The first Mario Party for the Nintendo 64 was a fun and challenging party game that was decent as a single-player experience but provided countless hours of fun as a multiplayer game. After the launch of Mario Party, a sequel was released for the console, and although it doesn’t do much to add to the formula set by the first game, it offers more of the same great party gameplay and definitely warrants a try.
Mario Party 2 Gameplay
Those who played the original Mario Party will feel right at home with the sequel. This offering brings new board maps to play through and a bunch of new minigames as well. Items can now be purchased or won, and these range from Golden Mushrooms (hit three dice blocks) to Boo Bells (summon Boo and attempt to steal opponents’ coins or Stars for a set price).
Some of the minigames from the first Mario Party make a return here. Fans of Bobsled Run and Skateboard Scamper will once again be able to play these minigames, but there are also countless new challenges such as Cake Factory, where teams of two must work together to build a cake, and Totem Pole Pound, which sees four players ground pounding a tall totem pole until it is literally crushed into the ground.
Like in the last game, the player with the most Stars at the end of the last turn wins. In addition to the multiplayer boards, there’s also a single-player adventure akin to the Minigame Island mode found in the previous game. And like in the first Mario Party, this mode is competent and fun, but most gamers will prefer playing the game alongside—or against—their friends.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics in Mario Party 2 are definitely a step up from the last game. Characters feature a slightly higher polygon count, their faces aren’t blurred anymore, and there’s more color in all aspects of the game. This title’s presentation is by no means amazing, but it does improve on the first game’s graphics.
Sound-wise, Mario Party 2 features some pretty cool music. The whole thing has a slightly more grand sound than the first game in the series, which featured a quirkier soundtrack. Once again, the game’s characters will often utter their catchphrases, and these moments are definitely chuckle-worthy. Gamers will find it hard not to giggle when they hear Wario sadly exclaiming, “D’oh, I missed!” in his classic villain voice.
Lasting Value
Gamers who loved the first Mario Party and played it endlessly will find a lot to like in this sequel. It’s basically more of the same, but it adds a few minor touches to the gameplay that make it a fun experience for fans of the first game and newcomers alike.
Mario Party 2 – More of the Same
Mario Party 2 doesn’t tamper with what the first game brought to the table all that much. Despite some new boards, new minigames, slightly new features, and cleaned up graphics, this title plays it safe and feels more like an expansion of the original game. Still, this is a solid choice, and it’s easy to put this party game right up there with the original.
Score: 8.5
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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