The game is ok, but I want to highlight this genius mode you unlock after finding all the minigames called "Spot the Sneak," where you play a series of minigames where one player gets the ability to cheat (giving them an advantage in winning the minigame) but they can get their points revoked if the other players correctly guess they were the sneak. This mode inspires mindgames and metagaming tactics, like intentionally getting second as the sneak, or screen peeking to see if something about the other player's inputs are suspicious; it's a really cool mode that's never been attempted in another game.

I genuinely believe this is the best "Mario Party" style game. It makes great use of the Game Pad, has a wonderful variety of mini-games, and even mixes up the board game formula by adding different types of experiences. There are board games, but there are also game shows, pachinko-esque machines, and many other framing devices. There's also plenty of charm and polish, my favorite of which is using the Miis you have saved to your system to populate crowds and background characters. My friends and I still play this game over a decade later and have a blast.

[Review written January 2014]

When it was first announced, Wii Party honestly looked to me like typical bad Nintendo casual game fare. Although it mostly was that, a few very creative modes and an excellent collection of mini-games allowed it to be one of the most frequently played games in the Wii’s later days and it was almost always played when somebody came over. I may have been one of the very few people in the world who were mildly looking forward to this, so how is Wii Party U? Unfortunately (but probably unsurprisingly), not very good.

Wii Party U is mostly set up in the same way that the first one was. There are a ton of modes, most of them being pretty bad game modes that have you play minigames that only give you a slight advantage due to random “luck”. I have always been suspicious of these type of Nintendo games for programming games a certain way so that even if you win or lose every minigame, the dice rolls will keep you close to competition whether it be ahead or behind. This is a careful balance that is put in a lot of driving games, including Nintendo’s own Mario Kart series. When done correctly, the format works fine. However, in a game like this it can be infuriating to lose even when you are doing everything right. A little luck is fine, a lot of luck is no fun.

This serious problem greatly brings down the fun I have in the main mode selection, and it unfortunately plagues the majority of these games. Nintendo has included some other stuff too, such as tabletop games that don’t require the TV. In theory, this could be a great idea, but none of the short little games have any lasting appeal, so unfortunately a throwaway. There are a few good ideas in the house party selection. We (me, my sisters, and my cousins) had a fun time with a “guess the facial expression” mode, and a goofy dancing game in which everyone boogies around the gamepad is terrible, but naturally fun. The best mode from the first Wii Party called Spot the Sneak, where you play minigames but one player is given a cheating handicap and must try to hide it while also performing well in the match, makes a welcomed return, and once again easily steals the show. Trying to play mindgames with your friends and get away clean with nobody picking you are the best moments I’ve had with this game.

The minigames are fine, but some feel a little bit unoriginal and again, too many of them force you to rely on luck to win. One of the few memorable minigames is a much more complex version of the horse race from the first game, in which now you get to pick from four different animals with different attributes. Learning just how much you can giddy up that animal without tiring it out is a very fun endeavor. I just wish that more of the minigames involved depth and required careful planning, but apparently Nintendo thinks luck is more suitable for the family audiences.

Overall, Wii Party U does have a couple of good ideas, but the minigame collection is pretty weak and I’m sorry to have to say that this is a step down from the Wii version. It does come with a Wii Remote Plus like Wii Play did for the Wii, so if you need an extra controller, it is worth picking up. Otherwise, I would say you shouldn’t bother.

One of the laziest sequals to a game ive ever seen, the main bored is a long 's' in the middle of the ocean.... like cmon give me something a little more interesting. The other modes are alright, with my favourite being BALLDOZER but that mode has its own issues. Even though i think this game was lazily made the mini games really hold it together and actually make this worth a play with friends. Its not bad, far from it just wish more effort went into the modes so i feel a good reason to play the mini games which is by far the best part.

Wii Party U, where do I even begin? This game is a prime example of how a seemingly innocent party game can turn into a button-smashing nightmare. It all started with this piece of garbage, and I can't help but wonder why it was ever created in the first place.

The premise of Wii Party U might sound promising on the surface, with its collection of mini-games and activities designed for multiplayer fun. However, the reality is far from enjoyable. The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making it a frustrating experience from the get-go.

But the real kicker is the button-smashing. It seems like the only button worth smashing in this game is the power button on your console to make it stop. The mini-games are often reduced to mindless button mashing, devoid of any strategy or skill. It quickly becomes a test of who can wear out their controller the fastest, leading to sore thumbs and a sense of regret.

The lack of depth and variety in the mini-games is astonishing. It's as if the developers ran out of ideas and decided that making players repeatedly press buttons was the way to go. There's no creativity or innovation here, just a mind-numbing repetition of the same uninspired activities.

In conclusion, Wii Party U is a button-smashing nightmare that offers little in terms of genuine fun or entertainment. It's a stain on the reputation of party games and serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when creativity takes a backseat to mindless button mashing. If you value your sanity and your controllers, steer clear of this turd of a game.

Score: 1/10

i played this a lot more regularly back when i was in like elementary and middle school with friends and family, but i had good times and made good memories playing this game. pretty much the same thing as wii party with different main game modes that are all most likely an entertaining time with friends regardless of which game mode you pick. i also forgot about the weird two player gamepad minigames, i remember playing a few of them once and not really feeling any desire to go back, but they were cute in concept