Wario (series)

Wariois avideo gameseries, aspin-offof theMariofranchise. It comprises various video games created byNintendo, starring the characterWario. The series began withWario Land: Super Mario Land 3, the first game to feature Wario as a playable character. TheWarioseries includes mostlyplatformingvideo games andminigamecompilations, but also includes other genres.
TheWario Landseries is a platforming series that started withWario Land: Super Mario Land 3, following Wario's first appearance inSuper Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.
InWario Land, Wario has a castle in Kitchen Island, and often journeys to find treasure. Its gameplay consists of platforming through levels, tossing enemies, breaking blocks and using other abilities.
WarioWare(also known asWarioWare, Inc.), known in Japan asMade in Wario(Japanese:メイド イン ワリオ,Hepburn:Meido in Wario), is a series of games featuring theNintendocharacterWario. The series was established in 2003 with the release ofMega Microgames!for theGame Boy Advance. While the first two games were developed byNintendo R&D1, subsequent games have been co-developed byIntelligent Systems.
The distinctive feature of allWarioWaregames is that they are collections of short, simple "microgames" presented in quick succession. The player is given four "lives" at the beginning of these microgames. Each of these microgames lasts about three to five seconds and must be completed, or else a life will be lost. For example, there is a microgame where the player must zap a spaceship; in another, Wario must collect coins in aPac-Man-like maze. The numerous microgames are linked together randomly and steadily increase in speed and difficulty as the player progresses. On each level, losing four games results in a game over. After a certain amount of microgames have been played, the player faces a stage-specific boss microgame; the player must complete these to regain a lost life (with a maximum of four lives at any given time). Boss microgames are considerably longer and more complex than other microgames. For example, a boss microgame inMega Microgames!instructs the player to hit anailwith ahammermultiple times in a row.
The idea of microgames or minigames was popularized generally during the Nintendo 64'sfifth generation of video game consolesand some early minigames appear in the Nintendo64DD'sMario Artist: Talent Studioin the style that would give rise to theWarioWareseries. Certain minigames originated inMario Artist: Polygon Studio, as explained by Goro Abe ofNintendo R&D1's so-called Wario Ware All-Star Team: "In Polygon Studio you could create 3D models and animate them in the game, but there was also a side game included inside. In this game you would have to play short games that came one after another. This is where the idea for Wario Ware came from." Teammate Yoshio Sakamoto continued, "To add on that, we got the idea of using Wario and the other characters because we couldn't think of anyone else who would be best for the role. Wario is always doing stupid things and is really idiotic, so we thought him and the rest of the characters would be best for the game."
Game & Wario, released in 2013, is a spin-off of theWarioWareseries.
WarioWare Goldwas released worldwide in 2018.
WarioWare: Get It Together!was released on September 10, 2021.
WarioWare: Move It!was released on November 3, 2023.
Microgamesare simplevideo gamescreated by the fictional companyWarioWare, Inc..Nintendo's line ofWarioWaregames each feature these microgames, which are generally less than five seconds long. Microgames are even simpler and shorter than theminigamesfound in other games such as theMario Partyseries. Gameplay in allWarioWaregames is distinct from most other games, as they involve the player or players trying to beat the microgames as soon as possible. Most games present instructions in the form of averband quickly drop the player into the situation where they must perform said verb. The extremely stripped-down gameplay has intrigued some game researchers, who have usedWarioWareboth as a case study in understanding the relationship between rules and play in videogames,and as a target domain for investigating automated game design.
All microgames are strung together in a random order within different "stages", each hosted by a different character. First, the player is presented with a quick one or two word instruction such as "Eat!" or "Rub!" Then, the microgame will appear and the player will have to complete the game according to the instruction.
Microgames usually have only one task to complete. For example, in one microgame the player is told to "Enter!" and is presented with a scene fromThe Legend of Zelda. The player must use the directional buttons to move Link to a cave entrance before the time runs out. In another microgame, the player is told to "Avoid!" and must drive a car, avoiding oncoming traffic. Most microgames have asound effectthat signifies when the task is completed.  The games by themselves are so brief so as to potentially demand the sharp reflexes of aquick-time event.
Boss microgames always occur at a set point in a stage. They are usually more challenging than regular microgames, have no time limit (as described below), and give lives back upon completion. If a stage is played for the first time, it is completed after the boss microgame. The sound effect will usually play after the task is fulfilled, and then the score screen will return. On repeated plays, if the player has less than four lives, one will be restored.
