Wario World

Second only to Martha Stewart on the list of people we wouldn?t like at our party.

Treasure is quite possibly the most uneven development house in Japan. It goes from works of art like Ikaruga to works of utter nonsense like Stretch Panic in a matter of months. Perhaps, though, all it needed was a little guidance: Wario World, its latest for Nintendo, is gobs of fun and a reminder to all consolites that platformers don?t have to be dark, edgy, or extreme to seem fresh.

I?m-a Number One
You wouldn?t guess all this from the premise: Wario?s castle has been destroyed yet again, and he?s got to hop-n-bop through eight levels to get his fortune back. The stages run the gamut of platform clich?s: ice world, forest world, haunted house world, even a circus world that will conjure up Aero the Acro?Bat nightmares if you aren?t careful. The freshness is really all in the design style. Despite the 3D layouts, Wario?s GameCube solo debut feels just like the 2D Game Boy titles he starred in before?the stages are built in horizontal strips, and most of the action runs side-to-side, making it seem like Wario?s jumping around a giant Lego diorama. Every stage has eight treasures to find, and extras like heart containers are scored by conquering treasure rooms?small chambers with tricky platform-game puzzles to be solved.

Have a Rotten Day
So it?s a standard platformer, right? Well, it is and it isn?t. While it never descends to Stretch Panic level, Wario World is very obviously a Treasure production. The graphics will remind you of Sesame Street by way of Tim Burton?they?re cute and colorful, but also have a sinfully dark edge to them that no game?s ever gotten quite right before. Just looking at the game is addictive.

Indeed, the biggest problem with Wario is that there isn?t enough of him. The game itself is easy as pants (imagine hearing that about a Treasure project), and the only penalty for dying is losing some coins, which is nothing considering the retirement fund you?ll have by the end. There?s also little replay value?once you?re done, you?re done, and the unlockable GBA mini-games are nothing but demos culled from Wario Ware.

Hahahahahahaha!
While $50 is a bit much for a game that?s over in a weekend, Wario World deserves a play from all platform aficionados. It?s barely longer than Wario?s Game Boy titles, but you?ll savor every moment and hunger for more once it?s over. Has Treasure finally shaken its unevenness?well, it?s getting there.

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