Nintendo Wii

Pros - Beautifully animated, and stylized world. Sticks by the “simple, but effective” means of implementing motion controls. A very catchy, and diverse soundtrack.

Cons - One of the shortest fully priced video games I've ever played. Has an identity crisis with the overall gameplay. This beautiful world isn't made available in 16:9.

I'll be honest and say that I've never been a huge Wario, or Waluigi fan. I think it's only a matter before there's a ‘Wal' Peach character, and WalYoshi. But we aren't here to talk about my disdain for the ‘Bizarro-Mario' characters, this is a review for Wario Land: Shake It. I promise to check my opinions of Wario at the door, and be fully objective in the review.....I pinky promise.

When you first turn Wario Land on, you're treated to a very well put together opening cinematic sequence. With this video alone, it's proof of how well drawn, and animated the entire video game is. I don't know who the group of animators were that worked on the project, but they deserve a raise. In fact, they need to be in charge of the art for many more of Nintendo's projects.

I can say with my ‘objective' opinion, that this is probably the most beautiful 2D platform that has ever been created. Hell it looks better than some of the next-gen 3D platformers as well. Every stage in the video game has full, and detailed backgrounds. For the most part every stage is very unique, with only a couple of the settings being repeated. Unlike most video games, when everthing gets moving it becomes even more impressive. Wario's animations are so crisp, you almost feel like you're playin a well drawn cartoon than a videogame.

The Intro Movie Is A Perfect Example Of The Style And Feel Of The video game

It's a shame that things start to turn south when the gameplay shows up. It's not that I don't think that Wario Land is a fun video game. The entire time I was playin it though, I could never really decide what kind of platformer I was engaged in. The stages are divided into 2 parts, the first part is a slow methodical process where you try to solve various puzzle-esque road blocks, in order to obtain treasure. It will do you good to nab this treasure, as having gold coins is a necessity to venture farther into the story. Once you're finished finding all of your treasure, you're then put into the fast lane as you have to high tail out of the stage.

The video game is divided into 5 worlds, with the standard layout of 4 stages, and a boss. There are hidden stages to be found as well. The bosses are very impressive, with each fight being unique and fun. Good-feel, the dev team behind Wario Land: Shake It also uses an epic sense of “scale” with their boss characters.

This division really leaves the video game without an identity. To be honest, I preferred the high powered aspects of running and jumping than the puzzle solving. If nothing more than it all ran brilliantly at break neck speeds. I'm hoping there is a Wario Land: Shake It sequel, and we get more of the platforming aspects, than the platforming-puzzle ones.

Another aspect of the video game that stacks up well is in the sound department. Nearly every stage has a catchy track lining it. My favorite was the train stage in the third world, where an old school western tune plays.

Overall, I would recommend Wario Land: Shake It as a rental. Mostly because I was able to beat the entire video game in a weekend. This is with me going back and getting a lot of the extra bonuses, and secret stages. Unfortunately I have to rate this video game based on the premise of ‘whether you should buy it or not'. Which I can't rightfully say that it is deserving of your $50. But it is definitely worth a spot on your Gamefly list, or weekend rental.