The unit of time for all microgames isbeats. InMega Microgames!andTwisted!, a standard microgame is 8 beats, double-length microgames (usually IQ-genre games) last 16 beats; Fronk's microgames inTwisted!andGoldonly last 4 beats. In most games, theBPMwill start out relatively slow and will increase as the player completes microgames.
InWarioWare: Touched!, the 8-beat standard has been dropped for all microgames, so many last longer than 8 beats. This may be a way to make the game easier for those unaccustomed to theNintendo DS's touch-screen interface. To retain pace, the microgames will automatically end if cleared before a four-beat measure is met.
To show the time left to complete a microgame, a small "bomb" appears at the bottom of the screen. The fuse and a countdown timer show the amount of time left to complete the microgame. When time runs out, the bomb explodes and in most cases, the player loses a life. The fuse burns faster when the BPM increases.
Some microgames are intrinsically harder than others, and an increased BPM (increased speed) will make any microgame more difficult to complete than the same microgame at a slower BPM. This is usually reflected in the microgames' "clear scores"—the score one must reach while playing a microgame in the practice modes to obtain credit for "clearing" it. (Smooth MovesandD.I.Y.lack this feature.)
Each microgame features three difficulty levels. Most modes start at the easiest level, and progress to the next upon a "Level Up" (usually achieved after passing a boss microgame). Once the maximum level is reached, sequential "Level Up"s will typically be replaced by "Speed Up"s (an increase in BPM).
Using the aboveThe Legend of Zeldamicrogame as an example, the first version of this microgame usually places Link very close to the cave entrance that he must enter. The second version places the entrance further away and places an enemy that blocks Link, and the last version places the entrance yet further, and has a second enemy that shoots at Link from a lake.
There are two major types of character in theWarioWareseries. The first are the WarioWare, Inc. developers, who both create and host the microgames. Each one has a unique theme or twist, depending on the game. For instance, Jimmy T.'s microgames inTwisted!are focused around large spins, while inTouched!his microgames involve rubbing objects with the stylus. The second group of characters often show up within the introduction cutscenes — the most notable being Fronk, who hosts "Pop-Up" microgames inTwisted!andGoldand pops up in the most unlikely of places.
Wario has starred in puzzle games such asMario & WarioandWario's Woods(the latter of which he was featured as the main antagonist whileToadtook the role as the main hero), as well as crossing over into theBombermanuniverse withWario Blast: Featuring Bomberman!(1994).
Wario is a playable character in theSuper Smash Bros.series, having appeared sinceSuper Smash Bros. Brawl. His default outfit in these games is his motorcyclist outfit as seen in theWarioWaregames, although he can also wear his classic overalls. He can transform into Wario-Man after obtaining a Smash Ball. His motorcycle is used as one of his special attacks.Kat and Ana also make appearances as an Assist Trophy.InBrawl, many stickers also representWarioWare, Inc.— in addition to all of the above appearing as stickers and trophies, there are stickers of otherWarioWarecharacters.Also, there is aWarioWarestage, named WarioWare, Inc., based on the Variety Tower location fromWarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!with several different microgames that run in the background, one of which features Jimmy T. Completing the tasks set by the games awards power-ups like invincibility or growth. This stage also features Ashley's Song, Mike's Theme and Mona Pizza's Song as background music. All three are featured in Japanese and English.In the game'sAdventure Mode, he is in league with the Subspace Army. Wario is once again playable inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DSandWii U, however he now appears as unlockable, instead of being available from the start as in the previous game. The 3DS version retains the WarioWare, Inc. stage fromBrawl, while the Wii U version has a stage based on theGamersub-game inGame & Wario. Ashley, another character fromWarioWare, is also included as an Assist Trophy inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, and a downloadable Mii costume inSuper Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DSandWii U.
The WarioWare series is heavily referenced in theRhythm Heavenseries. The Alien Bunnies from Orbulon's stage inMega Microgame$make an appearance inRhythm Tengoku, a game developed by the same team, and also make brief appearances in its sequel,Rhythm Heaven. A later sequel,Rhythm Heaven Megamixfeatures two unlockable challenges called "Wario...Where?" that remix several of the minigames to feature characters from theWarioWareseries.