It has been a few years since the last of the (good) WarioWare games were released, so there needs to be something to fill the gap. Atlus has done just that on the Nintendo DS with their “101-in-1 Explosive Megamixâ€, which is available now for the Nintendo DS. Inside the cartridge is what individuals may already know is present: a large number of different games that will have players handling their Nintendo DS for weeks, if not months, to come.
This means that there are racing games, games that resemble Tetris or Columns, pong simulations, Minesweeper clones, and physics/trajectory simulations. For my money though, there is a game present that feels like an updated (both in terms of time period and graphics) version of the classic arcade title, 1942. The games themselves take advantage of all facets of the Nintendo DS, whether it be the direction pad, stylus, or the countless types of graphical styles that can be present on the console. There are more and less realistic graphics, loose and tight controls, and essentially, what is for many a tremendously fun title can also be seen as a test of the strengths and weaknesses of the Nintendo DS.
Where none of the games are too detailed in their focus, rather playing like Flash games in many instances, what Atlus has done here is create the ultimate time-wasting game. Whether individuals are waiting for a doctor, on the subway, or are otherwise trying to waste time, 101 In 1 provides the perfect outlet. I would like to see Atlus go forth on a yearly basis and do a similar title to this, just to provide a different yet similar and fun experience, for any type of handheld console. At the price ($25 MSRP, and $20 if individuals look hard enough), 101 in 1 Explosive Megamix may just be the most fun I’ve had out of a game this year.
Rating: 8.7/10
101 in 1 Explosive Megamix (Nintendo DS) / 2009 Atlus / http://www.atlus.com