Previews

Hands on with WarioWare - Do It Yourself for DSi

Honed improvements

Hands on with WarioWare - Do It Yourself for DSi
|
DSi
| WarioWare D.I.Y.

WarioWare – Do It Yourself is the latest entry into Nintendo’s successful and surreal microgame series that focuses on user created content and sharing.

I spent some time with the game at Nintendo’s London Summit and can report that it looks like it could be the best in the acclaimed series.

As with the previous DS WarioWare title, DIY is based around very short and simple games that usually involve prodding or swiping the stylus across the screen.

The games themselves are often surreal and unhinged, with the off-the-wall humour permeating every seam of the presentation.

It’s difficult to not raise a smile at the quick-fire games when they involve moving a finger to pick a nose or avoid cacti to crush a can with a Monty Python-esque foot.

However while 10 second games are great when you first play them, they very rarely have enough depth to stump the player a second time around and this lack of replayability has been an issue for WarioWare titles since the GBA original.

This should no longer be the case though, as DIY comes with a very extensive and complete level editor that allows users to make their own microgames or comics and share them with others.

Homebrewed

The level editor is introduced through a lengthy and amusing tutorial that starts by explaining the very basics of level design (background, actors, script, AI etc) before progressing through to creating your own games from scratch.

The layout is very slick, with everything from how an object should react to how the level should start easily understandable, and I was quickly able to get a basic level up and running within minutes.

If you’re rubbish at art like me, there are a whole range of preset brushes and images that can be stamped on screen to speed up creation.

Alternatively, there are also pre-made microgames that Wario has forgotten to finish, and require short artistic tasks like colouring in a character or creating the background to tackle.

The level of customisation for the visual side is matched by the audio. There's a massive range of instruments to pick from, from classical orchestral to synth and human noises, and these instruments can be notated onto a five track sequencer with one track reserved for the rhythm section.

Again, DIY doesn’t force you into doing everything if you don’t want to. As with the stamps and premade levels, there is a 'conductor' on hand at all times that you can turn to who will suggest a tune that you can then mess around with to your heart's content.

Shareware

Once you’ve finished creating your masterpiece, you can take the level to the wider world using the Distribution Centre, which allows other DIY users to play and rate your efforts via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, as well as the ability to transfer created levels over to the WiiWare version of the title.

Although I’m not usually that interested in creating my own levels in games, the way that DIY treats the user and allows those of varying interests and skill levels to get involved was very impressive and has the potential to create a very active community.

WarioWare – Do It Yourself will be released for DS and DSi in shops across Europe on April 30th.
Will Wilson
Will Wilson
Will's obsession with gaming started off with sketching Laser Squad levels on pads of paper, but recently grew into violently shouting "Tango Down!" at random strangers on the street. He now directs that positive energy into his writing (due in no small part to a binding court order).