In what’s probably the most brilliant design choice in a Wii game so far, Intelligent Systems decided to, before each micro-game in WarioWare: Smooth Moves, briefly show you an image of a hand holding a Wii remote the way you should during that micro-game. As to not get anyone in over their head, these “forms” (there’s about twenty in all) are slowly introduced as you play through the single player. You’ll start off just playing games controlled by the pointer, and eventually you’ll be waving around like a madman in all kind of positions.

So you’re holding your Wii remote sideways, grasping it with both hands (this is called “The Handlebar”), and the game tells you to “Close up.” You see a crowd of people running out of a supermarket, and once they’re all out you push the controller towards the floor, and the door to the supermarket slams closed. On the door is drawn a tomato, who grows arms and legs and dances for a couple of seconds if you’ve done the micro-game correctly. This is far from abnormal for the game, and certainly not the weirdest thing you’ll see while playing it. Other video games are scared to be this random, to be this crazy, and it’s paid off for the WarioWare series since Mega Microgame’s release in 2003 in that it feels completely unique.

The one second when you have to figure out the correlation between the way you’re holding the Wii remote, what’s on the screen, and the command you were just given is among the best moments in next-gen gaming. Because of the Wii remote and forms, it’s unlike anything you’ve experienced before, even if you’ve played every WarioWare game. It adds a layer of thought the series hasn’t seen before.

It’s always clear what you’re controlling in each game, and even though each micro-game is using its own set of rules and gameplay mechanics, the controls work about perfectly across the board. It will take players a few minutes to realize that subtle (but not meek) movements are needed, though.

The visuals in the micro-games are as insane and as great as the gameplay. Each of the two-hundred plus games has its own art style, ranging everywhere from watercolors and Gameboy graphics to blocky 3D and detailed, pretty 3D. It’s consistent with the other games in the series, but you’ll never know what’s going to show up next. The genuinely funny cuts cenes are done in beautiful, super crisp 2D with wonderful art and rich, vibrant colors.

Like more Wii games should, Smooth Moves makes you stand up and make a fool of yourself, by forcing players to do hula, to dance like an idiot, and much more. It’s great fun, and can really be enjoyed by anyone. The multiplayer thankfully isn’t about balanced competition, it’s about having chaotic fun with your friends.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves is a masterful piece of design, and is the only game on Wii other than Wii Sports that has made me thought that it was truly what Wii is about.