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WarioWare: Smooth Moves

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WarioWare: Smooth Moves
WarioWare: Smooth Moves box art.
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer Nintendo SPD Group No.1
Intelligent Systems
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Wii, Wii U
Release date Original release:
Japan December 2, 2006
Europe January 12, 2007
USA January 15, 2007
Australia January 25, 2007
ROC July 12, 2008
South Korea June 18, 2009
Wii (Nintendo Selects):
Europe May 20, 2011
Wii U (digital download):
USA September 15, 2016
Europe October 6, 2016
Australia October 7, 2016
Japan June 21, 2017[1]
Language(s) Deutsch
English (United States)
Español (España)
Français (France)
Italiano
한국어
日本語
Genre Puzzle
Rating(s) Original release:
ESRB:E10+ - Everyone 10+
PEGI:7 - Seven years and older
CERO:A - All ages
ACB:G - General
GRAC:All - All ages
Wii U (digital download):
ACB:PG - Parental Guidance
Mode(s) Single player, Multiplayer
Media
Wii:
Optical disc
Wii U:
Digital download
Input
Wii:

WarioWare: Smooth Moves is the fifth game in the WarioWare series, released as a launch title for the Wii initially in Japan on December 2, 2006. The game showcases and takes full advantage of the Wii Remote and its motion sensor, as microgames are played by placing the controller in numerous positions, called "Forms" in the game, which often invites the player to perform odd actions. All major characters from the previous games return, in addition to the new characters Young Cricket, Master Mantis, Penny, and Jimmy P. Alongside the microgames and some longer minigames, the game includes a multiplayer mode with several subgames. This was the first WarioWare game to receive an E10+ rating from the ESRB. The game received a successor, WarioWare: Move It!, which was released in November 2023.

Story[edit]

