Since this is a 2-D platformer, you probably think you know what to expect from the game. Well, you'd be partially right and partially surprised. Like past Wario games, each level is filled with coins that you can collect and bank. These make up the biggest part of your score, which is only appropriate for a game that stars a treasure-hungry guy like Wario. Each level is also filled with certain pitfalls that can hurt Wario, like spikes, piranha-like fish, and fire, but most enemies on land won't hurt the purple-and-yellow machine. This might be a bit of an issue if you've been looking for a hardcore challenge, because Wario won't get hurt nearly as often as he probably should in your eyes. The level designs are also not super-complex, though they do offer a fair challenge. This lack of insane difficulty might be what makes hardcore platforming enthusiasts turn up their nose at Shake It!, but they'll be missing out.
At the game's outset, you only have one world to play around in. To unlock the next world, you have to go to Captain Syrup's shop and buy the appropriate map with your hard-earned coins. Usually, if you've played through each level in a world fully, you'll have enough coins to get the next map and a little more left over to buy some other items. Each world, though, has a hidden level with a hidden entrance that can also be unlocked.
Each non-boss level has three treasures scattered throughout it that Wario can find to add to his collection. Each level also has objectives that Wario can meet, some of which are easy and others which are ridiculously tough like not touching the water. These add a bit more replay value to the title by encouraging people to go back and replay levels over and over again to try and reach these objectives or find the treasures. Boss battles are on a grandiose scale in Shake It!, featuring plenty of big bosses that use up the entire screen provided. The bosses provide a pretty good challenge, but again, like the levels, they aren't really too difficult if you know what you're doing.
Controls are very akin to the days of the NES - simple and easy to understand. The directional pad controls movement, while the 1 and 2 buttons control a variety of functions, including jumping, dashing, and grabbing/throwing items and enemies. The Wii remote's sensitivity is also used for actions like shaking and tilting. Titling comes into play when Wario has to toss enemies at switches, determine direction firing out of a cannon, or move a one-wheeled cart along tracks, for example. Additionally, shaking the Wii remote when Wario does not have an enemy or item in hand will unleash a ground-pounding fist attack that can be used to stun enemies and activate certain sensitive areas in levels. Sometimes, this ability opens up new paths or reveals hidden items, too, but it is tied to a meter that must recharge before each use. These simple controls open the game up to a wide audience, as just about anyone can pick-up-and-play this title.
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