Image: Nintendo LifeWelcome once again to Catch-up Crew, where Nintendo Life staffers assemble for a mission to explore an old classic, with veterans leading new recruits into the unknown.Last time we examined Rareware's Donkey Kong Country on the SNES. For today's mission, we're taking a look at WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, or Minigame Mania! as it was known in Europe.This winning 21-year-old GBA classic was Wario's first venture into the world of microgames and is available to play on Switch if you've got a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube784kWatch on YouTube Following the customary various promotions and demotions, this is the crew we assembled for this mission to Diamond City circa 200X:Capt. Gavin Lane - WarioWornCmdr. Alana Hagues - WarioWiseLt. Ollie Reynolds - Mi$$ed this oneEns. Jim Norman - WarioWhere?Images: Nintendo LifeGavin: Good afternoon, crew. Are we all assembled?Alana: Correct and present, sir.Jim: Presently correct, captain.Ollie: Aup!Gavin: Good. Were here a little later than expected following our mission to assist with terraforming efforts in the Rostk system, and Id like to keep todays briefing as short and sweet as possible given the micro nature of the assignment.First up, lets get some background. Ensign Norman, is this your first encounter with the WarioWare series?Jim: With the series? No, sir. I dabbled in the wonderful Wii entry, WarioWare Smooth Moves, back in the day, and I also have a particular soft spot for the DSis WarioWare: Snapped! (though, in retrospect, its not very good is it?). But this was my first encounter with where it all began.Gavin: Ah, Smooth Moves - my first brush with the series also! I first played this GBA debut during my time serving as 3DS Ambassador. Youre familiar with other entries in the series, Lt. Reynolds?Ollie: Yep! Ive dipped in and out of the WarioWare franchise, and if my memory is correct, Ive played D.I.Y. and Gold the most. I have very vague memories of the original, but I dont think I actually played it myself; perhaps I watched a friend play it during school or something. Who knows. Its a cool series, though!Gavin: And youre a seasoned veteran, Commander?Alana: Seasoned is a generous term, sir, but I played Mega Microgame$ back when it came out on GBA. I havent played any of the WarioWare titles on 3DS or Switch - its a series I sort of dropped off. But I have some fond memories of this one and Touched!, in particular.Images: Nintendo LifeGavin: Interesting, you're the only one to have played this on original hardware. Okay then, its worth beginning with constructive criticism, because I believe I speak for the crew when I say this one holds up exceptionally well. I only intended to dip in briefly via NSO to refresh my memory, but ended up playing the whole thing.So, negatives. Anyone?Ollie: Heh Honestly? Not really. Like yourself, I think it holds up very well. The ability to communicate exactly whats required from the player in literal seconds is astonishing. I also love the whole vibe of this one. It kind of reminds me of early MTV Animation shows, but its also before Wario became known for, yknow farting and stuff.Alana: Im on the same page as both of you. I actually love how gimmick-less the original is. It really is just a bunch of little minigames all bundled together with no microphone, no touchpad, no motion controls just you and two buttons and a d-pad.Jim: Gosh, I better come up with something negative to say, then. Erm the Paper Plane minigame is a bit too addictive? My hands got a little too sweaty in the final level? Ive got nothing! I was expecting to play this one over the course of a week, but ended up playing it from start to finish in a single sitting. How moreish.Images: Nintendo LifeGavin: Indeed. The simplicity of the inputs work so well. If you misunderstand an instruction due to the speed, theres almost zero confusion the next time. In terms of negatives, hmm. Compared to the others, Orbulon's observational games aren't quite my cup of Earl Grey. And the very slow upload bar when you unlock the next round of games is pointless. Thats all Ive got.Moving on, lets talk about favourite characters and specific minigames. Ive a soft spot for Jimmy T. myself.Jim: Jimmy is great, and perhaps the best-defined character in the game, but 9-Volts selection was a highlight for me. Having played the later series entries, I was wondering when all the Nintendo references were going to pop up, and there they are! I love the shameless plug for the GBA SP on completion, too.Alana: The Nintendo games are always a highlight, arent they, Ensign? Ill give a shoutout to Mona for being this kooky, energetic character. Shes also got some of those classic WarioWare games, too, like the eye drops, nose picking, fried eggs. I like it when WarioWare gets stupid. But I