Image Host/Microgame Set Name Host Greeting
Wario's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Wario from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Wario
Mysterious Form Baton Found!
"BWAHAHAHA!!! Waaaario here! The other day, I found this crazy stick-thing in these old ruins. I just KNOW it's worth something! All I gotta do now is figure out how it works."
Wario's Story:
One day, while Wario is at home, eating a pile of sweets, a creature called a Splunk suddenly steals all of his food. Angered, Wario chases the Splunk to the Temple of Form and comes across the Form Baton. Wario picks the strange object up and inadvertently sets off a boulder that starts rolling after him. He narrowly escapes the rock and as he leaves the temple, he gloats about his newly-discovered treasure.
Mona's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Mona from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Mona
Cheerleading to Victory
"Ciao! I'm Mona! I'm captain of the cheerleading squad, so I know all about form AND batons! Now all I need is an awesome finishing pose!"
Mona's Story:
Mona, late for an American football game with the Diamond City Roughs against the Dinosaurs, speeds down the streets on her scooter. As she leads the cheerleading routine alongside the rest of the Monettes, one of the player for the Diamond City Roughs, Boy (who has a crush on Mona), gets momentarily distracted before returning his focus on the game. As the Monettes finish their routine, the game is down to only a few seconds. Boy receives the ball and, with the motivation of his crush on Mona, charges through the opposing players and scores a touchdown, winning the game for his team. Later, he tries to admit his attraction to Mona, but hesitates due to being too nervous and ends up accidentally confessing to another Monette while Mona rides off on her scooter.
Kat & Ana's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Kat from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Kat & Ana
Evil Attacks Diamond Dojo!
"Hiya! It's me, Kat!" "Ana's here, too!" "We're practicing our forms, 'cause serious ninjas have to know how to move fast!"
Kat & Ana's Story:
An enormous, red monster called an Elephant Ogre is shown attacking Diamond Dojo, with the Sensei looking worriedly. Kat & Ana immediately start running towards the dojo and split up. Ana enters the dojo and uses her ninjutsu to split herself into four turtles. After navigating the rooms of the dojo, Ana enters the Sensei's room to find a small, red monster called a Li'l Ogre pulling at the Sensei's hair. Meanwhile, Kat is in the middle of fighting against the Elephant Ogre when the Li'l Ogre calls out for the fighting to stop. Afterwards, the Elephant Ogre goes off with what looks like the Li'l Ogre as Kat waves them goodbye. It is soon revealed that the Li'l Ogre is with Kat and that Ana was mistakenly taken by the Elephant Ogre.
Young Cricket & Master Mantis's title card in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Young Cricket from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Young Cricket & Master Mantis
Enter Young Cricket
"Good to meet you! People call me Young Cricket. As part of my kung-fu training, Master Mantis and I travel around in search of new stances."
Young Cricket & Master Mantis' Story:
Young Cricket & Master Mantis, hungry from their travels, smell a nearby stand, run by Mona, Mona's Elephant, Mona's Monkey, Mona's Pig, Mona's Bear, Art and Deco, and Joe, selling meat dumplings, with a long line of people waiting to be served. Young Cricket quickly runs across the heads of the people to get to the front of the line. As he makes it to the front, the people behind him become annoyed due to their bruised heads. Young Cricket realizes this and walks over their heads again to get back to the end of the line, where he tells Master Mantis to get in line with him.
Jimmy T.'s title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Jimmy T. from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Jimmy T.
Feline Fever
"YO! YO! Jimmy T. in the house! I remixed all the moves you've learned so far! Get ready to get down!"
Jimmy T.'s Story:
While walking down a rainy street, Jimmy sees a cat hiding behind a trash can. Smiling, he props his umbrella above the cat so that it is protected from the weather. As Jimmy continues to walk down the street, the same cat starts to follow him before a bunch of other cats do the same. Soon enough, Jimmy starts to dance, with all of the cats acting as background dancers. They soon take their dancing to Club Sugar. After they finish dancing, all the cats walk out of the club, and as Jimmy watches them leave, the first cat taps him on the back and gives him back his umbrella.
Ashley & Red's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Ashley from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Ashley & Red
The Loquacious Spell Book
"I'm Ashley. This is Red. I know all about forms, but who needs forms when you have magic? I'll watch you do them instead."
Ashley & Red's Story:
Inside the library of Ashley's House, Ashley & Red try to figure out how to make a monster plant. After reading through a book, Red turns into a magic wand that Ashley uses to zap a potted plant. The sapling in the plant quickly grows into a normal flower. Ashley gets irritated by the failure of her experiment, but the Chatty Mr. Spell Book enters and says that he has an idea. A bit of time passes, and the Spell Book says that she's now ready. She fires the spell at a second potted plant, which very quickly grows into a monstrous plant that grows so large, it breaks through the walls and roof of the mansion. As Red cowers in fear, Ashley gives a little smile.
Dribble & Spitz's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Dribble from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Dribble & Spitz
Tomorrow Hill
