Wii impressions: WarioWare Smooth Moves
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ May 10th 2006 at 7:00PM }
Smooth Moves is aesthetically identical to its handheld predecessors. The demo saw us fumbling through a dozen or so of the new microgames, all motion-controlled (no button presses) with the Wiimote. The fickle connection between the Wiimote and its sensor was immediately apparent. It took several games -- granted, only about 30 seconds of gameplay -- to even register our motions on screen. Smooth Moves shouldn't have a steep learning curve, but technical limitations can make it difficult to play.This is not to say we didn't start having fun. Using the Wiimote to lineup grandma's dentures and then thrusting forward to jam them into her mouth elicited some big grins. Holding the controller to our hip and dancing the hula was another highlight.
It remains to be seen how Wario Ware will hold up on a non-portable platform. Smooth Moves begs to be played in a party atmosphere and we don't see it holding the attention of solitary gamers for long.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lynk @ May 10th 2006 7:03PM
I find it strange that you guys are having a lot of technical difficulties while the folks over at IGN seem to be having a much easier time with the games so far...
Shiro @ May 10th 2006 7:03PM
You know that Wario Ware already has a non-portable game, right? I don't remember the sub name, but it was on the Cube.
DaveKap @ May 10th 2006 7:04PM
First things first: IGN seems to be bribed by all three companies.
Second things last: WarioWare for the Gamecube held up just fine as long as you played with 4 people. Last I checked, Gamecube wasn't portable. ;)
CountZero @ May 10th 2006 7:16PM
Sure the GameCube is prtable, can't you see that handle on the back? :P
Well, hopefully and bugs with the Wiimote are completly worked out by launch time. I'm really working forwards to the Wii.
Cage @ May 10th 2006 7:16PM
Now that we have Joystiq's favorite console's games out of the way can we focus on next gen consoles?!?
Londoner @ May 10th 2006 7:17PM
This is one game that I will get the moment it is released. The perfect game to introduce to my non-gamer mates (many who has finally caved in after playing my DS Lite - but still sceptical on console gaming) and also on party nights.
And a perfect excuse to get the lady friends to do squats. ;)
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ May 10th 2006 7:18PM
Now. I love Nintendo and all (DSLite June 11th)(Wii at launch) but... This is one of the gayest games to hit next-gen. I am not bashing, in fact I am only getting a Wii until both Halo3 and Fable2 are out. But come on people. This game just looks terrible. But I am only basing that on the conference video, I am sure it is decent.
fa_pa @ May 10th 2006 7:20PM
#1: That is because IGN gets all these "insider" information that is why they are allways giving way better reviews then the actual thing is.
djork @ May 10th 2006 7:24PM
I am willing to bet that the batteries were close to dead, and Joystiq got their hands on it a long time after IGN did.
Frankie23 @ May 10th 2006 7:25PM
I believe you mean, "Smooth Moves begs to be played in a drunkenparty atmosphere".
Threnody @ May 10th 2006 7:40PM
Hey Dmitri, thanks for letting me know this is one of the more homosexual games out there. I'll be sure to pick this one up! Oh, what's that? You're just an intolerant bastard? Never mind then.
LongshotX @ May 10th 2006 8:06PM
A gay ass game for gay ass people. Stuff like this should be banned.
Xander224 @ May 10th 2006 8:08PM
This looks just like Eyetoy:Play 2 on PS2
ikillkenny @ May 10th 2006 8:19PM
Man, I didn't realize this game was pushing the homosexual agenda, but Longshot really proved it to me. Good job, dude.
Spoon @ May 10th 2006 8:31PM
Longshot, I'm a little confused.
Who are these "ass people", and why are they so damn happy?
Kent0r @ May 10th 2006 8:50PM
oh come oooon. 'i don't see it holding up to the solo wank' ffs how many people bought Wario Ware for cube and then effing played it solo. I've not once sat down on my own to play it but when friends are around then it gets given a good bashing. i hate this kind of journalism of smart remarks surely everybody realises that when we see the clips of wario ware and watersporrrr.. sorry wii sports we just get a sensation in our mouthes that just says 'I can so see myself having a great night with b33rs and friends'... it just seems like stating the obvious to say 'but it's not gonna be great on your own'.
Look everyone knows that lonely players will be catered for sitting alone wanking over HD lush graphics on their PS3's playing OMG GRAPHICS FPS 4 TEH SEXE all on their own, they're not even going to take a second look at anything that even has a hint of FUN, for the rest of us please don't dumb it down, we've played Bishi Bashi Special.., we've played Fuzion Frenzy because it's fucking FUN. WE know WHY we want to pwn our friends in deadly console combat of party game combat and now all of a sudden nintendo are fuelling these exact desires and emotions. Don't dumb it down, give us some respect. And most of all, ENJOY!
Vince @ May 10th 2006 9:16PM
I don't think anyone plays any game for any other reason than fun.
But what makes a game fun?
One of my friends (non gamer) finds it fun to drive the wrong way round tracks on driving games.
We've all done it, it gets old very fast and you never do it again, but he doesn't play games enough to get bored with it.
Next time he's round and I annoy him by playing a game, he'll go round a couple of corners, crash on both of course and eventually start driving the wrong way till he gets a head on smash.
Then he'll look at me as it he's done something spectacular and exciting.
Gamers can't play with non gamers it's to depressing for the gamer. - Fun for one and not the other.
Wii for me won't be anything to do with "we" as in us all playing together gamer and non - gamer having fun together., it'll be about "we" all use the console, but at different times. Which is what the Wii is about I suppose.
Games like Wario and Wii sports are fun games, but that's fun in the "I don't play games ever" sense of the word.
Ruutzy @ May 11th 2006 1:58AM
I think Vinces (#17) point is completely valid. It's true that the console will attract more non-gamers to gaming but I think that it will short change other aspects for hardcore gamers. I've been haveing a discussion on another board about Madden for the Wii. I truly don't believe that the hardcore Madden fans will consider playing their entire seasons on this console. Those guys play real quarter lengths and the whole ten yards! Imagine snap-juke-throw times 500. No way. And don't even get me started on how they're going to impliment REAL footy! Tape the Wiimote to your damn shoe!? wtf
Belgand @ May 11th 2006 8:34AM
I'm a bit worried that this will be surpisingly hard to control. With the original WarioWare it was pretty easy to figure out what to do in almost all of the microgames. I mean, you could only move the d-pad and press a single button. With this one though it seems like you're supposed to place the Wii-mote in all sorts of places on and around your body and move it in a variety of different ways. Since it no longer is rigidly constrained by the control scheme it seems like there might be more problems in figuring out exactly what you're supposed to do the first time.