The Review Overview
These reviews are not restricted to media type! They could be video games, movies, manga, fanfiction, programs, snack foods...anything! (Maybe I'll try a tag system... eventually.)
Candlestick
An online animation and game development tool for desktop. Currently on version 1.0.2 as of writing this. (ADDED: Sep. 13, 2026)
Click to expand/collapse!The basics:
Candlestick is a web application adapted from an open-source predecessor, the Wick Editor (which has not been updated since 2019). Candlestick allows the creation of vector animation and basic game development based on a system of keyframes, canvases, and a variety of coding tools. Users can create animations with tweening, nested clips, code blocks, and more, in a container file that can be shared across devices, and exported into HTML files for online upload. The editor is consistently being updated with new features (such as MP4 export) by a team of developers from the forums of the original editor.
The good, the bad, and the ugly:
THE GOOD:
For those familiar with the layout of Adobe Flash, Candlestick's UI will be incredibly familiar, and dare I say, even more comfortable. Rather than relying on Actionscript (a now-defunct scripting language exclusive to Flash), Candlestick uses a flexible template compatible with JavaScript and modern HTML5 canvases. Not only does this prevent obsolescence on the web, but it makes output to mobile devices easier as well. No outside programs or extensions needed, with some online documentation for creating more complex animations and gameplay.
THE BAD:
For those NOT familiar with the layout of Adobe Flash, however, the UI is hard to parse, especially when using a tablet or mobile version of the app. Additionally, there are some design choices that leave much to be desired; Syncing audio for frame-by-frame animation isn't very effective, there's no folder or file system that allows projects to organize imports (.png files, .mp3 files, etc.) and it's difficult to create a collection of custom animation objects/"movieclips" for reuse. It is worth noting that this is no fault of the current developers. Maintaining and updating the project is a feat far beyond my understanding, and for that I give them my absolute respect.
THE UGLY:
Accessing information regarding newer updates to the project is currently tricky. There's a semi-used community forum for the original editor, Wick, but the most common activity is through their discord server, which may not be easy to access for younger or more casual creators. The code snippets and tutorials from the original editor are outdated as well, and a fair chunk of the documentation does not apply to the most recent fork's updates. This could potentially be solved by the creation of a new dedicated forum or new documentation site, but that's probably easier said than done, especially since the project is mostly updated through the goodwill of busy developers.
Final conclusions:
Candlestick, for me, is a beloved asset. It has some faults that could take a while to remedy, and it's by no means perfect for coding, but it's lightyears beyond any other program or editor in terms of layout and flexibility of use. While its main purpose is animation, I adore making game projects with it, and short of learning raw java/python/what-have-you, the possibilities are just about endless. (As a shameless self-plug, I also upload my games to my itch.io page for you to play. *wink*)
WarioWare Gold
A 2018 game for the 3DS; The 6th (technically...) installment in the WarioWare series. (ADDED: Jun. 16, 2026)
Click to expand/collapse!The basics:
WarioWare Gold is the only 3DS release in the WarioWare game series spanning across many generations of Nintendo consoles. It is the first fully-voiced WarioWare game, and one of Charles Martinet's last performances as Wario before retiring. The core gameplay is typical fare: Several themed stages, each containing a variety of microgames lasting between 4-8 seconds each, leading up to a boss stage. Unlike most WarioWare games, Gold follows a consistent storyline with smaller plot beats in-between. Additionally, all microgames are new-and-improved adaptations from each previous entry in the series, combining 3D and 2D graphics and a variety of control settings between button input, touchscreen, and gyroscope controls.
The good, the bad, and the ugly:
THE GOOD:
Gold's adaptations of prior microgames across the genres are all fantastic; It includes games from both the 2nd GBA title (Twisted!), which relied on a bulky rumblepak on the cartridge, and the Wii title (Smooth Moves), which primarily used motion controls from the wiimote. The 3DS' built-in gyroscope and better graphics make the transition seamless. Additionally, the post-game bonus modes include WarioWatch, based on microgame completion time, and Split Screen, which uses nonstop sequences. Both of these were personal favorites from previous entries.
THE BAD:
Starting from Twisted! and throughout the other previous entries, WarioWare included a variety of small "prizes" and hodgepodge trinkets for players to interact with when completing boss stages. While Gold includes a small variety of additional minigames (Pyoro being the most important, obviously) it doesn't keep much of the other silly little gadgets and goofs that made the previous games so endearing and replayable. The game also introduced an achievement system which, while rewarding at times, feels like a slog to get through at others.
THE UGLY:
Most of the postgame content relies on the aforementioned achievements and WarioKard, which is a slightly skill-based Rock Paper Scissors card game. There's no real reward for beating all the opponents in WarioKard, and it feels like the resource space that went into it could have been better used for adding other features. Personally, unless you like playing the other bonus modes, it really feels like a waste in replayability.
Final conclusions:
WarioWare Gold is... fine. It's not particularly great, but it's also not bad. For the only entry in the 3DS line, it does what it needs to do well, and is still an enjoyable game overall, but compared to other entries in the series, it feels a bit lackluster.