"Dribble here. Good to meet ya." "Yeah, and I'm Spitz." "Our cab will take you anywhere you wanna go! So, where to today?"
Dribble & Spitz's Story:
As Dribble & Spitz wash their taxi, a young woman walks up to them and asks if she can get a ride. When they're all in the car, she says that she wants to go to Tomorrow Hill. Dribble revs up the car and takes it on the road while Spitz turns on the radio. Once they've arrived at their destination, the woman leaves the taxi and starts to walk towards the edge of the hill. Dribble & Spitz are soon stupefied when an enormous UFO flies in front of the hill and the woman transforms into an alien. As she's beamed back onto the ship, she waves goodbye to her drivers before the ship flies away. As the spaceship leaves, Spitz realizes that the woman did not pay her fare.
Penny's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Penny from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Penny
The Invent-Off
"Hi there. I'm Penny Crygor. You probably know my grandpa 'cause he's a famous inventor. I wanna be just like him, so I spend most of my time in the lab at school!"
Penny's Story:
At the Diamond Academy, Penny and her grandfather, Dr. Crygor, prepare for a competition known as the "Invent-Off" in a wrestling ring. Penny tells her uncle to watch out after initiating her competition sequence. Mike is seen cheering from Dr. Crygor's side of the ring, and an audience of what appear to be Mr. Game & Watches are cheering from outside the ring. A screen in the middle starts to display Penny's invention, a Wario-themed motorbike. After some time has passed, Penny shows off her completed invention, wowing her grandfather and causing him to admit defeat. With Penny declared the winner, she, her grandfather, and Mike all start to sing while her invention rides around.
9-Volt and 18-Volt's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves 9-Volt from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
9-Volt & 18-Volt
The Multiplayer Test
"'Sup! 9-Volt here. I'm Nintendo's #1 fan! I've got a ton of old games! Stop by and give 'em a whirl!"
9-Volt & 18-Volt's Story:
At 9-Volt's House, 9-Volt is showing off his new Game & Watch to 18-Volt. 9-Volt starts to play it, and 18-Volt gets jealous, causing him to grab one of the sides. As the two of them pull, the Game & Watch accidentally breaks in half. Angered, 9-Volt shouts at 18-Volt to get out of his house. Later, 18-Volt goes to Toy Express to look for a replacement Game & Watch, but does not find one. Across the street, he notices a shop (run by Shop Manager Iwata) that has gained some attention. Soon enough, Iwata shows off a Game & Watch, and 18-Volt reaches for it. He then notices that 9-Volt is next to him, also reaching for it, and the two soon reconcile.
Jimmy P.'s title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Jimmy P. from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Jimmy P.
Canine Crazed
"YO! YO! Jimmy P. in the house! I remixed all the moves you've learned so far! Get ready to get down! What's that? I remind you of someone? I have no idea what you're talking about."
Jimmy P.'s Story:
While walking down a sunny street, Jimmy sees a dog hiding behind a trash can. Smiling, he gives a bone to the dog, which happily barks in response. As Jimmy continues to walk down the street, the same dog starts to follow him before a bunch of other dogs do the same. Soon enough, Jimmy starts to dance, with all of the dogs acting as background dancers. They soon take their dancing to Club Spice. After they finish dancing, all the dogs walk out of the club, and as Jimmy watches them leave, Jimmy T. taps him on the back and gives him an odd look.
Tiny Wario's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Tiny Wario from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Tiny Wario
Forever Form Baton
"BWAHAHAHA! I'm Wa- - Hey?! What's that over there?! STRAWBERRIES?! My favorite! They're mine! Mine mine MINE!"
Tiny Wario's Story:
Wario is at his house when he gets a package in the mail. Inside the package is the pink bike that Penny made at the Invent-Off. Wario gleefully takes it out for a ride, despite him being much too large for it, but he suddenly starts shrinking before eventually getting sucked into the bike. Out of its exhaust pipe, the bike shoots out a bunch of Tiny Warios. The Tiny Warios start to roam around before they notice a field of strawberries, and they soon swarm it. After a while, they all jump into one pile and become the standard Wario. However, he is soon chased by the Splunks, who want their Form Baton back. Wario is eventually chased into the Temple of Form but ends up tripping, dropping the Form Baton, and inadvertently placing it back where it belongs. A Splunk thanks him for giving it back.
Orbulon's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Orbulon from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Orbulon
The Secret of the Balance Stone
"Greetings, earthling. I am Orbulon. My stage requires that you connect the Balance Stone to the Form Baton. I will show you a mysterious form I learned on a remote planet. It's called The Diner!"
Orbulon's Story:
Orbulon is flying his Oinker in Outer Space when a Balance Stone suddenly comes rocketing at him, hitting his ship and causing him to crash into the Temple of Form. Inside the temple, he is flung out of his ship and lands right in front of the Balance Stone and the Form Baton. When he picks up both of the objects, the temple suddenly emerges from the ground and starts floating. Orbulon panics but notices some writing on the wall that explains how to use the Form Baton and Balance Stone. Afterwards, he takes control of the temple and brings it to space. Once in space, he claims it for himself, but the Splunks, still inside the temple, tell him to give it back, and as they fight Orbulon, the temple crashes back on the ground. Orbulon and his Oinker are soon jettisoned back into space.

