The Mario Party series has been around for a very long time. Spanning three console generations and consisting of eight console games and two handheld games, it’s safe to say that Mario Party has had a long run. Many gamers have their preferences when it comes to the Mario Party games, but the first game in the series is arguably the best.
Mario Party Gameplay
Mario Party takes the board game formula and throws characters from the Mario universe and over 50 minigames into the mix. Players can choose from Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Wario. Other characters such as Boo, Toad, and Koopa Troopa also make appearances, but their role in the game is different than that of the playable characters.
To get into the action, gamers choose a character, pick a board map, and select the number of turns to play. Players must hit a dice block to see how many spaces they can move on a board, and depending on the space they land on, something will happen. Gamers can lose coins, gain coins, or change a feature on the board, possibly changing the other players’ chance at victory in the process.
In order to win once the last turn is over, a player must have the highest number of Stars. Stars can be bought from Toad for 20 coins. Coins are earned by landing on blue spaces and winning minigames. Minigames take place after each turn, and there is a huge variety of minigames in Mario Party.
The game features 2-on-2 minigames such as Bombsketball (basketball with a Bob-omb), 3-on-1 minigames such as Tightrope Treachery (where one player walks across a tightrope while the three below shoot cannonballs), and free-for-all minigames such as Skateboard Scamper (where players must skate to the finish line while avoiding obstacles and getting away from the deteriorating path behind them). Most of the minigames are great, and the variety keeps things from getting boring.
Minigame Island Mode
Mario Party features a single-player component as well. Minigame Island features nine world maps each with their own set of minigames to clear. Gamers will play through every minigame until they get to the final world. It’s a competent mode that some players will really enjoy, while others will overlook due to the game’s attention to multiplayer fun.
Graphics and Sound
Mario Party is a mixed bag in terms of visuals. Board maps look great and minigame locales are decent, but the character design is a bit ugly to be quite honest. It’ll be hard for gamers to make out characters’ faces due to the simple fact that they’re so blurry and lack detail. But considering this game’s focus is multiplayer fun, this gripe can be ignored.
The game’s soundtrack is strong and features a bunch of original tracks. The music heard throughout the board maps and Minigame Island is nice, while the minigame themes are frantic and keep with the crazy pace of the minigames themselves. There’s a good amount of voice acting, but Mario and pals all tend to sound a bit odd.
Lasting Value
With over six board maps, 50+ minigames, unlockable extras, and a lengthy single-player mode, Mario Party is bound to keep players busy for a while. The fun really gets taken to another level when two or more players get involved, and this is where Mario Party excels. Playing alone is fun, but it isn’t as great as getting together with a group of friends and playing, so gamers should make sure to have another person to play with.
Mario Party – The Standard for Party Games
Mario Party on the N64 is a strong multiplayer title. Playing alone may not yield the same results as playing with others, but that’s to be expected of a party game. There’s a lot of charm to be found in this package, and it continues to be a robust title to this day. Mario Party is easily one of the most challenging, well-rounded party games around.
Score: 8.5/10
David Sanchez - David Sanchez is a college student and freelance games jounalist. What was once a hobby for him is now a passion, and he looks to someday ...
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