This one gets a bad rap, but for a simple party game, this was a popular go to for roommates and siblings for a long while - we'll still hop into this to play the rhythm games or the river raft teamwork game. The minigames themselves are pretty fun too, with all the different motion controls! Annoying that this game literally doesn't let you open it with more than one Joy-con, but that's as classic Nintendo as you can get. The boards themselves are definitely the weakest, but those other modes are a blast. And the random single multiplayer portion isn't bad either.
All in all, as a Mario Party game, come for the river rafting and rhythm games, stay for the mini-games, have fun with friends, and avoid the actual Mario Party game.
In retrospect, we'll go to this one for the other modes and Mario Party Superstars for the boards.
All in all, as a Mario Party game, come for the river rafting and rhythm games, stay for the mini-games, have fun with friends, and avoid the actual Mario Party game.
In retrospect, we'll go to this one for the other modes and Mario Party Superstars for the boards.
There's some promise in nearly all of the modes here, but none of them are executed perfectly, and all of them have too little content to be worth revisiting more than a few times.
One thing I'd definitely like to see revisited in the future is the character Dice Blocks; these feel like a much less invasive and more strategically interesting way to do character-based balancing than 7's unique blue orbs, especially since you can use allies for additional options.
One thing I'd definitely like to see revisited in the future is the character Dice Blocks; these feel like a much less invasive and more strategically interesting way to do character-based balancing than 7's unique blue orbs, especially since you can use allies for additional options.
This is the only Mario Party that will let me main Bowser, so obviously it's the best one. I also prefer it to Superstars in terms of gameplay (with the caveat, of course, that I'm not a big console gamer in general, having grown up on MS-DOS and emulation, and struggle with the z-axis at the best of times). Using one Joy-Con is great and the vibration/tilt-control games are stupid fun. A thorough joy. And also - it bears repeating - I can main Bowser. What's not to love?
Some of the most unique minigames that take full advantage of the controls
Many of these minigames have wibbly-wobbly controls, but it actual works in this one, and the ones that don't have everyone struggling with it, not just you
Characters have a unique system where they come with a personal dice, making a bit of extra strategy with who you pick. You can even get additional dice midgame to expand your choices, but can lead to just steamrolling/getting steamrolled from the armada that someone has on their team.
The biggest crux of this game is the maps, they are HORRENDOUS, arguably only 1 map is even remotely enjoyable. You are often screwed over by being stuck in RNG hell or begging the game to hand you a Golden Pipe so you can just get a star.
Great party game, definitely one to consider at the family cookout :)
Many of these minigames have wibbly-wobbly controls, but it actual works in this one, and the ones that don't have everyone struggling with it, not just you
Characters have a unique system where they come with a personal dice, making a bit of extra strategy with who you pick. You can even get additional dice midgame to expand your choices, but can lead to just steamrolling/getting steamrolled from the armada that someone has on their team.
The biggest crux of this game is the maps, they are HORRENDOUS, arguably only 1 map is even remotely enjoyable. You are often screwed over by being stuck in RNG hell or begging the game to hand you a Golden Pipe so you can just get a star.
Great party game, definitely one to consider at the family cookout :)