Mario Party has all of the elements in place to be a big hit on the system. It has Nintendo's famous characters starring in a game designed to appeal to audiences both young and old. It offers seven different boards that provide limitless replay value since each game is different every time you play. Factor in the ability for players to save accumulated coins and stars to purchase their favorite mini-games, and you have the makings of a classic.Yet despite all of this, Mario Party is a disappointment. Not a colossal one, but very much a letdown along the same lines as Yoshi's Story. This is because the game is almost exclusively aimed toward children. Yes, it looks like Mario Party is a "dumbed down" title to appeal to the wee ones, even despite the phenomenal success of more mature games on the black box.
The game does not involve strategy at all, so don't expect to win based on skill or shrewd decision making. In fact, this is one of the most random playing board games I've seen! Earn coins and then watch them disappear in a blink of an eye. Collecting stars is a simple matter of just landing on a space, and even these will disappear when someone lands on a spot to "steal" them away.
The game board is almost entirely red and blue spaces, with an occasional Mushroom space (get an extra roll or lose a turn) or Bowser space (one person loses a certain amount of coins). Excuse me while I yawn. Since the board game won't be available anytime soon at your local retailer (it makes Candy Land seem like chess in comparison), the biggest selling point is the number of mini-games. This is where the excitement is, right? After everyone takes their turn, the colors of the spaces help dictate the type of mini-game played: four-player, one vs. three, two vs. two or a one-player game.
The sad thing is that only a few of these games are entertaining. Nearly all of them are over within ten seconds and some feel like you're not even participating. One of the games involves a player dropping a shell down one of six interconnected pipes with the hope that it falls toward his or her character. The other players just watch. Another game involves one person throwing a bowling ball down the lane while other players hop out of the way (they're the pins). One shot and the game is over.
Still another "game" involves players automatically walking around a large mushroom while a musical tune plays; once the song ends, the first person who jumps on top of the mushroom grabs the coins. Are these the type of games you want to play over and over again? Yes, if you're too small to ride the bumper cars at an amusement park.
While the mini-games will appeal to children or those who may not normally play games (re: girlfriends), only a few are really fun. Why not have more games revolve around the type you'd find at a carnival? Skee-ball, ring toss, balloon-popping, air hockey, Foosball, or even a Space Invaders or Pac-Man clone would keep you playing long after the board game is over. How about a split-screen archery contest with the other two players keeping the targets steady (like balancing apples on their heads)? Sadly, none of these types of games are found.
To be fair, a few games are entertaining with three other friends; the best is Bumper Ball, which involves each character running atop a giant ball trying to knock everyone else off a circular platform. Yet this is the only game that feels like a real competition! Other games (most notably the three vs. one contests) are fun only because you're watching your friend struggle to get through them (like the hilarious Piranha's Pursuit or Tight Rope Treachery).
One last gripe is that you can't enter your name or store individual records. How do you have a multi-player game without keeping individual stats for you or your friends? Also, you can always win the single-player game by switching control to the leading computer character at any time, so knowing you can cheat takes away from the enjoyment many solo gamers will have.
Mario Party is a great idea, but the simplistic nature of gameplay coupled with extremely short mini-games will leave most players feeling unsatisfied. After all the confetti is swept up, a lot of people will be going home unhappy.
The graphics are nice and clean thanks to all of the pre-rendered screens used in the game. Of course, this means there's not much animation going on while you play... The mini-games are a mixed bag, visually speaking, but most look fine. Nothing really seems to be pushing the system's limits, however.
Sound
If you loved the characters' voices in Mario Kart 64, you'll love these voices. Frankly, I'd rather hear long fingernails slowly make their way across a wide chalkboard, but the music is great. Each board game is reminiscent of the different themes found in previous Nintendo games.
Enjoyment
The mini-games in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are far more enjoyable than those found here, and most gamers should stick to GoldenEye 007, Mario Kart 64 or Turok 2: Seeds of Evil for their multi-player kicks. Don't even think about getting this game without having three other people willing to play!
Replay Value
The replay value is nearly infinite with six different main boards (although they all play basically the same) and a smaller mini-game stadium. There is also a one-player "Mini-Game Island" where you move around an overhead map playing each mini-game in order. Complete the mini-game and you'll earn coins and an extra life; lose the game and you'll lose a life. Players can also save coins to purchase their own versions of the mini-games, so they can play them whenever they want. Yes, you can now play the "Shell Game" seven times in a row!
Documentation
Nintendo rarely disappoints with their instruction manuals, and this one is no different. Everything is explained with colorful pictures and helpful icons. While the controls for each mini-game aren't listed separately, they are all self-explanatory and detailed at the beginning of each contest.
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