Shake 'n Ache

by: Tommy Skaggs

Nintendo goes back to basics with their newest title, Wario Land: Shake It!

(note from Jim: I played this game, too. I hated it. I found it to be boring, derivative and redundant. For me, it feels uninspired. So I handed it off to Tommy Skaggs for a second opinion.)

Holding the Wii Remote sideways in this 2D side-scroller makes the game feel like many other games in the past (any Mario title on the NES, for example). This formula has been repeated over and over by hundreds of games. But, surprisingly enough, Shake It! shines through and creates a pretty fun game.

Now, get me straight… this game isn’t breaking new ground. Running and jumping are the standard buttons. There’s a handful of “motion activated” controls that are totally annoying (shaking to get coins out of a sack), while others seem almost natural (tilting the controller left or right to aim when throwing). [Side note: Speaking of the “motion activated” controls, does anyone else feel that there are too many games for the Wii that include really “tacked-on” or “cheesy” motions, just because the developers CAN include them?]

The goal of each level is to jump and run through obstacles, obtain riches, and find a container with a trapped animal. After releasing the animal, a timer starts counting down, and you must race back to the start before it hits zero.

Difficulty-wise, the game was always challenging but never difficult. The hard part comes in when you want to complete a level 100%. There are tons of places to explore, and the time limit only becomes an issue after releasing the animal. So, this game gives the explorer-type players plenty of wiggle room to wander around and test everything.

Graphically? Very smooth. Once again… nothing overly stunning, but the anime-esque style gives the game a certain vibe, and a unique feel. According to Wikipedia, “This is the first game in the series to feature hand-drawn graphics rather than pixelated sprites.”

After a while, the game becomes repetitive. Each level introduces new obstacles, but I caught myself saying “I’ve done THIS already.” To mix it up, the game has a few underwater levels where the player operates a Wario-submarine. I guess these levels were thrown in later to break up the similar game play from level to level. But, controlling the submarine is pretty awkward, and not that fun.

Overall this game was pretty enjoyable, but not the greatest. The replay value is pretty low, so it might be worth the wait to find it in a Used bin at a local video game store. If you are tired of saving the princess, and want to score some personal wealth…this game is for you.

3 1/4 Shortrounds out of 5