MarioParty 8 - Nintendo Wii
By: Serren
Rated E for Everyone 
Overall
Mario Party has been the classic go-to party game since this great genre was introduced. This franchise is tried and true, and every year or so Nintendo awards their loyal customers with a new version. Since the Wii was announced, the idea of playing a Mario Party in a whole new fashion has been a tantalizing lure. After a few delays, Nintendo released Mario Party 8 in late May 2007.
Mario Party 8 is mostly classic party fun on the Wii. Unfortunately it feels slapped together with games simply pulled from prior versions and lack of 16x9 support. Oh yeah, and don't forget the wacky controls. While performing actions in two dimensions are easy enough and fun, the mini-games that attempt to use the Wiimote in three dimensions may leave you a bit frustrated.
General Gameplay
Mario Party's primary game mode is Party Mode, which is now called Party Tent. In this mode, up to four players play a virtual board game where they choose from one of 14 characters and "roll" a dice to move around a game board. Mario Party 8 contains six unique game boards: DK's Treetop Temple, Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, King Boo's Haunted Hideaway, Shy Guy's Perplex Express, Koopa's Tycoon Town and the sixth, Bowser's Warped Orbit which must be unlocked to play. The goal of the game is to collect the most stars and coins, and win the most mini-games (the heart of the game). This is all accomplished while moving along the virtual game board. After a pre-determined number of game rounds, the winner is decided based upon these criteria.
The board game is what allows access to the mini-games - the meat of all Mario Parties. Mario Party 8 uses the same game scheme as the ones before it. At the end of each round (after each player has had their turn rolling the dice and moving around the board) the players are brought together to battle in a random mini-game. Some games have players battling alone vs. the other three players and some are teams of two vs. two. Sometime players battle each other, but other times they battle an outside force in a quest to outperform the others, such as dodging volcano thrown fireballs.
Besides the Party Tent, Mario Party 8 also offers the following game modes: Mini Game Tent, Fun Bazaar, Star Battle Arena and the Extra Zone. Each of these modes gives players the ability to jump right into whatever game mode they prefer. If you only like Mini Games and have no interest in the board game aspect, then the Mini Game Tent will be your hang-out. If you want a taste of single player bliss, the Star Battle Arena is where you will battle the computer, which is quite a challenge.
Nintendo claims that Mario Party 8 contains dozens of mini-games, which is similar to the prior versions. The mini-games are very silly in nature, but also very fun. This is where the Wii version both makes and breaks Mario Party. The games ask the players to row a boat, saw timber, paint a fence, shoot a target, steer a car, pump air, lasso a barrel, jump rope, and such mostly using the motion sensing ability of the Wiimote. Sometimes the Wiimote is in the “standard”, front pointed at the TV mode, other times the remote is tilted sideways. Like in other Wii games, the ability of the game to detect your efforts into actual game play can be frustrating.
Some of the mini-games simply work. When the Wiimote control is a natural action, the games are a blast. Others games, for whatever reason, never quite feel right, causing quite a bit of annoyance. Sawing a log in half - easy. All you do is move the Wiimote back and forth as fast as possible. Shooting targets; just aim the cursor and hit the A or B button. No problem. Now try and move your little character forward, backward, and side to side, with the Wiimote - not so easy. Holding the remote with its point in the air, you press your hand toward the TV to speed up, and away from the TV to slow down. Continue doing this while also tilting the remote left and right to steer around objects the single player is throwing at you, not very easy at all.
Tech Specs
Mario Party 8 should have been the best looking edition of this series. It is not. In graphical prowess it simple equals versions 6 and 7. The game is not even full screen! The game is 4x3, centered on a 16x9 set, with colored sidebars. (Burn-in warning!) This was the first indication that this game is just another port for the Wii. This was confirmed by actually playing the game. Obviously, very little time was spent re-rendering any of the games' visuals to take advantage of the Wii's GPU. Graphics will not make or break Mario Party 8, but again, at a retail price of $49.99, I feel like Nintendo easily could have given us much more in the visuals department. While the graphics are lacking, fortunately they do not hurt the playability of this game.
The sound effects and music are adequate for this game. The actual music during the games seemed less grating then some prior versions, which was nice.
Game Rage
Always use the practice mode before playing a mini-game for the first time. Reading the rules and mini-game instructions do not always translate into understanding. A practice game allows the players to get the "feel" for what actually needs to happen to win the game. Often it may take 2 or 3 practices before all players understand. If a new person is playing for the first time, allow them the courtesy of a practice game also.
As mentioned, some of the more complicated mini-games that use the Wiimote extensively have the potential for some frustration. The good thing is that everyone is normally equally confused on how to manipulate the Wiimote properly to get the desired action completed. At least you'll all be equally enraged!
Butt Groove
The game allows the players to choose the number or rounds of game play, between 10 and 50. Four players playing 10 rounds can easily take over an hour. The game defaults at 15 rounds, which would take more then 90 minutes. More time is needed at first while players learn the new mini-games. As a Party Game, the game is as good as the attention span of those playing.
Bedtime Rating
My six-year old daughter was able to play this game with very little help and had a blast. The most difficult problem she had was reading and understanding the upcoming mini-game. Unfortunately this also applies to adults. First you have to read the rules and goal of the game (such as pull the most weeds in 30 seconds). Next you have to read how to pull the weeds using the Wiimote. This may be to target the weed, hold the A button, and quickly yank the Wiimote away from the screen to uproot the weed. Once you've read over the instructions you have to actually do it on the screen. Sometimes it is not as easy as it sounds.
Otherwise, my six-year old daughter can play this game solo and has a TON of fun. The game allows her to play against three computer controlled characters, or along with a computer controlled teammate. The difficulty of the computer contolled characters can be adjusted between Easy, Normal and Hard.
Multiplayer
Duh! It's Mario Party! This game is best played with four humans. The mini-game competition is always heated in my home. Many times the same game will be played over and over again as someone always thinks they almost won, or were just a second away from winning. The boasting and bragging is why we play party games. Mario Party also provides a suspenseful little show at the games end before the winner is revealed. Great fun!
Conclusion
Overall, this is a highly anticipated game that just barley passes muster. What the Wiimote adds in uniqueness, it also takes away with its inconsistencies. While not horribly inconsistent like many other failed Wii titles (Monster 4x4, Red Steel, etc.) the little troubles may still add up for some. At $49.99 the game is not a bargain by any means. If this is to be your first Mario Party, then you may not realize how many of the games have been stolen from older versions, with just the added twist of using the Wiimote. The Gamecube versions (4 through 7) are just as fun, half the cost, and have much less of a learning curve.
I can see this game being a good showcase game for the Wii, much like Wii Sports. A person new to the Wii (or gaming) would find the technology of the motion sensing controls incredible. This may be a good thing for someone who may not be comfortable with a Gamecube controller in their hand. If you are just now entering the Nintendo camp, I'd recommend you find a Gamecube controller (wireless are about $15 each.) and pick-up a used copy of 7, 6, 5, or 4.
Mario Party 8 will be played in my home, but no more then the prior four versions. While still a fun party game, at a retail price of $49.99, I feel the game comes up a bit short on value. Despite the above issues, Mario Party 8 is still a fun party game. I just wish it was a bit more polished.
RESULTS
General Gameplay
Tech Specs
Game Rage
Butt Groove
Bedtime Rating
Multiplayer
Overall Couch Count: 3.5 out of 5
Linear Mode
