101-in-1 Explosive Megamix
Score: 84% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: Atlus Developer: Nordcurrent Media: Cartridge/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Arcade/ Action/ Puzzle
Graphics & Sound: This is one of those "shoot first, ask questions later" game concepts that actually works. 101-in-1 Explosive Megamix is really just 101-in-1, a big bungle of mini-games in a single cartridge. The potential for games to drag or for massive repetition is huge, but 101-in-1 dodges that bullet by using simple models for inspiration. The visual style is usually either a throwback to classic Arcade titles or more polished graphics that are presented in a clean, simple style reminiscent of today's Casual Game revolution. We'll stake a lot on the notion that Arcade and Casual gaming have in common the focus on function over form, but without sacrificing visual interest. Much like the logic behind WarioWare, but with more focus on polished graphics, 101-in-1 manages to combine the madcap energy of micro-gaming with the clean elegance of casual gaming. The music is a weak spot, but nothing that lasts a minute or two can become terribly annoying. The sound cues in certain games are important, but there just isn't a huge amount of creative audio engineering. This means you'll be just as happy playing without the sound after a while, especially if you've got a roommate that starts hearing the 101-in-1 soundtrack burned into her brain after hours 10 or 20.
Gameplay: The concept of 101 playable mini-games is good enough on paper, but even short collections of mini-games that are embedded into fishing, cooking, or general action games can become tedious. If a developer can't make 10-20 good mini-games, what hope is there for 101-in-1? The answer lies in unhinging the mini-game to some overarching theme like cooking and just letting it exist on its own merits. When you are spearing sushi rolls one minute and launching a space rocket the next, you realize that this game is coming from somewhere different than most so-called "mini-game collections" we've played recently. Nothing gets in the way of the imagination feeding these mini-games, which has both good and bad results. Depending on your preference for twitch gaming over more cerebral fare, you'll love or hate certain games. The nice thing about how 101-in-1 is built is that gamers don't have to sacrifice everything because they don't like or can't beat a particular mini-game. 101-in-1 lets everyone win, giving it a decidedly casual twist. Multiplayer is a hoot, so long as both players have copies of 101-in-1. The competitive nature of these games is questionable, but competing is still fun, no matter how one dimensional the contest. You'll spend far more time unlocking and playing the mini-games solo than with a friend. The basic flow is to play through a game until you beat it or earn enough coinage to unlock new games. Each game will feature a set of instructions you can review, showing the basic controls and objective. You'll want to review these before playing every game, because the margin for error is quite slim. If you haven't unlocked a game, you'll see a number that represents the amount of coin you'll need to cash in before playing. After opening up a few, you will realize that beating every game isn't required to make progress. You can conceivably open every game in 101-in-1 by continuing to play the first 10 mini-games available, as long as you have months of time to fritter away. Better to unlock the more difficult games and beat them to earn yourself big bonuses.
Difficulty: The measure of a difficult game is where you'll barely get off the figurative starting line before failing. A few of the mini-games embody this type of challenge and will appeal only to quick, twitchy players. My twitch reflexes are decent, but not honed to the razor's edge they once were. The pace I keep is more likely to match with something like the Sodoku mini-game or those that require more finesse and brainpower than raw adrenaline. A few "gimme" games help to keep the odds stacked in your favor, but to open the more advanced games requires either supreme effort and skill, or extreme patience to keep repeating entry-level challenges. The only issues are in a few games where the mechanics are clunky or the goal inane, making them very difficult to play and virtually impossible to beat. There aren't explicit markers for how difficult a given game will be, which is a shame since it would allow for less experienced players to only open up new games that fit their ability. Instead we have a free-for-all, with games that sound cool but end up being frustrating.
Game Mechanics: Many different techniques are on display here, all revolving around the touch controls. You'll slide and tap, flick and rub, or trace your way to success in each of these games. A few do incorporate button controls, but most use the touch-screen to good advantage. Games will use physical-world properties like gravity to simulate the motion of an object as you throw it, or craft a setting where you try to slide objects across ice without overextending. A few games are simple enough to grab and play without reading instructions, but there are typically twists from a control standpoint that need your attention. Learning to use all the controls and take advantage of the unique physics or environment in a particular mini-game can mean the difference between success and failure. The best you'll do in a game is the second or third time, once the control scheme sinks into your head, and you can forget about the mechanics or details, and just play. We'd love to crown a mini-game collection, but there aren't enough extras included here in the way of online play or access to download new games. Playing with a friend is great, but being able to find a match-up at any time would be a huge bonus for 101-in-1. Distracting, absorbing, and in some cases maddening, this game has a lot to offer. Especially if you loved the classic WarioWare series and like the idea of playing a new game almost every day of the week, grab a copy of 101-in-1. Not everything here is the most innovative, original idea, but everything seems to have had a lot of love and attention from developers. When the humor shines through and you forget as a gamer about what you're up to, you know something's been done well. Now stop listening and get back to farming gold coins on that mini-game for me...
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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