
Say hello to the new WarioWare addition…Touched! And if ever a game's title was an indication of its overall game play, this would be it. Wario's back to make a ton of money by exploiting the poor citizens around him. He has come across a Nintendo DS and it profiting from the games his victims are making for it.
In order to prepare you for Touched, let me just say this – get ready to use that stylus A LOT! Touched featured a vastly expanded variety of mini-games you'll love to master. In fact, what I loved most about this game was how my experience was never the same. Mini-games will allow you to use the stylus in new ways you never thought possible but in addition to that, you can also use the microphone to score major cash (didn't see that one coming, did you?)
I've got to admit that Wario's always got me craving more. I get a little nostalgic when I play because I will never really let go of my 2D games…they're classics and Touched is just another fine example with a dose of added interactivity.
Touched features incredibly addictive music. Some tracks have crystal clear vocal ensembles that I'm sure will make your wow factor sing. And if that wasn't enough, your favorite characters from the past will resurface in this addition, but what even more addictive is the fact that now it's up to you to save THEIR lives! Samus from Metroid will call out your need when she's up to her neck in metroids. One of my favorite characters, Link, will also make an appearance (Isn't Link the absolute coolest character ever? Stay tuned for his new GameCube game, it's going to be hot.) Like catching fairies? You'll get a chance to in this game. How can I forget my favorite mushroom-eating plumbers? They're in there too so make sure you've acquired your skills from Plumbing 101.
Don't worry about getting bogged down with long and tedious mini-games. These games are fresh and new, and they shouldn't take long to accomplish. Might I remind you that there is a HUGE number of mini-games to experience, which makes this game a keeper. You'll be playing for months on end.
In my opinion, Touched accomplishes what it was set out to do, and that is teach gamers how to use the stylus effectively and get comfortable with it fast. In this new generation of gaming, it is crucial to get onboard the new bandwagon of interactivity and Touched does just that.
In terms of game play, I've always enjoyed games that don't drag on. This game keeps you on your toes and progresses at a fine rate. You'll never feel stagnant or lost, this game will continue to push you into new directions, allowing you to interact with new game elements you never thought you could in the past.
The music in Touched is engaging and is a perfect addition to the feeling of motion. Tempos will actually accelerate and slow down according to how much time is left on the clock, something rarely seen in a portable device until now.
Graphics-wise, Touched as well as its previous counterparts has freaky, funky and fresh graphics to set the stage for an awesome off the wall adventure.
If you're wondering about replay factor, wonder no further. This game will have you going for months and months considering how many mini-games you have to accomplish. This game is a solid purchase and is paving the future for future action-packed additions.
Game play: 8.0
Graphics: 8.0
Sound: 8.5
Longevity: 9.0
The Good: This game lasts through those long car trips, and keeps me engaged.
The Bad: My screen is suffering a beating because I'm such an addicted player.
Franco Santelli