Super Mario Party
Toad’s Rec room/ Mini-Games:
Toad’s Rec room is a secluded area to the right of the rest of the map that you access via a green tube. Once in the rec room Toad introduces 4 mini-games that can only be played in his rec room. These games are special as you can play them like a tabletop-style game placing your Nintendo Switch on a table and you can have 2 Switch’s connected at once. Mini-Games is exactly how it sounds, it is a game mode where you can play all the mini-games that you want.
Mario Party:
Mario Party is the main game mode in this game. It is fundamentally a board game with challenges. Everyone rolls dice to move around the board trying to collect stars and coins along the way. The major differences are that there are no teams and your movement is restricted to a specific direction. Different spaces have different results, and the four maps bring their own unique touches to the game mode. You can play 10-20 rounds, between 1-2 hours, and up to 4 players on one console. Each round ends with a randomly selected mini-game, and the bonuses at the end make a close ending game even tighter.
Partner Party:
This game mode is a fun twist on the board game mode with added allies. The goal of the game mode is still the same; purchasing stars while moving around the board. Besides the regular items, like coins and power ups, the board also features allies. These characters are from the character select screen that players did not choose from. After recruiting these allies, the player is able to access their unique dice, which adds a layer to this chaotic game mode. This game mode is made even more chaotic when paired with a partner when playing with more people.
Sound Stage:
This is a fun little game mode that features a rhythm based competitive mode. In this mode, players are pitted against one another for who has the best rhythm. With simple controls, usually boiled down to shaking the Joy-Con, the simplicity of the game can bring out the competition out of most players. Since this mode is all about skill, and there is no luck involved, this is the perfect mode for competitive players who want to compete with their friends.
River Rafting:
River Rafting is potentially the most interesting game mode in this game. It doesn’t bring the classic aspects we expect from a Mario Party game, flipping the script on its head. It’s a game mode where you work together in a team of 4 to raft down a river. The challenge of rowing in symmetry makes this a challenge game mode without the mini-games, ticking clock, and enemies that attempt to end your journey early.
Sebastian: 9.3/10
Mario Party 8 is one of those classic Wii games that I grew up playing and loving. I remember spending countless nights playing that game while laughing and having a great time. So, upon receiving a Nintendo Switch it was only natural that my family and I wanted to buy the latest Mario Party which happened to be Super Mario Party. The best way I could describe this game is Mario Party amplified. With more game modes, mini-games, and just a bigger feel this game definitely upped the ante. The traditional Mario Party game mode was fun as always with some new maps and some great new additions such as allies and the new mushrooms/items.
The partner party mode is a fun new twist on the classic mode where you have to work together with someone else to win. The river raft game mode is also another fun addition to this game where you and 3 other players/CPU’s work together to try to make your way down the river before the time runs out. While going down the river your team will spot giant balloons that when you pop them you and your team will play a team mini-game to try and add time to the clock. This is a fun game mode that will cause frustration but also a lot of laughter. With so many modes to try out you will keep coming back for all the fun that can be had. The added feature of being able to connect two consoles to play with up to 8 players means that you can have those laughs with even more people.
All in all, I highly recommend this game to families or to anyone who loves Nintendo. This is a great game for families and if you’re looking for something to play during our current lockdown this is a great one to sit down and play!
Austin: 9.2/10
This is another classic Nintendo game. Mario Party has been around for a long time, going back to the Wii and the Nintendo DS, and this version brings the same game to the table with some notable upgrades. The addition of the river rafting game mode is an awesome mode to play with others, and it almost feels like something out of Wii Sports. Just like we see from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this game is considerably better when played with a group or at least one other person. It is fun and challenging to play on your own, but it doesn’t have the plot or story to keep you interested for very long.
The classic modes of Mario Party and Partner Party are by far the best and are sure to bring out the competitive spirit in even the most relaxed players. The classic board game feels mixed with some awesome mini-games makes for a fun game and one that doesn’t feel repetitive.
That might be the most impressive part of this game. The library of mini-games is huge and I have yet to see one more than twice. They are all slightly different and suited to different strengths and weaknesses. I was a big fan of the original Mario Party for the mini-games alone, but I think the mini-games in Super Mario Party are more challenging and more unique with the help of better buttons and motion controls on the Nintendo Switch.
Overall, this game is a blast for everyone, whether you love gaming or you are someone who is looking for something to do as a family. I would absolutely look into picking this one up soon, with lockdowns and regulations in full effect. The added tabletop bonus for up to 8 players with two consoles put together makes for a great party game. If you have a craving for Mario, but no one to play with, I’d recommend checking out Mario Odyssey instead!
Nathanyal: 9.0/10
The latest installment of the Mario Party series, this version on the Switch offers many traditional modes found in previous titles, while also providing some new game modes as well. This game features a board game mode, which has two variations, a minigame mode, a rhythm game mode, and a survival raft mode.
For the basic board game mode, there is a mode where you play to collect stars individually or in pairs and there is a mode where you can recruit allies. This mode is super fun with close friends and family. In the basic board game mode, there are so many instances where the random nature of Mario Party creates hilarious situations for everyone. Alongside with dealing with random events, there is also a good amount of strategy, which allows the more competitive player to enjoy. Strategy comes more into play in the other mode where you can collect allies, as that aspect of the game can give the player a great advantage. Overall, this mode is fun for both competitive and casual players alike.
The other main game mode is a survival raft mode where players work together to make it to the end of a river. This mode provides a different side of Mario Party that is new and refreshing, although, you might not feel that way when you play with certain friends and family. The whole concept of this mode is to cooperate with your teammates to reach the end of a river. Depending on your teammates, this can be a joy or a pain to play. But either way, there will always be highlights in every round.
Overall, this is a fun game to play with both friends and family. The only thing that holds this game back is the required use of Joy Cons, which aren’t the most durable of controllers. Either way, this is definitely something worth picking up to play during a gathering.
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