do hate the nail and hammer boss round.Ollie: The Nintendo games are really neat, but I have to admit that I prefer the more original, bespoke games. Theres a sense of the unknown the first time that you play them that is missing with those established Nintendo-themed ones. My favourite characters are Dribble & Spitz, purely because I love the effect of the rain on the taxis windscreen as the wipers clear it away. It looks so cool!Images: Nintendo Life Our Top 25, but what's at number WAAAAH-n?Jim: Ill give a little shoutout to those microgames that use a real image in the background. Getting the cat to sleep or the dog to shake made me laugh. Every. Single. Time.Alana: Its a very cool-looking and sounding game with a lot of different art styles, vocal songs, and colour. It really stands out on the GBA, honestly. I remember the first time I saw those animated photograph games and it reminded me of the Game Boy Camera.Gavin: Yep, the mixed-media approach to the art felt so anarchic. I love the simple narratives that thread the thing together, too. I havent played either of the Switch games, unfortunately, as the increased complexity and gimmickry tended to put me off, especially with the backlog. Has anyone here sampled the latest entries?Jim: Not me, unfortunately. Though after checking out the OG, Id be keen to now.Alana: I havent, and I dont know if I will. This is more a broader point, but I feel like once youve played a handful of WarioWare games, you know what youre getting. WarioWare knows what it is, and thats great, but I think Ive had my fill from the earlier games, and its a big jump to pay full price for something I might only play for a few hours and stop playing.Ollie: Yeah, same here. Now that Ive sampled a few of the earlier games, I have a hard time imagining playing Move It! or Get It Together! and thinking, Wow, so unique! Theyre not all the same, mind, but yknow. YKNOW. Yeah, I wont play them.Gavin: Here we are, on the flagship, and apparently only Chief OReilly has played the Switch WarioWares! Ill make a note in my log. Youre absolutely right, though - that simplicity and the purity of the concept was nailed in the very first entry. Nintendo has a habit of doing that, which is fantastic but also makes iteration tricky.Okay, lets wrap up this micromission. Any final thoughts? Particular memories?Jim: Monas backstory involves her killing a lot of people and we dont discuss that nearly enoughAlana: Shes a working woman, what can I say?Gavin: Remind me to review your Starfleet records, Hagues.Alana: *gulp*Images: Nintendo LifeGavin: And on that note, lets adjourn until next time. Speaking of which, I believe its freshly-promoted Lt. Normans turn to take command for the next mission?Jim: You would be correct. Im taking the wheel and turning us all towards a wonderful world of safari. Anyone up for a spot of Pokmon Snap? It will be a first for some of us, no?Gavin: It will. Some fresh air and snapping holos of the local wildlife on a pleasant M-class planet sounds like just what the doctor ordered. Thank you, all. Dismissed.WarioWare, Inc. Mega Microgame$ - Recruit ReportImage: Nintendo LifePromoted Officer:Lt. Cmdr. Ollie ReynoldsLt. Jim NormanBest bit:Those sweet windscreen wipersThe sleepy catWorst bit:Cutscenes are a bit lengthyErm, my sweaty palms?Would play again?Who says I'm not playing it now..?I won't rest until I beat my Paper Plane high score Fun incorporatedRANK!Catching up with the DK crewCaptain's log, stardate 202411.10. After spending some time with the most verb-filled of video games, the crew is energised and ready to go boldly on to our next assignment. With the festival of GO'TY fast approaching a time of great joy and gratitude we look forward to our continuing mission.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:21 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesRound Up: The Reviews Are In For Mario & Luigi: BrothershipHere's what the critics thoughtIt's Official, 'Switch 2' Will Be Backwards CompatibleSwitch Online will also be available on the "successor"Mario & Luigi Fans Aren't Happy About Brothership's Battle Button TweaksIt should be 'B' for the Bro, right?Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch GamesXenoblade X! Brothership! Donkey Kong Country!Plans To Announce The 'Switch 2' Have Not Changed, Says Nintendo's PresidentSo expect it before the end of March 2025 System:Game Boy AdvancePublisher:NintendoDeveloper:NintendoGenre:PuzzlePlayers:1Release Date:Game Boy Advance 26th May 2003 23rd May 2003 21st Mar 2003Wii U eShop 10th Apr 2014, $6.99 10th Apr 2014, 6.29 3rd Apr 2014, 700Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack (Subscription)8th Feb 2023Series:Wario, WarioWareAlso Known As:WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania! (Europe), Made in Wario (Japan)Where to buy:Buy on eBay