those who weren’t as skilled, as winning almost every game didn’t necessarily guarantee you victory.
Go the Distance, another type of Party Mode game, is similar to Survival Fever from a previous title and pits you and your friends in minigames at a rapidly increasing pace and with limited room for failure. This was another game mode that I could play over and over again. While some Party Mode games aren’t as good as others, they all feel distinct and offer additional replayability to the core game. Something that the game desperately needs.
Unfortunately, WarioWare: Move It! offers limited replayability as there isn’t a large amount of content in the game. The Story Mode can be completed in 2-3 hours, and while there are some additional modes you unlock after completing the main offerings, nothing is really going to offer a substantial amount of playtime. For a slightly lower triple-A price point of US$49.99 / AU$69.95, the game could provide some hours of fun, but you’re most likely better off waiting for a sale.
*Disclaimer: Reviewed on Switch; code was provided by Nintendo.
