Super 56 review

The closest thing to WarioWare on PC costs less than ten bucks?

The WarioWare formula has proved to be remarkably elusive. Nintendo R&D1’s first two outings, 2003’s WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames! and WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Party Games! were undeniably innovative, with each offering their own rapid-fire mix of micro-games.

But when development duties were transferred to Intelligent Systems, the franchise began to feel a bit gimmicky. From WarioWare: Twisted’s Incorporation of a gyroscopic sensor, Touched’s stylus-based play, Smooth Moves’ Wiimote wiggling, or D.I.Y.’s sharing of user-created games, entries seemed designed to flaunt some new hardware feature. Each was undoubtedly entertaining, but they just didn’t quite measure up to the quirky fun found in the originals.

When it comes to third parties trying to create their own mini-game collections, the results are routinely second rate. Sure, there are some standouts, like the Retro Game Challenge / GameCenter CX 3 series. But more often, efforts like Work Time Fun or Atari Mania lack polish and any attempt at unconventionality can feel forced.

Every Second Counts

Remarkably, Onion Soup Interactive’s Super 56 comes reasonably close to capturing the allure of Game Boy Advance-era WarioWare. As the game’s moniker implies, this is a collection of 56 different challenges that all last between 20 seconds to a minute. Input uses a single button, with quick taps and longer holds forming the basis of the control scheme. You’ll receive plenty of practice since the game’s menus use the same system. But if you must have the efficiency of traditional controls, 56 dutifully complies. Ok, it’s rather essential for navigating the extensive in-game guide.

The first WarioWare title introduced a cast of cartoonish characters whose personalities helped categorize the mini-games. Super 56’s loose storyline begins as you take a commuter train into the depths of Hell City, before meeting a bickering cast of oddballs that include a helmet-wearing zombie and his roommate Kronos, who looks like a Metroid sprite. The dialog might not be laugh-out-loud hilarious, but it is reliably amusing, dispensing short skits every time you earn enough experience to level up. And who doesn’t appreciate a playful jab at James Corden or a game console shaped that resembles a demonic pentagram?

Masochistic Cupid

With elements like daily challenges, leaderboards, unlockables, and gameplay modifiers, Super nails the supplementals. But more importantly, 56’s collection of mini-games is mostly well designed. Given the simplicity of the control scheme, button-mashing tests were inevitable. Mercifully, challenges that task you with tapping away to emulate typing on an old typewriter are constrained in number.

Instead, many of the mini-games are timing based, supplying a bit of longevity. One early trial has an archer aiming for a trio of hearts scattered around gushing fountains and men doing nude yoga. You’ll press the button once to set the angle of trajectory and a subsequent hold sets the power level, mirroring the mechanics of Konami’s old Track & Field title. And yes, the game rightfully acknowledges an accidental ass shot with an in-game achievement. In another game, you’ll attempt to drive down a curved road with a car that pulls to the right.

References to Onion Soup’s Previous Game

WarioWare’s mix of cartoonish charm and puckish gags where you stuck a finger deep into a nasal cavity provides a distinguishing attitude that’s difficult to duplicate. Pleasingly, Super 56 embraces juvenile antics whether playing as a bird striving to poop on people or you’re feeding a man-baby cans of dog food and faux Starbucks.

Otaku will undoubted relish all the references, whether it the playful send-up of Japanese Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga’s “reiwa” signage, a zentai-clad driver from Nippon Marathon, or a game where a man cosplaying as Chun Li demolishes a car in a nod to one of Street Fighter II’s bonus rounds. Between each mini-game is a transition sequence that resembles 3-D Battles of WorldRunner, albeit with a post-processing filter. And for a game with this much polish, the seven-dollar price point is exceedingly reasonable.

Conclusion

Just be aware there are a few blemishes. At present, Super 56 doesn’t allow pausing in the middle of a mini-game. And occasionally, you’ll come across a challenge where the goal isn’t clear. It took multiple attempts to successfully complete the RPG dialog and man-baby feeding ones. Similarly, Super 56’s difficulty can fluctuate erratically, with recreations like stone skimming and a recreation of a platforming game likely to dishearten a flaw-free run. But given that the same could be said about Super 56’s source material, a bit of trial and error is tolerable.

Super 56 was reviewed on PC with review code provided by the publisher.