PixlBit

After many iterations of the WarioWare series focused on different control mechanics, the series has finally been taken into a new direction, one which focuses on game creation. Given the simple mini-games that comprise each game in the series, it was clear that one day players could partake in the fun; creating their own mini-games to complement those found in the game. WarioWare D.I.Y. provides players with exactly what they have been waiting for in a comprehensive, yet accessible package on the DS.

For those who are still out of the loop on the WarioWare series, the premise is quite simple. Each game in the series is a simple collection of mini-games wherein players must complete a small task in a matter of seconds. In WarioWare D.I.Y., players take use of the touch screen to perform the commands outlined on the screen. Just like any other WarioWare game, WarioWare D.I.Y. features nearly 100 pre-made games that players can enjoy, in this case through the Game Blender, just as they have done in the past. While the mini-games are still the main focus, playing them takes a backseat to creating them.

Each pre-made mini-game featured in D.I.Y. is clearly a product of the same tool provided to the player, the GameMaker from Crygor Labs. As such, players can dissect the many games created by Nintendo, and learn the intricacies of their game design used throughout the series. In order to ease players into this process, a variety of in-depth tutorials are available explaining the many tools at their disposal.

What's truly impressive about WarioWare D.I.Y. is the fact that players are given so much control. Graphics, music, AI, and even controls must be created by the player in order to produce a game. Being a programmer, I was quite impressed how Intelligent Systems managed to boil down some of the more complicated logic involved in game design into simple scriptable things. Switches are provided for players to store the different states of an object, allowing for an easy and comprehendable way for players to control the game at large. Though no different than a simple boolean, the concept is much more accessible when players tie it to a switch.

The graphical editing and music creation tools are also quite impressive. Players can create some very complicated art within the GameMaker as well as robust scores of music featuring a variety of instruments. What's better, players can import and reuse both art and music from Nintendo's creations and modify them in any way they please. Players can even use the actions attached to the objects, making game creation that much easier for the player.

Those who seek to create their own art can do so more easily than they may think. Most of us are not blessed with artistic skills, in turn, D.I.Y. provides players with tools that can make professional WarioWare-esque art easily. Furthermore, Nintendo has aligned the art creation tool with the likes of Mario Paint and Flipnote Studio to make things much more natural and accessible. The same concepts apply to the music tool. Players who are truly devoid of musical skill can simply hum into the microphone to create some backing notes for their mini-game.

With all of the game's changing parts I never once encountered an instance where it managed to bug out in any way. This is unbelievably impressive given the fact that players are using the game creation system to its max. Undoubtedly, the immersion of the system would've been compromised had Nintendo not polished the game to a shine.

Of course, designing all of these games is pretty worthless without having others to appreciate them. Thankfully, Nintendo has provided players with a plethora of ways to get their games out to other people, most notably the internet as well as WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase on the Wii (for an extra 800 Wii Points). Given that players are sending off the creations to the the game's online mode, this means that they are also able to download an endless number of games to their own DS card, including creations direct from Nintendo.

While WarioWare D.I.Y. is great in many ways, after so many iterations in the series players might find the concept a bit tired. Some days I found myself growing a bit bored of playing the mini-games. Having played every game in the series for endless hours, it's not surprising that many of the mini-games in D.I.Y. didn't really spark my excitement in any way.

For me personally, game creation was far more entertaining than playing the pre-loaded games. Nothing was more gratifying than seeing others in my family grab the DS and beat my games. It gave me a reason to continue playing and to create bigger and better experiences, pushing the creation tool to its limit.

WarioWare D.I.Y is an extremely solid product, and easily the pinnacle of the WarioWare series. Given the game's ability to both create and download new games, even if you aren't interested in the game making aspects, you can still enjoy the great games produced by those who do. With an endless number of games to play and an amazingly solid creation tool, WarioWare D.I.Y. is undoubtedly a game that everyone can enjoy.