Summary
Wario loves money! And garlic, too. But he also loves making his trademark “microgames”, consisting of short games that take 5 or 10 seconds to complete in hisWarioWareseries. Patting dogs, picking noses, crushing apples, blasting aliens - almost everything is on the table here thanks toGame and Wario, and his dopey sense of humor makes playing these bite-sized challenges tossed at players in rapid succession all the more gratifying.
In almost every entry in the series,each character’s stageshave their own unique boss microgames, which extend the timer and throw in more complex, demanding objectives for the chance to receive an extra life. From sliding bombs to squeezing grapes, these are a selection of the best boss fights in the entire franchise.
10Reflecting (WarioWare: D.I.Y.)
Time for a game of pool with sports superstar Jimmy T. The coolest thing about this boss stage is that it’s actually more of a puzzle game than a test of reflexes and reaction times, so it can be a pretty challenging one, no matter how still a player is.
As the pool cue and cue ball gradually go up and down, the player has to simply tap the screen to strike it. A bit unconventional compared to the actual rules, but one must think ahead, as potting the white results in failure. Devious, but clever.
9Punch Out (WarioWare: Mega Microgames! & WarioWare: Gold)
As the title suggests, this boss stage is just like the NES title of the same name. Featured in the first-ever entry in the series and lovingly recreated inWarioWare: Gold, The only way to get a punch in is to dodge the opponent’s swings and go for a jab.
On the 2nd difficulty, they can deliver a K.O. punch when on their last life, and are able to deliver those constantly on the highest difficulty! It’s a teeth-chattering boss that requires perfect timing with those button presses.
8Bombs Away (WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase)
Wario always loves inserting himself in his microgames, he’s that self-centered. In Bombs Away, the boss stage for his superhero alter-egoWario-Man forWarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcaseon the Wii, Wario starts to shove bombs with short timers over an ice rink towards the player.
Naturally, the player has to push them back, which will reset the timer. It’s pretty easy when at normal speed, but it can be even more frantic fun when it gets faster, as the dude at the bottom of the screen has to move to the bomb first before touching it. It’s another combination of lateral thinking and speedy reflexes.
7Rainbow Juice (WarioWare: Touched!)
The disco fanatic Jimmy T. once again has another entry on this list. This time, it’s ‘Rainbow Juice’ fromWarioWare: Touched!A happy bucket must be filled with juice from a rainbow, which can be achieved by rubbing the spectrum of colors with the stylus.On harder difficulties, it’ll stroll around with a lid that randomly closes and opens.
The complication here is that any juice that misses the bucket will pass through the floor, causing roots to grow. If one sprouts out of the ground and the bucket touches it, he’ll trip, spill, and the boss stage is over. It’s quite a unique complication with some really beautiful music, and the faces that the bucket makes are just hilarious.
6Super Mario Bros. (WarioWare: Twisted & WarioWare: Gold)
9-Volt usually introduces some nifty twists in hisNintendo-themed microgames, and this one puts a unique spin on the iconic side-scrollerSuper Mario Bros.To move Mario and the world around him, the GBA must be tilted to the right.
Of course, the most obvious difference here is that each stage is flexed and curved! Plus, if the console is tilted sharply to the side, then it will speed up the game as well. Having to reach the flag at the end without plummeting in a pit or a pesky Goomba, especially with the limited view of what lies ahead, makes for a really refreshing twist. It was even recreated inWarioWare: Gold.
5Wario Mambo (WarioWare: Twisted!)
“Ladies and gentlemen, Wario De Mambo!” Wario-Man rounds offWarioWare: Twisted!His boss stage is a dance number with a really catchy song to it.
In Wario Mambo, players must copy the moves on-screen. It’ll require thetitling of the GBAexactly how the backup dancers do it, along with jumps by pressing the A button. On higher difficulties, the vocals are present, and there are more increases in speed - just the kind of thing to get anyone bouncing along with excitement. Plus, the lyrics, which are mostly just made up of singers chanting “Wario De Mambo” in different ways, are incredibly infectious.
4Sneaky Snatcher (WarioWare: Gold)
It was a stroke of genius to remake one of the best multiplayer mini-games from the rather disappointingGame & Warioand turn it into a boss stage forWarioWare: Gold. In the original, called ‘Fruit’, one player would control an NPC who’d have to steal fruit in a crowd of other lookalikes while another player has to take photos with the Wii U Gamepad and figure out who it is.
Here, all the player needs to do is to keep a keen eye out for the potential fruit thief, examining the photos of the suspect on the top screen and scaling across a table of the tiny figures walking around. A perfect pick for any wannabe-detectives.
3Great Juice (WarioWare: Get It Together!)
Similar to Rainbow Juice, Great Juice is a boss stage for Ashley inWarioWare: Get It Together!The big twist here is that players control characters and utilize their abilities in the microgames themselves, and that’s what makes it even moredelightfully challenging.
Grapes must be squashed into juice to fill up jars, which end up moving when the difficulty is at levels 2 and 3. As if dodging nasty bees on level 3 wasn’t sweat-inducing enough, a farmer with a hot temper will measure how much juice is wasted and will fail the stage if a huge mess is made. All these things make it delightfully addictive to play, more sowith a second player.
2Star Fox (WarioWare: Smooth Moves!)
Honestly, it’s a mystery why Nintendo never bothered to remake the entirety of the SNES classicStar Foxwith motion controls, as that’s what was pulled off on the Wii, and it was so good. Three stages from the original game are recreated, whereby tilting the Wii Remote rotates the ship. Enemies can be blasted for points, but there’s no bonus for that.
The kooky twist here is the boss battle that takes place - it’s a giant R.O.B.! Blasting his flashing blocks when they start flashing will blow them up, and the entire Robotic Operating Buddy goes down when that’s done before Fox flies triumphantly into the stars. It’s nothing short of a fantastic tribute.
1Wario Dance Company (WarioWare: Smooth Moves!)
The best way to make a fool of oneself is to grab that Wii Remote and start dancing in the Wario Dance Companyminigame. As a funky dance track plays, 4 dancers in spandex will start moving and striking poses one after the other. The player must nail the timing and copy every on-screen move.
And there are some really, really silly moves, like slapping the controller on the thigh, wiggling one’s bottom frantically while holding both arms out, and so much more. It’s hilarious and embarrassing to take part in - an easy pick for the best boss battle in the series.
