earching for a maggot with a magnifying glass is merely one of the many games you’ll enjoy in Nintendo’s latest, and strangest, piece of work. Although the premise and gameplay offer nothing original to gamers (you compete in a series of elementary minigames), the presentation wholly epitomizes the term quirky.

Other scenarios require you to shake hands with a dog, lull a cat to sleep, brush someone’s teeth, cut a steak, count frogs, and photograph flying squirrels; just to name a few. Fans will appreciate that Nintendo also borrowed small excerpts from its other franchises like Donkey Kong and Punch Out, and converted them into minigames.

The variety of game types is respectable; but, because they suffer from extreme simplicity and last for roughly five seconds, they lack any depth. Lots of shallow elements thrown together does not create an absorbing experience. Furthermore, players must approach each minigame without any tutorial, making trial and error the norm.

If anything, snag a used copy just to see how insane Nintendo has become in recent years. With Cubivore and Wario Ware under its belt, I wouldn’t hesitate to have Nintendo become the first company ever to be committed if it threatens to release another such title.  

ANDY MCNAMARA   8 Wario Ware is so basic and stupid that it’s genius. We have all seen every one of these games before in some form or another, but the presentation is so streamlined and smart that it makes this mish-mash of minigames feel new and innovative. Plus, because the onslaught of games happens at such a rapid-fire rate, it’s perfect for anyone with a short attention span or just looking to fill a quick five minutes. Waiting for the bus or a late friend will never be the same again, since Wario Ware is a perfect time killer. It may not be the next Tetris or the greatest game ever made, but it is addictive and a perfect fit for anyone’s library since it is so easy to play at any time.