Shaking It Up With Warioland


For the estimated 10 million Wii owners in the United States, the release of a first-party title is something of an event. While games like Mario Party 8, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and Mario Kart, have done little more than add Wiimote controls upon their predecessors, nearly all of Nintendo’s titles have been both critical and commercial successes.

While Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has not announced a formal street date to Warioland Shake It!, we are looking forward to the title with the anticipation only a Nintendo game can bring. Not only will the title revive the long-forgotten GBA franchise, but it will also add a much-needed 2D action/platformer to the Wii’s library.


The first gameplay video of Warioland shows all the elements that Nintendo synergistically interweaves to create a top-tier experience. Graphically, the main character is animated exceptionally well, throughout colorful, hand-drawn environments. Varying gameplay controls that employ the Wiimote are shown, from shaking containers to relieve them of loot, to moving the controller to create momentum along a hanging vine. Curiously, a scant amount of enemies are shown in this video, indicating either Nintendo’s willingness to surprise us, or that Wario’s greatest challenge is the environment, itself.


Presumably, these questions will be answered soon. Japanese gamers will be receiving the game on the July 24th, while we expect a forthcoming U.S. date at next week’s E3. We’ll place our bets on a September release.

About Robert Allen

Since being a toddler, Robert Allen has been immersed in video games, anime, and tokusatsu. Currently, his days are spent teaching at two southern California colleges. But his evenings and weekends are filled with STGs, RPGs, and action titles and well at writing for Tech-Gaming since 2007.

35 comments

  1. Great, I never even heard of the title. It looks amazing. Like the Nintendo games of my childhood.

  2. Looks great. Amazing graphics. I can’t wait for this game.

  3. Wow, this came out of nowhere! Great preview T-G.

  4. Great looking platformer. Now, this should be fun.

  5. Mah, looks like it should be a DLC game.

  6. One question, If I import this from Japan, will I be able to play this on my US Wii?

  7. Please play this at E3 and let us know how it is!!!

  8. emailed version didn’t have the video!

  9. Looks like old school gaming at it’s best!

  10. A wii owner would be crazy not to get this game. It’s got Nintendo greatness written all over it.

  11. Most Wii games not made my Nintendo suck bad. I can only think of 3 games that are the exception to this:

    Zak and Wiki
    Metal Slug
    Resident Evil 4

  12. Hey It’s 1995 all over again. and I couldn’t be happier!

  13. I saw a few enemies- a submarine and two tomato looking dudes with baseball caps.

    Although they could have teased up with a boss.

  14. First time I heard about this.

    Will preorder today!

  15. Hot stuff, indeed!

    Now just give us a proper SMW remake and we’ll be happy, ok Nintendo?

  16. Yeah, I don’t know why everyone is getting all hot over this game.

  17. ho boy, a mine cart level. Thats original!

  18. I cant wait for this game. I haven’t played my wii in months.

  19. The only problem with the game is the 4×3 ration that doesn’t take advantage of WS televisions.

    I don’t know why Nintendo keeps doing this.

  20. I see items in the borders, Joystiq James.

  21. This looks like a perfect game for the Wii. This will sell well, I can feel it.

  22. Looks like a ten year old game. Moving on…

  23. When will the mario brothers get a new 2d game?

  24. Check Joystiq, seems like they have a different video up, and complain about the wiimote action.

  25. Great looking game. I hope this game singlehandedly brings back the platformer.

  26. Top of my to-get list.

    Looks like there’s plenty of move variety. But yeah, not too many enemies.

  27. I always looked the money hungry Wario.

  28. Looks like fun!

  29. Shake it, but don’t break it.

    The wiimote, that is.

  30. Seems like a fun game. Can’t wait until Spt.

  31. Wario is the coolest. The Wii should do a Wario disc like the one for the PSP with all those short games. Rayman Rabbits did it. Why not Wario??

  32. Slightly interested.

  33. I’m skaking with anticipation.

  34. Shows how little I know about the “gaming scene”. Thanks for that. I know what my next Wii purchase will be!