WARIO WARE, INC. MEGA PARTY GAME$.
© Nintendo

Mania Grade: B-
Platform: GameCube
ESRB: Everyone
Players: 1
Save: Yes
Genre: Party
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Suggested Retail: $29.99
Graphics: D
Sound: D
Gameplay: A
Replay: B
Fun Factor: A-
Reviewer’s Wild Card: A-

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WARIOWARE INC. MEGA PARTY GAME$

After the hugely successful WARIOWARE INC for the Game Boy Advance, it was only a matter of time before Nintendo brought its newest franchise over to the GameCube. While many hoped the game would be a GameCube version, instead most of the core gameplay is pulled directly from the GBA, graphics and all.

WARIOWARE is a series of two to three second videogames. In the Game Boy version, these games are played in rapid succession. For instance, you might be told to "Enter the Cave" and suddenly be presented with Link in a scene from the original LEGEND OF ZELDA. In three seconds you either succeed or fail, and then another command such as "Pick the nose" is given. Then you have to time the pressing of the A button so that the finger moving across the screen goes up into the nose.

Needless to say, the game is likely to cause ADD in anyone who plays it because it is so ridiculously fast. Yet this is what makes the game so amazingly addictive. Within moments there is no way of putting the game down. It's perfect for casual and hardcore gamers alike. My girlfriend immediately took over my copy of the game when I first showed it to her.

The GameCube version is essentially the same thing, except it changes the emphasis over to party games. Instead of making up new three second mini-games, the team ported over the Game Boy collection. Then it wrapped shells around these games.

One of these shells involves the two-to-four players involved to line up next to a TV. On top of this TV is a balloon. Whoever isn't playing has a pump and can fill up the balloon rapidly by pressing A. Whoever is at the TV must successfully complete a mini-game to move back into the line and force the front player to the TV. It's extremely addictive and a lot of fun as when the stress gets high more stupid mistakes are made.

There are some other cool mini-games. One of which involves playing mini-games for cards, another that involves balancing on an ever-growing stack of turtles. All of this said, the party games add a fun dimension to the game and allow a bunch of people to enjoy the game together.

Unfortunately, it won't really last you that long. It's just not that entertaining for anyone who has already played the Game Boy Advance game, unless they are playing against a bunch of people who also are really good at that game. For people who haven't played it, the Game Boy Advance version is just as acceptable, and is better for traveling and playing in those random free moments. It's a $30 game though, so that takes some of the bite out of the cost and makes it easier to recommend to fans of the original.

The graphics and sound are largely pulled from the Game Boy Advance game. So we're running some graphics far below the GameCube's level. I'd like to see some better graphics in the game, as well as sound effects and music the next time around.

WARIOWARE INC. MEGA PARTY GAME$ is worthwhile for fans of the series who can't get enough. Newcomers might be better served with the Game Boy Advance version.