Mario's foe stars in GameCube title

If ever a company can be linked to one style of game, it's Nintendo. It is synonymous with platform titles, most of them based on that ubiquitous Italian plumber, Mario.

Mario has spawned a ton of other games. Witness "Wario World," developed by the folks at Treasure for the Game Cube. It's a delightful creation, with several flaws that keep it from being top-rated, but that don't spoil your enjoyment one bit.

"Wario World" stars, of course, Wario, Mario's most hated foe. Wario is a dumpy despot in purple pants, sitting on a castle full of treasure. But one day, a dark jewel stashed deep in the castle goes nuts, and the next thing Wario knows, his treasure has been converted into a legion of monsters and they've hit the road for parts unknown.

Wario has to follow them and beat them into their original form -- the filthy lucre he loves so much.

However, there are some problems with Wario's anti-social paradise.

First, "Wario World" is one of the easiest games you'll ever play. The challenge is minimal, and if you can't finish it off before dinner, you need to take some summer classes in gaming.

Second, it's really short, with four worlds and two levels in each, a total of eight stages. Most of the settings you've seen a million times -- an ice world, a forest -- and only the circus level felt unusual.

Third, there's no serious penalty for making a mistake. You'll pick up hundreds of coins as you dispatch monsters, and you can go back and beat up the same ones over and over, forcing them to give up their cash until you're oozing with money. If you die -- a difficult proposition -- you just lose some of your gold and away you go.

And perhaps the most glaring problem of all -- no multiplayer mode.

But there's plenty to like about "Wario World."

It's a real treat to look at. The graphics are typical of Nintendo's platform titles, with brilliant colors, nice but not hugely complex detail, and smooth interaction between you and Wario.

The game is entertaining, too, as long as it lasts. You have to find eight treasures in each level, and there are puzzles, admittedly pretty simple ones, to break up the game in each stage.

Bosses -- like DinoMighty, Spideraticus and the indomitable Captain Skull -- are excellent, and each requires some effort to dispatch. The methods you must use to kill them are varied and amusing. Best of all, no blood or flying body parts. Kids will love "Wario World," and so will parents.

And Wario has some great moves, including the Corkscrew Conk, which is a type of dash attack, and the Piledriver. His fists do most of his talking, but in many cases, you'll need those moves if you want to continue.

Graphics get a B+. "Wario World" is bright, colorful, often original and usually a real pleasure to look at. It runs at a speedy 60 FPS, and I didn't see any slowdown or other graphical problems.

Control gets a B. Wario is a treat to guide through his adventures; he always does exactly what you ask, moving quickly, jumping smoothly. The only problem is the camera, which doesn't always look where you want it to and can contribute to missing your mark. It's controllable during underground puzzle levels, but in the main game, you get what the developers want you to see.

Sound gets a C+. The music is pretty wild, but Wario has about four things to say and he says them over and over and over and well, you get the idea. Give him more to say, or shut him up.

"Wario World" gets a B. It seems to have been designed mainly for children, and that's a good thing in my view. It's short, and replay value is limited, but youngsters will love it, and older gamers can borrow it to kill a rainy afternoon.