Collection essentials #543: WarioWare: Twisted!

The first WarioWare introduced an original and very fun concept for a game, so it’s no surprise that Nintendo soon got to work on making sequels. The next two games, in fact, were developed side-by-side and released in close proximity to each other. Oddly, WarioWare: Twisted! is the second mainline WarioWare game to hit shelves…but that’s if you’re going off of Japanese release dates, because in America it’s actually the third one game that we got. Confusing!

Nintendo and Intelligent Systems weren’t just going to make the exact same game with a new slate of microgames, even though they probably could have and fans would have been happy. You might notice from the photo that this game has an unusual cartridge. That’s because WarioWare: Twisted! has gyro controls! Meaning, you can control it by physically tilting the system left or right. The entire game is built around this feature, and most microgames utilize it in some way. 

The game’s story is that Wario is playing his Game Boy Advance loafing around on his couch like normal, when the system breaks on him. He takes it to his friend Dr. Crygor the inventor, and instead of repairing it back to normal, the doc throws it into a machine that transforms it into something different with gyro controls, and makes a bunch of copies as well. Some other friends promptly enter the room and are quickly fascinated by the new device. Rather than get mad, Wario sees this as a new money-making opportunity!

Gyro controls aren’t simply a silly little gimmick shoved into where normal d-pad controls ought to have been used like normal. The developers got really creative and utilized them very effectively. You’ll find yourself smiling at all the amusing things you’ll be turning your GBA to do. I don’t want to spoil any of it in case you ever get to try the game for yourself!

Another thing about Twisted! is that they REALLY upped the amount of bonus content and features from the first game. There is a huge slew of unlockables to be found, including a bunch of little bonus games (I think my favorite is “Micro Golf”) and lots of amusing little frivolous souvenirs. It’s a great touch for this wonderful package.

Having loved the original WarioWare, I got Twisted! when it first came out, and even saved the box and manual, the very ones shown in the photo. It lived up to the hype and then some. Honestly, if I had to vote on the best GBA title, I think I’d go with this one. It’s pretty much perfect at being what it wants to be, and delivers a unique and fun experience with a lot of lasting appeal. 

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the game using technology built into the cartridge, accessibility is an issue in modern times. The game has never been ported to any other system, and can’t easily be played on an emulator like most games, so you really need to have the original GBA cartridge and a handheld system that can play it. On top of that, in an odd twist of fate, this game was never released in Europe, so European gamers will have to import it (though GBA cartridges have no region protection, at least). Perhaps because of these factors, and being released late in the GBA’s lifespan, Twisted! commands a fairly steep price on the secondhand market nowadays. But, honestly, if you try out the other WarioWare titles and enjoy them, I think it’s worth the investment to get your hands in Twisted!, because it truly is worth it. It’s one of the most quintessential essentials in my collection!