WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Party Game
Release Date: TBA
Nintendo's upcoming Wii console had a lot to prove to the world at this year's E3. In the wake of the console's unveiling in the days leading up to last year's Tokyo Game Show, the biggest unanswered questions about the console revolved around how games would play on it, and what titles the veteran developer would show off for it. The highlight of the show lineup was, surprisingly, not Super Mario Galaxy, but rather WarioWare: Smooth Moves, the minigame sensation starring Mario's nemesis.
The Wii games on display at E3 faced lofty expectations. Not only did the titles have to showcase the console's processing power, but, by Nintendo's own promise, they had to usher in a new way of playing games that was like nothing that had come before. While many of the games succeeded on one level or another, there was no better showcase for the system at E3 than WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Though its visuals were modest in scope, the game embodied Nintendo's philosophy of gameplay over graphics. More importantly, it was an excellent testament to the potential of the controller. While many had assumed that the lack of the "nunchaku" attachment, which adds an analog stick to the Wii remote controller wand base, would mean limited uses for the controller, WarioWare showed how much mileage you could get out of it without any attachments. The core of all the minigames revolves around how you hold the unit, which highlights the versatility of both the controller and the development team's imagination. Whether it's wielding the controller like a steering wheel, pumping it like a barbell, using it to slash like a sword, turning it like a key, or even resting it on your hip while you do a hula dance, WarioWare: Smooth Moves shows off the potential Wii games have to offer as a totally unique experience.
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