WTF Work Time Fun
The say "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and if that's the case then Nintendo should be very flattered by Sony. WTF feels inspired by every game of this type and because of that the title faces some scrutiny. The basic premise is simple really; provide a wealth of mini-games that are good for short bursts of gameplay when you're off somewhere and you're bored. Perhaps you are at work and you are indeed looking to have some fun or maybe you're waiting at the doctor's office. Wherever you are this game will keep you busy. Unfortunately busy is a more appropriate choice of word than fun in this case.
Gameplay:
If you're coming to WTF looking for a deep experience you're going to be left out in the cold. There's just no depth to any of these games despite the fact that they can take anywhere from thirty seconds to ten minutes to beat. Every game requires you to hit a meager two buttons which makes the game excruciatingly simplistic. At least in Wario Ware the games only last a few seconds but when you could potentially sit there for five minutes pressing the X and O buttons it gets old kind of quickly. Don't come crying to me if you get arthritis in your thumb. That's what workman's comp is for.
Ironically though, this game is like a job in the fact that you get what you put in. The basic premise is that as you play through these various careers you get awarded a paycheck at the end of the day. Depending how you do and what you accomplish your pay rate will increase or decrease. Your pittance is usually less than what the children working in Kathy Lee's sweatshop are getting, but you are playing a game after all. If you want to talk to the union; I understand.
Now you may be asking yourself what to do with your hard earned cash. Well, you can buy toys from a vending machine or you can use it to unlock even more games to play (or jobs to work as it were). There are a ton of games to play here and the further you get into WTF's basket of tricks the weirder it gets. Things start out relatively simple and straight forward. You are given four games right from the moment you turn on your console that range from catching 1,000 baseballs to putting caps on pens. As you unlock more stuff you'll realize why they call the game WTF.
Have you ever wanted to spend your time sorting chickens? How about being a lumberjack and trying not to cleave small woodland critters? Maybe you have always wanted to bounce a soccer ball on your head for a living. Whatever your attraction to this game just be warned that there is some disturbing stuff lurking in its bowels. In some cases it will elicit laughter but in others you'll just be scratching your head and looking forward to moving on to the next thing. The only problem is that the next big thing just doesn't come into play.
It's very hard to talk about a game where you simply use two buttons and no strategy to achieve success. In short bursts WTF is relatively enjoyable and a viable alternative to Wario Ware for PSP owners. The only problem is that it's just not as fun. I have played all of Nintendo's games that fit into this genre and can easily say that I have enjoyed them far more than I was able to with WTF. The mini-games are creative here and some of them even have a certain timeless feel to them but in the end this is an alternative for wasting your time; not having fun.
Graphics:
Just like Wario Ware, WTF's graphics could be described as quirky and simplistic yet functional. Simple 2-D sprites are mixed with photoshopped images and a blend of 8-bit and 16-bit graphics. It's such a hodgepodge affair that the look defies conceived style and is in a world all its own. You could say that's a good and a bad thing though since it instantly polarizes the game's audience. Some of these designs are so bizarre that they will indeed make you say WTF. Sometimes the look of these games work and at other times they don't. That's the risk you take when you try to make something unique looking.
Audio:
Much like the graphics, the sound in WTF is a smattering of concepts and quality. The music for the most part is pretty catchy and perfect for many of these games and the overall experience. The voice acting is decent as well with silly phrases and such. What really sells the package is the sound effects though, which are phenomenal. They really make the experience better and add a lot of personality to an otherwise tedious exercise.
Conclusion:
I really wanted to enjoy WTF more than I did. The PSP has been in dire need of a game like this for some time but the execution of these games leaves one disappointed. Who wants to catch 1,000 baseballs? Who wants to cap 2,000 pens? As you play you'll unlock some much more interesting games but the end really doesn't justify the means. Simplicity is something that is decent in moderation but when the entire experience is based on that principle there's more detraction than benefit.
There is a market for this game out there and I'm sure many of you are interested in a title like Wario Ware for the PSP. My suggestion is that you rent it first to see if it's your thing. I personally came looking for greatness but walked away with nothing but disappointment and a sore thumb.