Gameplay[edit]

As with previous WarioWare titles, Smooth Moves is structured around completing short, simple tasks (dubbed "microgames"), which increase in speed and difficulty as the player progresses. The various microgames are divided into sets hosted by a WarioWare character. Unlike previous WarioWare games, most of the character sets do not have a clear differentiation in theme or control method, apart from ways to hold the Wii Remote (dubbed "forms") being progressively introduced.

Most microgames solely use motion controls, though an handful of games require pressing A Button and one set uses the Wii Remote + Nunchuk combo. Before each microgame, a "form card" appears briefly to show the player how to hold the Wii Remote.

Between each set, the player can select a map icon named "Temple of Form" to practice unlocked microgames, which are grouped by both microgame sets and forms. Unlike previous WarioWare games, the player cannot set scores for individual microgames as the session automatically ends after going through each difficulty level.

Wii Remote Forms[edit]

Main article: Form Baton

In the game, the microgames use different variations of holding the Wii Remote, called Forms. These positions are the following:

Image Form In-game text Position
Description Form explanation
The Remote Control.png The Remote Control This is the most basic and popular of all the forms. Hold the Form Baton straight with the tip pointing forward.
This simple stance reflects one of life's fiercest--and greatest--sports: channel surfing.
The Wii Remote is held with the dominant hand facing the screen, with the thumb resting on the A Button.
The Umbrella.png The Umbrella After the Remote Control, this is the second-most-popular form. Hold the Form Baton vertically, thumb resting lightly on the button.
Through this stance, you channel the quiet dignity of a circus clown in the midst of a thunderstorm.
The Wii Remote is held by the dominant hand vertically, thumb resting on the A Button.
The Handlebar.png The Handlebar This is the most balanced form. Most Handlebar games require quick movements. Turn the Form Baton sideways and grasp the ends firmly in both hands.
Like riding a bicycle, perfecting this stance requires grace, steadiness, and tight shorts.
The Wii Remote is held horizontally from above with both hands, buttons facing up.
The Sketch Artist.png The Sketch Artist This form is best suited for movements requiring precision. Use your dominant hand to perform this form. Hold the Form Baton as you would a pencil during a pop quiz, delicately but defiantly.
Mastery of this move can change a pop quizzee into a pop quizzer.
The Wii Remote is held with the thumb and index finger by the middle.
The Chauffeur.png The Chauffeur This form is best suited for gyrating movements. Turn the Form Baton sideways and wrap your hands around both ends.
As the Form Baton turns, so too do the earth and all upon it, from liver to liverymen.
The Wii Remote is held by both ends horizontally, buttons facing the player.
The Samurai.png The Samurai You can feel the spirit of the samurai in this form. It's said that your breathing affects the outcome. With your right/left hand, hold the Form Baton close to your left/right hip.
Like a hungry samurai defending his lunch, close your eyes and await your enemy's attack.
The Wii Remote is held by both hands to one side of the body, to be moved by the dominant hand.
The Tug-of-War.png The Tug-of-War This form has been taught from generation to generation. Lately, the tend has been to bring the hands closer together. With the Form Baton pointing forward, hold it firmly with both hands just above the navel.
This stance calls to mind the epic struggle between heads and tails.
The Wii Remote is held by both hands, with the top facing the screen.
The Waiter.png The Waiter It's very easy to drop the Form Baton when performing this form, so be careful. Place the Form Baton in your palm, tip forward and buttons facing up.
See yourself serving a group of socialites. Such grace, they cry! Such style! Such hors d'oeuvres!
The Wii Remote rests in the dominant hand, face-up.
The Elephant.png The Elephant This form will make your nose look longer, but the point is to make it look appealing. Point the Form Baton forward with the end lightly touching your nose.
Just as the mighty elephant uses its trunk to gorge on peanuts, so too will your new nose sustain you.
The Wii Remote is held in both hands up to the nose.
The Thumb Wrestler.png The Thumb Wrestler This relatively new form is actually an evolved version of the Umbrella. Is it just me, or does the evolution seem like a minor one? Hold the Form Baton vertically and rest your thumb on the top of it.
The noblest of athletes, the thumb wrestler endures years of training before mastering this pose.
The Wii Remote is held in the dominant hand near the top, thumb resting over the sensor.
The Discard.png The Discard It's helpful to have a flat surface nearby when playing these games. Place the Form Baton facedown on a stable surface like an unwanted, but still treasured, playing card.
Do not touch the Form Baton again until the proper time.
The Wii Remote is placed face-down, only to be picked up when suggested by the game.
The Big Cheese.png The Big Cheese Show-offs are quick to learn this form. However, that does not mean they do it well. With the Form Baton at your hip, force your chest and hips forward.
This stance honors the CEO, unsung hero standing proud on the backs of his employees.
The hands are held at the hips, with the Wii Remote in the dominant hand.
The Janitor.png The Janitor This form is as hardworkng and effective as its name implies. Little-known fact: the Janitor is just the Tug-of-War turned upright. Hold the Form Baton with both hands, as you would a mop.
The left/right hand represents order, the right/left, filth. The Form Baton is the bridge between the two.
The Wii Remote is held vertically with both hands.
The Dumbbell.png The Dumbbell This is an easy way to hold the Form Baton, and it provides a satisfying weight in your palm. Turn the Form Baton sideways and clutch it from below in your right/left hand.
True masters exhibit a firm grip and an exaggerated grimace.
The Wii Remote is held horizontally from underneath in the dominant hand, buttons facing up.
The Mohawk The Mohawk Games that use this form require whole-body movement. It might be a bit of a challenge for players who have not exercised in a while. Point the tip of the Form Baton forward and hold it atop your head.
Letting the Form Baton fall is like letting a mohawk droop: shameful and forbidden.
The Wii Remote is held with both hands, atop the head.
The Finger Food.png The Finger Food This form requires fingertip strength and control. It's best suited for relatively uncomplicated games. Holding the back end delicately between two fingers, point the Form Baton forward.
The regal french fry remains one of nature's greatest muses.
The Wii Remote is held from the base by the thumb and index finger of the dominant hand.
The Boxer.png The Boxer Compared to the other forms, this is the most relaxed way of holding the Form Baton. Turn the Form Baton sideways and hold it firmly from above in your right/left hand.
Let the spirit of the noble sucker punch guide you to victory.
The Wii Remote is held horizontally from above in the dominant hand, buttons facing up.
The Mortar and Pestle.png The Mortar and Pestle This form is interesting because it places much responsibility on the non-dominant hand, the left/right hand. Hold the Form Baton vertically in your right/left hand and cup it gently in the palm of your left/right
To crush is also to create, and from squashing comes spice.
The Wii Remote is held with the dominant hand, with the base resting in the non-dominant hand
The Diner.png The Diner (A) You need the Balance Stone for this form. There are actually three versions of the Diner. Hold the Balance Stone in your left/right hand and the Form Baton in your right/left.
Stay vigilant. The battle for seconds is always sudden and fierce.
The Wii Remote and Nunchuk are held with the tops facing up.
The Diner (B) The Wii Remote and Nunchuk are held with the tops facing the screen.
The Diner (C) The Wii Remote and Nunchuk are held with the tops facing each other.

Microgames[edit]

Main article: List of WarioWare: Smooth Moves microgames

The game features 205 microgames in total, all of which have three difficulty levels and various speed settings. The microgames are divided by characters, which host a varying number of microgames each. One game, Bungii!, can appear in two specific sets and only appears after a specific microgame in those stages.

Microgame sets[edit]

In addition to the stages played during the storyline, there is a handful of microgame mixes with special characteristics. None of these sets feature games from Orbulon's set.

