Nintendo: Ware's Wario been?

The WarioWare series of Nintendo was a bolt out of the blue, a shot in the arm, a kick in the pants to the videogame world.

Instead of being just one game with a single purpose, it was a furiously-fast onslaught of bite-sized 'microgames' played with the bare minimum of controls but offering maximum playability.

With the imminent arrival of WarioWare: Smooth Moves - Wario's Wii Remote-controlled Wii debut - we thought we'd take a quick look back at Wario's previous Wares. (Click the links to jump straight to the gamepages.)

The original Game Boy Advance version, WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania, released in 2003, was a collection of more than 200 microgames featuring such gaming highlights as poking a finger up a nose, shaking hands with a dog or sniffing up a stream of snot. Crude, rude and simply unputdownable, WarioWare was an instant hit.

In 2004, Nintendo GameCube owners got the chance to see what all the fuss was about when the GBA game got a console remake: WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Game$. Featuring all the GBA games recreated for playing on your TV with new multiplayer additions, it was a mad fun-fest for up to 16 players.

In 2005 it was Nintendo DS's turn when WarioWare Touched! arrived in time for the system's launch. With more than 180 brand new microgames made especially for the touch screen and microphone (from chopping vegetables to blowing on Granny's hot tea) it took the series to the next level. That is, until this year"¦

This Friday, January 12, Wario makes his way to Wii in a brand new collection of microgames that are his most hands-on yet. Instead of simply pressing buttons, in WarioWare: Smooth Moves you'll be twisting, turning, swinging, jumping, hula-hooping and making all manner of wild motions with your Wii Remote. Up to 12 players can take part and you can even import your Miis into many of the games, making it the ultimate party-starter!

VIPs can read our full hands-on of the game in the Lounge, and look out for the full review coming soon - Nintendo.