Wario is unlike any of Nintendo's other characters. Originally a rival to Mario, Wario's name comes from a portmanteau of "Mario" and the Japanese word for "bad." Since his debut in 1992, however, Wario and the WarioWare series have created a totally unique genre with their so-called "microgames." The newest title, WarioWare: Get It Together!, was announced during Nintendo's 2021 E3 presentation, and a demo was made available in August. In anticipation of WarioWare: Get It Together!'s release, the demo has showcased several of the game's strengths, and it looks like the title will be worthy of the WarioWare name.

The demo itself isn't organized in a way that fans might have expected. Most WarioWare games are divided into levels based on characters, but the demo's gameplay is one continuous series of microgames with different characters making appearances. Like any other WarioWare game, though, gameplay consists of completing three-to-five second microgames until the player runs out of lives. At that point, the demo is over, and the full game's features are presented on-screen with an option to preorder in the Nintendo eShop. Some players might have been hesitant when the game was first announced, but the demo makes a compelling case for the game.

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WarioWare: Get It Together!'s Returning Features

WarioWare: Get It Together Characters

Developers tend to struggle when it comes to finding the right balance between new and old features in a series, like the remakes of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. This, however, doesn't seem to be an issue for WarioWare: Get It Together!. The game's demo presents the familiar WarioWare experience: wacky characters completing microgames at an increasing speed as levels progress. The higher the level, the higher the probability of making a mistake. A classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," to see that the game stays true to its roots is reassuring for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

New Features in WarioWare: Get It Together!

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That's not to say WarioWare: Get It Together! is without any new features, however. Right off the bat, the game's demo switches things up by teaching players how to control a miniature Wario on-screen. Rather than directly interacting with microgames via Nintendo's latest control scheme, players now control a character and use that character's abilities to complete microgames. Depending on the character, any given microgame can be completed in a number of ways. For example, 18-Volt's disc projectile may be used to defeat an enemy that Wario would have bashed into. This style of gameplay draws on WarioWare's cast of characters in a way that reflects their personalities, diversifies gameplay, and doesn't force the player to use motion control.

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How WarioWare: Get It Together! Uses Local Co-Op

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Online multiplayer has become the video game industry's standard, and it feels as though most games with local multiplayer are on the Nintendo Switch. WarioWare: Get It Together!'s local co-op is consequently of the game's more understated strengths. Utilizing the new mechanics, two players can now simultaneously interact with microgames using their respective WarioWare characters. The result is frantic, wacky gameplay where success depends on players' ability to work together. With so few games capable of this sort of experience, it's refreshing to see an option for co-op included in the game.

WarioWare is an iconic but sometimes overlooked franchise. Where most triple-A games owe their success to character customization and dark narratives, like the upcoming Far Cry 6, WarioWare utilizes non-committal, bite-sized gameplay to charm its audience. It's a unique take on video games, which is no surprise considering Wario was always meant to be everything that Mario isn't. Nintendo's strengths are obvious in games like WarioWare, and the company would do well to focus on producing more games that showcase its original characters.

WarioWare: Get It Together! releases for Nintendo Switch on September 10.

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