Wario Ware: Smooth Moves

A cavalcade of off-the-wall three-second microgames—more than 200 of ’em—the delirious Smooth Moves is a killer showcase for the potential of the Wii’s innovative wireless controller. Holding the Wii remote in goofy positions—balancing it like a tray of canaps or swinging it like an elephant’s trunk—players pluck virtual nose hairs, swat flies, wash dishes and insert dentures at an ever-increasing rate, with no clue what they’ll be asked to do next. In addition to being ludicrously addictive, Smooth Moves is also a triumph of art direction: The graphics variously emulate watercolor paintings, vintage Nintendo games, traditional Japanese brushwork and classic anime, often in retina-searing colors. Instructions for the game poses are provided by a Caucasian Barry White impersonator, who offers faux-Zen advice that’s often as silly as the tasks themselves. Smooth Moves is sure to be a hit at parties, especially those where something interesting is slipped into the punch bowl.—Andrew Johnston