The articlegameplay, story, development, reception
Gameplay
The game features three minigames, Circle, Bar, and Square, each played differently but with the same objective (scoring one million points) and played on the same screen. Each game can either be played separately or in combination with one or both of the others simultaneously played by other players, with gameplay in one game interacting with and affecting the other games.
The player must collide with all enemies as they appear onscreen and before they move off the game area. The player is in control of a constantly spinning circle, and is able to switch the direction it spins with the A button on the Wii Remote. Considered use of the single button allows for fine control of both speed and trajectory, resulting in predictable movement.
Development
Mindware Corp's prior work with pinball tables helped influence the design decisions behind MaBoShi, in addition to a desire to create totally new and unique games, and one that is "both innovative and easy to get into". The idea to use only one button for play was made in the beginning of development, but the developer deliberately decided to avoid "swing and play" controls seen in other Wii games such as Wii Sports.
MaBoShi was programmed by Mikito Ichikawa (aka Micky G. Albert), Jun Shimizu and Tadashi Ito (who was also responsible for the DS Download Play version).
Reception
WiiWare World (now Nintendo Life) scored MaBoShi an 8/10, calling it "a very strange and unique game" and highlighting its simple but fun gameplay, its addictiveness, the bonus downloadable DS version and its "surprisingly excellent" soundtrack. Eurogamer gave it a 9/10, calling the gameplay "deceptively simple, yet incredibly rich" and the multi-tiered system of interacting games "evil genius". IGN called it "wonderfully original and challenging", giving it an 8/10.