Image Name Japanese name Description
Dr. Crygor and Mike's title page in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Dr. Crygor from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Kelorometer
やせる!?ダイエットマシーン
Yaseru!? Daietto Mashīn
(Lose Weight?! Diet Machine)
Hosted by Dr. Crygor and Mike, this set features a random assortment of microgames featuring a higher-than-average amount of physical movement. After playing 20 microgames, the player is graded on how many "kelories" they have lost.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves's All Mixed Up Mode All Mixed Up Elephant from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
All Mixed Up
ごちゃまぜ
Gochamaze
(Jumbled Together)
Represented by a blue elephant building, this mix features almost every microgame played at increasing speed and difficulty. Level-ups occur after 20 and 40 microgames with the boss stage occurring every 100 games.[2] Finishing with a high score of 30 points or more unlocks the Super Hard set.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves's Super Hard mode Super Hard Elephant from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Super Hard
げきむず
Gekimuzu
(Extremely Difficult)
Represented by a red elephant building, this set is played at the highest speed setting from the start with all the microgames at their lowest difficulty level. Finishing with a high score of 20 points or more unlocks the Sudden Death set.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves's Sudden Death mode Sudden Death Elephant from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Sudden Death
スリリング
Suriringu
(Thrilling)
Represented by a yellow elephant building, this set gives the player one life and has every microgame starting at the highest difficulty level. Finishing with a high score of 10 points or more unlocks the Thrilling set.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves's Thrilling mode Thrilling Elephant from the main menu of WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
Thrilling
ぬきうち
Nukiuchi
(Unexpected)
Represented by a green elephant building, this set does not show Form cards before playing each microgame. Finishing with a high score of 20 points or more unlocks the Sound Studio.

Minigames[edit]

In addition to microgames, there are minigames which can be unlocked by completing a certain stage in story mode. These minigames are extended versions of existing microgames (excluding Pyoro S).

Minigame Description
Tower Tennis title screen. The player controls a disembodied hand holding a ping-pong paddle which is used to bounce a ball. The screen scrolls vertically and the player has to use the ball to destroy or avoid blocks barring the way. The game is lost if the ball falls off-screen.
Title screen of the Block Star minigame from WarioWare: Smooth Moves. An extended version of the boss microgame Block Party, the player maneuvers a platform on the bottom side of the screen to catch falling shapes and hold the complete structure for three seconds without having any of its components falling off-screen. The game features 50 levels divided into 5 sets of 10, whose individual stages can be completed in any order before moving on to the next set.
The title screen of Can Shooter. A shooting gallery-style game, the player has to shoot cans and other objects while destroying enemy projectiles and making sure to stay within the time limit. Floating power-ups cans periodically appear and can be destroyed to extend the timer, slow down time or upgrade the crosshair.
Title screen of Balloon Trip. A 3D version of Balloon Fight's Balloon Trip mode, the player controls the Balloon Fighter by flapping the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The goal of the game is to collect balloons while avoiding floating sparks, enemy balloon fighters and fish jumping out of the water.
Title screen of Tortoise & Hare from WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Also played using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo, the player has to maneuver the two controllers following on-screen prompts.
Pyoro, as he appears on Pyoro S. A vertical shoot-'em-up-like game where the player controls Pyoro. Pyoro attacks enemies by sticking out his beak. Gulping an entire formation of enemies gives a point bonus and make apples appear, which have different effects depending on their color. The minigame is unlocked after unlocking every microgame.

Multiplayer[edit]

Alongside the single-player minigames are a set of games meant specifically for multiplayer. These games are unlocked naturally as the game progresses. Some of them are based around playing sets of microgames (besides boss microgames and Orbulon's microgames), while others are separate minigames. Players compete in these minigames as Miis.

Image Name Description
WarioWare: Smooth Moves's Lifeline minigame Lifeline Players compete for points by trying to win microgames. Winning the microgame gains points (dependent on how much the microgame was worth) while losing it gains nothing. After a handful of rounds, the players are tied up and suspended over a lake of crocodiles. The players take turns cutting ropes, and the last man standing wins.
Survival from WarioWare: Smooth Moves Survival The players are angels flying above the clouds. Each player plays one microgame. If they win, they continue to survive, but if they lose, they start to fall and are eliminated. After every player has played once, the difficulty and speed increase. The last person remaining wins.
The Balloon minigame in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Balloon At the beginning of the round, the first player gets a chance to fill a balloon with air. Afterwards, they play a microgame, while the other players fill it with air. If they win, someone else goes to fill the balloon, and if they lose, they play another microgame. If the balloon pops, that player loses and the others win.
Screenshot of Bomb, a multiplayer minigame in WarioWare: Smooth Moves. Bomb A player is randomly chosen to play a microgame. If they win, they choose another player and what form their microgame will use. Repeating a certain form will increase its difficulty. If a player loses a microgame or if they take too long to choose someone, they lose and the other players win.
Bungee Buddies in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Bungee Buddies Two players use a connecting Wii Remote and Nunchuk to progress through a path. Along the way are various pits and other obstacles, which they need to avoid by physically jumping. In the end, their total distance and their compatibility are shown.
Star Nose in WarioWare: Smooth Moves Star Nose Two players pilot a nose-shaped spaceship using a connecting Wii Remote and Nunchuk. They gain speed by eating food scattered along the way. Whoever eats three food first or does not crash wins, at which point they place themselves on the nose of a couple.
Darts' title screen from WarioWare: Smooth Moves Darts Up to four players compete in a game of darts; each player takes turns throwing darts at a board, each section of the board corresponding to different point values, to reach exactly 301 points. Whoever gets there first wins.

