Don't let its kiddie looks fool you, Wario Ware DIY scores a hit for all ages!
As a person new to the Wario Ware line up, I wasn't too excited about the announcement of Wario Ware DIY, especially as I do not consider myself an artistic or creativity driven person. However, after reading a review or two it became clear that DIY is perfectly geared toward the artistically savvy and the dull minded masses (me) alike. So I took a chance and purchased the game and frankly I am pleasantly surprised to report that I really, really like this "game".
Like the other reviewers note, the initial experience is naturally a long tutorial on how to use the game creation software (for that's exactly what DIY is, a game that teaches you to make games). I will admit I do not have a high tolerance for long winded boring instructions, luckily I didn't have to put up with any of that. The interaction of the teacher and Wario during the discussions frankly had me laughing out loud ( I am 28 and don't find kiddie humor very funny, but this is good material) as Wario plays the comic relief to take the tedium out of what could easily been a game killer.
What really stood out to me, was that within a matter of hours (1-2 total) I had already created art for a half-finished game made by Wario, created my own game (Tomato Smackdown!), and am well on my way to creating others. The art you are asked to do for Wario's games is a nice relaxing break from the sometimes challenging (but in a good way) nature of getting the games to do what you want. Creating art is really intuitive with the software provided and even for someone like me who has the drawing capabilities of a fetus, it provides useful tools and mediums to enable you to overcome your own artistic limitations. Being able to zoom in up to 8x makes the fine detail work fun, and the layouts are designed so that you often find yourself saying "If only they had a button that did this.." and a minute later you find that exact button. Bottom line, as far as the user interface goes, this game can look intimidating but has a pick up and play style that I really appreciated.
Besides just creating games, you can create music and comics as well (the comics are somewhat limiting as you can only do 4 panels). I stated earlier that I am not artistically inclined, well that goes triple for music. Luckily Wario Ware DIY provides a composer who can ghost write your music for you, either at random, or following some suggestions from the user. If you are a musically oriented person, you'll like it even more, as you can get into the nitty gritty as much as you'd like. From laying out 5 different tracks, a rhythm track, and a mighty selection of sounds and instruments, true composers might find this area of the game more interesting than the art or game creation areas.
Also provided are 90 pre-made games for you to play as a break from the creation process (these games unlock as you progress). I have to admit, never having played Wario Ware microgames, I was not sure what to do at first. It took a few tries, but now I love these little games. Especially fun are the ones that you have no idea what you are supposed to do (in a particularly weird one you have to keep your hair primped so that a boy won't loose interest in you). These type of microgames actually make me laugh out loud at their absurdity, and of course I find myself rushing to outdo their weirdness in my own games. The fact that new games are coming out for download (some by famous game designers) and that you can take these games and see how they were made (thus making it easier for you to understand how to make the more advanced microgames) is the cherry on the cake.
The only negatives I have to say about the game so far, is that I feel that Nintendo almost sold this game a little short in terms of marketing and appearance. The game is a solid bit of fun for anyone of reading age and beyond, but the characters and the town you first see are rendered to look more child-like and cartoonish than even a regular Mario/Wario game. I have to admit, I began to get very worried very quickly as I thought maybe I had picked up a game for the 10-13 age bracket. Very quickly the game reveals its true self, and while maintaining the cartoonish environment, the game does so without offending adult sensibilities. My only warning here is to give the game some time. Give yourself at least 1 hour of time before you make any judgments or you may find yourself selling a good game short.
Wario Ware DIY is a groundbreaking game that provides both instruction, creation, and fun in an innovative way. Hopefully this game will do well and inspire a whole line of game design oriented titles that will expand on the scope and template that Nintendo has brilliantly set forth