While the various levels can be traversed rather quickly (10 to 15 minutes will usually get you to the end), the game is designed to encourage exploration. In addition to the narrative requirements, the game also includes a series of extra missions that, if completed, yield more coins and unlockable bonuses. These extra objectives can range from collecting a certain amount of cash or completing the level in a certain amount of time, to more obscure challenges, such as bouncing off of three enemy heads without hitting the ground. Often these objectives require players to run through the level multiple times to completely satisfy these requirements.

At the outset of the game, players are given control of Wario as he journeys through a massive pirate ship. This introductory level acts as a tutorial. While the control scheme reflects the old-school design philosophies governing the title (the controller is held sideways like an NES controller and only two buttons are used to control Wario), there are a series of context-sensitive waggle controls introduced through this initial stage, successfully marrying the old with the new.

While the two primary controller buttons handle Wario’s basic attacks and jumps, players quickly find that they can execute a powerful Ground Stomp by raising the controller and swiftly bringing it down. This can be used for offensive attacks, solving puzzles and bashing through brittle sections of the environment. Wario is also able to initiate a speed-dash that causes him to tear through enemies and obstacles and complete the typical end-of-level, race-against-time event. The game also utilizes the IR pointer in the Wiimote, allowing players to call their shots when tossing an enemy or item. This functionality is usually integrated into the various puzzles that crop up through the levels, with the player often charged with hunting down an out-of-the-way switch and firing at it to gain further access to the current level.

Finally, Wario Land includes a set of world-class boss battles, and each boss forces players to utilize their learned abilities to take them down. It’s a page ripped right from the Nintendo playbook; experienced gamers know to examine their environments and every inch of their nemeses to find the key to their defeat. Epic boss battles are a staple of 2D platformers, and Wario Land effortlessly continues the tradition.

Let’s see if Wario Land: Shake It kicks it old school.