Regional differences[edit]

Similarly to previous installments in the series, the localization of WarioWare: Smooth Moves includes not only text adaptation, but graphical and sound changes as well, which are listed below.

Forms[edit]

The "Prince Shōtoku" form in the Japanese version of Smooth Moves and its international equivalent, named "The Janitor" in English.
The "Prince Shōtoku" form in the Japanese version of Smooth Moves and its international equivalent, named "The Janitor" in English.
The "Prince Shōtoku" form in the Japanese version of Smooth Moves and its international equivalent, named "The Janitor" in English.
  • Of the 19 forms featured in the game, 13 were adapted for the international versions. The Japanese names for the forms, derived from that nation's culture and history, were replaced with names more easily recognized in the West and internationally. Consequently, the artwork used for each respective form explanation was either edited or completely redrawn. The complete list can be found here.
  • The form explanation music uses Japanese instruments in the original game. The localization exchanges it for a different track, which uses piano and digital sounds instead. The form explanation music in the Korean release uses Korean instruments.
  • Each language features its own voice actor for the form explanations and slight variations in style. According to series developer Goro Abe, the Japanese version was intended to emulate "Japanese language courses that are broadcast on TV abroad", with a English-speaking Canadian developer providing the voiceover.[3]

Microgames[edit]

  • In the Japanese and Korean versions, the narrator announces the form to be used before each microgame along with the visual card. The American and European versions drop the aural cue entirely.
  • In the Japanese and Korean versions, the microgame speed-increase prompt says "Speed Up!", while in the English version, it says "Faster!", similar to WarioWare: Twisted!
  • In the first level of Stir Crazy, the Japanese version has the player grinding rice for soba. This was changed to grinding herbs for spaghetti in the localized versions.
  • In the second level of Extreme Patty-Cake, the volcano is replaced by a big flower.
  • In the international versions of Biggest Fan, the image of the fan was changed from the Japanese kanji 祭 (festival) to an image of a bird.
  • In Produce Stand-Off, the international versions changed the color of the suit the enemy wears for all three levels. In addition, the Korean version changes the weapon that the player and enemy wield from swords to wooden sticks.
  • The Korean version of Cold Call changes the people who pick up the phone from Japanese medieval nobles to Korean medieval nobles.
  • Level 2 of Teeth Polithe ends with the old woman biting a corn cob, which in the Japanese original is a senbei. The background and her clothes are also traditionally Japanese in the original, while the localization sets the game at a beach and dresses the woman in a pink jacket and visor.
  • In the Japanese version of Saving Face, the woman wears a red dress. Other versions have her wearing a turtleneck sweater and jeans instead.
  • In most international versions of Bell Captain the player hits the bell with a mallet, which replaces the suspended wooden beam from the Japanese game. The Korean version keeps the beam but changes the background to a red Buddhist temple in front of the night sky.
  • In the first level of the Japanese version of When in Rome…, the hands wield lightsabers. These were replaced with candy canes for international releases.
  • Super Nostalgic Entertainment System features a Famicom and Famicom games (Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, Tennis and Devil World) in the Japanese and Korean versions, which were changed to a SNES and SNES games (Super Mario World, Mario Paint, Wario's Woods, Pilotwings, and Super Metroid) in other versions.
  • The Korean version has a unique design for Three's a Crowd. Replacing the traditional Japanese setting for a jungle, the microgame involves a regular Wario whacking a monkey (originally a ninja) before it steals his pile of bananas (originally a woman).
  • The first opponent of Boom Box originally wears a turban and sports a mustache and a goatee, while in the international games he wears an afro with a bird's head popping out and no facial hair. The third opponent wears this same afro in the Japanese version and has pinkish lips, while other versions make him bald and his lips darker to closely match his skin tone.

Other[edit]

  • The music played on the title screen is different in the Japanese version of the game, which uses the Temple of Form theme. In other editions of the game, the title music is a cover version of the title theme from WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
  • With the release of the Korean version of Smooth Moves, all of the artwork of the Wii Remote (Form Baton) includes a Wii Remote Jacket.[4] All other versions of the game use artwork of Wii Remotes without it. This difference only applies to the manual, websites, and advertisements.[5]
  • The note attached to the package Wario got in Tiny Wario's opening cutscene says "From Penny". The "From" part of it is removed in the European version, most likely to accommodate for the fact that the game was released in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish there.
  • In the opening and closing cutscenes from Kat and Ana's sequence, the man has a long gray beard in the Korean versions and a samurai ponytail in other versions.
  • In Ashley's opening cinematic, Red blows a bubble out of his nose while sleeping in the Japanese and Korean versions.
  • In 9-Volt's opening cinematic, the Japanese version has a Famicom while international versions have an NES. Additionally, the phrase that appears with 9-Volt saying the first part and 18-Volt saying the other part is "Love Game" in the Japanese version and "Game Boys" in international versions.

