By Omar L. Gallaga

American-Statesman Staff

February 22, 2005

Overview: After fun and successful outings for Nintendo's "WarioWare" franchise on the GameCube and GameBoy Advance, lightning-bolt moustached meany Wario brings his eclectic (and endearingly weird) collection of mini-games to Nintendo's still shiny-new portable console with "WarioWare Touched!"

WarioWare Touched! Platform(s): Nintendo DS Company: Nintendo/Intelligent Systems Type/Genre: Crazy Japanese mini-game smor ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) *-Reviewed • Official Site • Arcade360 Index

Unfortunately, the game feels very, very short. I beat all the primary levels of the game in under two hours. All that was left after that was a collection of mostly entertaining bonus features and remixed versions of all the levels I'd already played.

And for everything the game ads — an innovative "blowing" set of games in which the player blows into the DS microphone for a variety of reasons, and the tactile addition of using a stylus on a touch screen instead of pushing buttons — it leaves out something else. There's no multiplayer here, which is disappointing given that the last two games made a few stabs in that direction, and the storylines in the games, featuring characters going to see someone in a band play a show, is virtually nonexistent. Why introduce so many characters who host stages of the game without giving any of them anything to do?

Modes: Mostly single-player, with one two-player table tennis game (using a single Nintendo DS). Sadly, no wireless multiplayer.

Game Play: Game play is fast and furious and requires some serious instincts. You can replay levels individually, practicing until you figure out what's going on. This is the very definition of a "Twitch" game — you'll need quick reflexes.

There are many, many nods to Nintendo's history, with flashes of stages from classic games like "Super Mario Bros.," "Metroid" and even "Duck Hunt."

The sensation of playing most of these games with the Nintendo DS's touch screen is rewarding. It adds a new dimension to "WarioWare" and gives you a tactile kick. The "Blowing" stages are fun, if short, but they also point to a weakness in Nintendo's overall library — innovative new ways to play games that feel like gimmicks. (Anyone who has a set of "Donkey Konga" drums in the closet or who played the GameBoy Advance game "Boktai," which came with a sensor requiring you play portions out in the sun, will know what I'm talking about.)

"WarioWare Touched!" feels rushed. But it may also be a victim of following two games that blew gamers away with their quirky originality. The stylistic departures in this series and supremely bizarre artwork and stages in the games keep us expecting more. This game, unfortunately, delivers more of the same in a seemingly smaller package.

Technical Presentation: Many of the games feel retro, but the few 3-D portions of it show off the DS's hardware capabilities, as do the bonus games where you can do everything from coloring to making a flan wobble and stretch by dragging it around with your stylus. No, I'm not making that up.

Ease of Use: Very difficult to figure out if you're not a veteran gamer — but the games themselves require so little action that a few tries usually clue the player in to what's going on.

Nice Surprise: The music design in the game is good. We just wish there was a lot more of it.

Enraging Quirk: Too much of "Touched!" is a rehash of past "WarioWare" mini-games, converted for the touch screen. It's a good thing the games are still fun and amusing.

Tip: If you get frustrated by a particular level, go back to the main screen and play the mini-games that are giving you trouble individually. Playing them over and over will get you up to speed to go back and finish off that stage.

Bottom Line: "WarioWare Touched!" was supposed to be one of the Nintendo DS's big titles this year, and while it's almost as good as past "WarioWare" titles (which were themselves fantastic), it still falls short for a game that's supposed to strut the stuff of Nintendo's newest console. There should be a lot more here, and while it stands alone as a fun game experience, it's too short and doesn't go far enough to help establish the DS as a serious platform. The PlayStation PSP is on its way, and Nintendo has missed a step by rushing this title out without multiplayer options or a deeper storyline.

Given that most gamers will finish this game in a single afternoon, there's no reason for DS owners to do anything more than rent this game for a short flight or bus ride.