Free for a limited time: The First *Official* Gay Gamer NinSoft Store Buyer's Guide

Yes, I, the mighty "Gay Gamer," have agreed to take time away from my busy blogging, facebooking, Flickring and gaming schedule to write up this here "Buyer's Guide" for anyone and everyone who has a copy of WarioWare D.I.Y. but isn't sure which microgames to pick up at the NinSoft Store. (Because, you know, they're expensive--with price tags ranging from free on the low end to $0 on the high end.)

Anyway, here are my thoughts on what I consider to be the five best microgames currently on display at the NinSoft Store near you.

Mr. Wario says: "Get your butt to the NinSoft Store and buy
(i.e. download for free) these microgames!"

First, the "Big Name Games" (i.e., a series of microgames created and contributed by renowned developers):

Ikachan (by Cave Story creator Pixel, aka Daisuke Amaya)--Anyone who has played Cave Story shouldn't be surprised to hear that this game features charming, well-crafted graphics. That's not to suggest it's a purely superficial experience--in fact, I'd go as far as saying Ikachan is the deepest and most difficult of the "Big Name Games" that have hit the shelves of the NinSoft Store so far.

Line Slash (by Kirby and Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai)--This game makes me wish Sakurai would create (and share) more WarioWare microgames. For starters, the sprites are as magnificent as they are multifarious--what with the multitude of bombs and masks and peaches and whatnot. And then there's the gameplay, which, admittedly, is a bit disconcerting at first but quickly becomes delectable.

Metroid (by Yoshio Sakamoto)--In the mood for a Metroid-themed microgame? Series co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto is your man. Unfortunately, his creation is a bit on the monotonous side--all you're asked to do is shoot at a couple of wobbling Metroids. Still, it's miles better than the muck World of Goo co-creator Ron Carmel came up with (Suck Goo!).

Next, the store's "weekly games" (i.e., microgames made by regular Joes and Janes):

Finger Flex (by some gamer who goes by the name of OldRiver)--You know, I think this is the best microgame to hit the shelves of the NinSoft Store--and, yes, that means I think it's better than the three titles mentioned above. It's a bit of a "yin and yang" experience, to tell you the truth, with the adorable graphics contrasting wonderfully with the confounding (yet captivating) rock-paper-scissors gameplay.

Fright Light (by "ABBE")--This is the kind of microgame most WarioWare D.I.Y. users should shoot for, if you ask me. Its graphics are clean and classy, and its gameplay--which tasks players with tapping on ghostly creatures as they float in and out of a spotlight--is compelling. Oh, and I hate to beat a dead horse, but it's about 1,000 times better than the above-mentioned (and appropriately named) Suck Goo!

So, there you have it--the first *Official* Gay Gamer NinSoft Store Buyer's Guide. Should this edition sell in sufficient quantities, subsequent editions may find their way to virtual store shelves the world over (i.e., some random post on this blog).