Development[edit]

The idea for a WarioWare game on the Wii came shortly after WarioWare: Smooth Moves's director, Goro Abe, and producer, Yoshio Sakamoto, first saw the Wii's controller.[3][6] The game's development started with around twenty people, with others coming and going, but the number remained relatively consistent.[7] From the start, multiplayer was a big aspect in the development of the game, and the idea was that one person would play the game while the others around them enjoyed the comical positions.[6][7] While teams working on other projects were worrying about how to fully utilize the Wii controller, Abe and Sakamoto had great optimism for the system, saying that "If you’ve got one of these Remotes, you can pretty much do anything".[3]

The various positions came into play when the development team realized that restricting the Wii controller's to one way limited the amount of entertainment, which led to the discussion of which positions would and would not work.[6] Microgames were decided mostly by the developers writing down ideas, sending them to Abe, and having him pick out the ones he liked, after which they began to design the ones that were picked.[6] The developers and designers were often asked to create a unique design for the microgames, giving the desired effect of having a wacky environment.[6] Feedback about the previous WarioWare games and suggestions for improving them were looked into but were disregarded if they did not fit with their idea.[6]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

WarioWare: Smooth Moves received generally favorable reviews, holding a score of 83 on Metacritic[8] and a score of 82 on GameRankings.[9] Many critics complimented the game on its controls and its multiplayer,[10] though it was criticized for its short length.[11] It received a score of 34/40 from Famitsu (around 85%),[12] while the Official Nintendo Magazine gave it a 92%, commenting that Wario should "take his place alongside Mario and Link as a true Nintendo great".[13] Eurogamer gave the game a 70%, complimenting the game's "beautiful" use of the controls and "superb" humor, but criticizing that it is "short on long-term appeal" because it does not "dare to test players".[14]

Reviews
Release Reviewer, Publication Score Comment
Wii Jeff Gerstmann, GameSpot 9.1/10 "The WarioWare series has never come at a more perfect time. With the Wii just getting established, a game that shows off the range of motions you can accomplish with the Wii Remote is a perfect companion. But it's more than just a demonstration of the Wii's technology; it's also a terrifically charming, funny, and nefariously addictive game that you can play alone. But it gets even better when you have a crowd on hand to witness the weirdness with you."
Wii Gerald Villoria, Gamespy 4.5/5 "I had a great time with Wario Ware[sic]: Smooth Moves, and you'll get a lot of value out of the game if you're the type that hosts parties or if you have a group of friends or family already that are enjoying games like Wii Sports or Rayman: Raving Rabbids together. There are some nice surprises in the package which I've tried to avoid spoiling, some particularly entertaining boss fights, and best of all, an excellent collection of games that can be played for longer than just a few seconds. If you've played previous Wario Ware games, then feel confident that while this may not be the best or most original entry in the series, it's still quite good. If you're new to micro-gaming, then be bold, take that first step, and don't look back. Hurry up, because it's my turn next."
Wii Kristan Reed, Eurogamer 7/10 "There's no question that Smooth Moves is a wonderful addition to the Wii at a time of the year when hardly anything else is being released, but we can't deny that we were expecting much more from Nintendo. The way the game utilises the controller is beautiful and - as ever - the humour superb, yet it's a game short on long-term appeal because it never really dares to test players. Much like Touched!, its focus appears to be more of a snappy technology demonstration than of providing a lasting challenge, and it's puzzling why Nintendo and Intelligent Systems couldn't have delivered on both counts. The multiplayer mode certainly extends its lifespan a little, but, again, it's a story of massive untapped potential. Let's hope that now the introductions are out of the way, Nintendo can beef up the content for the inevitable release of the next WarioWare."
Aggregators
Compiler Platform / Score
Metacritic 83
GameRankings 81.82%

Sales[edit]

For its US launch, WarioWare: Smooth Moves was the best-selling Wii game of January 2007 and the fourth best-selling game of the month according to NPD data.[15] Smooth Moves debuted in Japan with around 63,000 units sold. By 2014, the game had sold around 658,000 units in the region according to Famitsu sales data.[16] In the UK, the game debuted at the No. 2 spot, behind Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions.[17] In Europe, the game was re-released as part of the Nintendo Selects range, budget rereleases of commercially successful titles.

By the end of the first quarter of 2007, Smooth Moves had sold 1.82 million units worldwide.[18]

Awards[edit]

It won IGN's Best Action Game award at its Wii Best of E3 2006 Awards[19] and was later named the site's Game of the Month for January 2007.[20] It has also received an award in the Trend and Lifestyle category at the 2007 Nuremberg International Toy Fair.[21]

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:WarioWare: Smooth Moves.

Media[edit]

For a list of in-game music, see Sound Studio.
Audio.svg Disc Channel - Music that plays on the Disc Channel
File infoMedia:WarioWare Smooth Moves Banner.mp3
Audio.svg Ashley voice clip - "Hocus pocus."
File infoMedia:HocusPocus WWSMAshley.oga
Audio.svg Tomorrow Hill - Background music for Dribble & Spitz's stage (English version)
File infoMedia:TomorrowHillE.oga
Audio.svg Tomorrow Hill - Background music for Dribble & Spitz's stage (Japanese version)
File infoMedia:TomorrowHillJ.oga
Audio.svg Falling Off Tomorrow Hill - Background music for Dribble & Spitz's stage (failing English version)
File infoMedia:FallingOffTomorrowHill.oga
Audio.svg Tower Tennis - Background music for Tower Tennis
File infoMedia:TowerTennistheme.oga
Audio.svg Balloon Trip Remix - Background music for Balloon Trip
File infoMedia:WWSM BalloonTripRemix.oga
Help:MediaHaving trouble playing?

Quotes[edit]

Main article: List of WarioWare: Smooth Moves quotes
  • "BWAHAHAHA!!! Waaaaario here! The other day, I found this crazy stick-thing in those old ruins. I just KNOW it's worth something! All I gotta do now is figure out how it works."
  • "Letting the Form Baton fall is like letting a mohawk droop: shameful and forbidden."
  • "This stance honors the CEO, unsung hero standing proud on the backs of his employees."
  • "Like riding a bicycle, perfecting this stance requires grace, steadiness, and tight shorts."
  • "Remember, cans are your mortal enemies!"

Pre-release and unused content[edit]

Main article: List of WarioWare: Smooth Moves pre-release and unused content

The E3 2006 demo did not feature the Elephant form and some of the microgames featured different graphics and instructions. The "Big Cheese" form was originally named "The Big Kahuna".[22]

Staff[edit]

Main article: List of WarioWare: Smooth Moves staff

The game was a coproduction between Intelligent System and Nintendo SPD Group No.1. Goro Abe is the director and Yoshio Sakamoto is the producer, as with most WarioWare games. The game was Yoichi Kotabe's last credited work as a full-time employee of Nintendo before he departed from the company.

During the credits, each member of the development team is represented by a Mii avatar. The player can place a hole under each Mii as they take a bow, the amount they trap is recorded and kept as a high score.

References to other games[edit]

References in later games[edit]

  • WarioWare: D.I.Y.: During the break scene in Ashley's stage, she can wear a mask which looks identical to the skull on Chatty Mr. Spell Book.
  • Game & Wario: A Call Code features a group of people playing the game while talking to the player via telephone.
  • WarioWare Gold: Music from Smooth Moves reappears as souvenirs. In Mona's character trailer, the Smooth Moves version of her is shown as a cameo.
  • WarioWare: Get It Together!: Mona's cheerleader baton and a football appear in her room during the intro of her story. The man from Wet Your Whistle and Boom Box appears in Blended? Splendid! When the "Boss Stage" text appears in Jimmy T's stage, the five figures in the background do a dance from Wario Dance Company.
  • WarioWare: Move It!: This game is a successor to WarioWare: Smooth Moves, with the Japanese name of WarioWare: Move It! (Chō Odoru Meido in Wario, "Super Dancing Made in Wario") being based on the Japanese name of WarioWare: Smooth Moves (Odoru Meido in Wario, "Dancing Made in Wario"). The microgames in WarioWare: Move It! are again controlled with motion controls; in particular, the simultaneous usage of one controller in each hand is similar to the microgames in Orbulon's stage in WarioWare: Smooth Moves.

Names in other languages[edit]

Language Name Meaning
Japanese おどるメイド イン ワリオ
Odoru Meido in Wario
Dancing Made in Wario

Chinese 舞動壞莉歐工作室[23]
Wǔdòng Huàilìōu Gōngzuòshì
Dancing Wario Studio

Korean 춤춰라 메이드 인 와리오
Chumchwora Meideu In Wario
Dancing Made In Wario

Trivia[edit]

  • The instruction guide is presented as a newspaper called "The Weekly Wario", and explains several elements of gameplay under the guise of random "stories", though it only has one issue because Wario was too lazy to write a second one. On page 18 of the instruction booklet for the game, Wario says the next issue will be out "whenever he feels like it".
  • On the Nintendo Channel, one video incorrectly named the game as WarioWare: Smooth Grooves.[24]
  • The instruction booklet released in North America has a mistake on page 22. The bottom of the page is written in English while the section of the instruction booklet is supposed to be in French.
  • It is revealed that Wario is wearing a white pair of underpants with blue polka-dots if the player clicks the Wario icon and waits for a few seconds.
  • This is the first WarioWare game to give Wario unique voice clips instead of recycled ones.

References[edit]

External links[edit]