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A Mediocre Party

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 101 / 121
Date: June 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Ever since Mario Party debuted on the Nintendo 64, we've been receiving a new game in the series on a yearly basis. The last few Mario Party games have all been tiring. Almost rehashes. However, with the Wii, Mario Party has a chance to be a lot of fun again thanks to the Wii-Remote. Unfortunately, it isn't all its cracked up to be. The Wii-Remote controls work, but they feel like a last minute tack on, and ultimately some of the mini-games just aren't all that fun. Finally, there are other video games chock full of mini-games that make much better use of the Wii-Remote than Mario Party 8.

The formula for Mario Party really hasn't changed at all over the years. You and your friends (or the computer) will roll the die, move around the board at the end of each round of rolls you'll be thrown into a mini-game.

The mini-games are pretty short. Most of them being around 30 seconds long. Some of them are quite fun and make good use of the wii remote, such as the game where you have to shake up a soda can, or wipe off the chomp. However, there are not a lot of these kinds of mini-games. Most other mini-games don't make as big of an impression with the wii-remote, as most of them consist of you holding the wii remote like a basic gamepad and then tilting it left or right. Take for example, the game where you race on water skis. You don't actually do anything outside of tilting the wii remote left and right to jump ramps. It is in moments like these where the wii remote controls just feel tacked on. And unfortunately, this comes up in quite a few mini games. There are also a lot of mini games that simply have you tilting the Wii-Remote forward and backward. Again, the controls feel tacked on in instances like this.

The biggest slap in the face, however, is that there are a myriad of mini-games that don't use the wii-remotes motion sensor controls at all and you'll hold it like a gamepad, and play with it like it's a gamepad using the D-Pad to move your character and all. It's also to no credit that these games aren't really all that fun.

To the game's credit, though, when they do make good use of the wii-remote and its motion sensor controls, they really do a bang up job. Such as the mini-game where everyone shoots at the screen while one person dodges. It's just unfortunate that there aren't a lot of mini-games that do so, and instead make you either play the traditional way or just simply tilt the wii remote. There are some fun games here, but the game is populated by more games that really aren't a lot of fun.

As usual, Mario Party games are no fun by yourself. They need to be played with friends and family. Like previous installments, multi-player can be a lot of fun--provided you get a good mini-game. Some of the games are free-for-all but there are also some games where you'll be by yourself against three players, or working together with one other player. Mostly, though, they're free for alls, and playing with a friend is nice just so that you can see who's better. Multi-player has always been a strong aspect of Mario Party and it's no different in number 8. However, much like previous installments, the game is entirely left up to chance. One moment you're in first place, and after the very next roll you're in last. It's annoying sometimes because you really don't have any control. It's all a game based on luck. This is both a good and bad thing. Good because it makes the outcome unpredictable, and once more anyone can play this without any prior experience. It's bad, however, because for some who like to add a little strategy to their gaming, you just can't do it here.

Perhaps the biggest problem facing Mario Party 8 is that it doesn't really present a whole lot of new stuff that wasn't in Mario Party 7. With the game making use of the Wii-Remote, one would expect the experience to be quite different. Instead it's more of the same thing. Especially because there are other games on the Wii that are filled with mini-games that make far better use of the remote (Rayman Raving Rabbids comes to mind). In Mario Party 8 the wii remote controls either feel tacked on or you don't really use them. It's also hard to get past the fact that the mini-games aren't very inventive because of this. Certainly water-skiing is fun, but when you're just tilting left and right throughout the whole thing? You might as well have just put this on the Gamecube and let me tilt the analog stick left and right.

Graphically, it's no surprise that Mario Party 8 isn't the best looking game out there. Mario Party games usually aren't. At least it runs smoothly. There's no slow down or frame rate issues. It really doesn't look any different than any of the Mario Party games on the Gamecube however, and those who have a widescreen television will be disappointed to know that the game won't take up the whole screen, and instead will give you a boarder. Luckily, graphics don't make the game. Mario Party doesn't look bad, it just looks dated.

Mario Party 8 had so much potential. If they'd done more intuitive things with the Wii Remote, this may have been worth a buy. There are other mini-game collections out there that utilize the wii remote much better than this. There will be plenty of gamers out there that will be able to get past the big flaws and just have fun with it, but if you're one who's been playing Mario Party since the beginning, you can't help but admit a change is in order. Unfortunately Mario Party 8 doesn't do much for you.

Pros:

+When the Wii Controls are good, the games are actually quite fun
+Simplistic gameplay; anyone could pick this up and play it with no problems
+There are over 60 mini-games to play

Cons:

-There are far too many mini-games where the wii controls feel tacked on, and these games are pretty boring to play
-There are far too many mini-games that don't make use of the motion sensor controls at all
-There are not a lot of very inventive mini-games
-In short, the game doesn't do much to stand out above previous Mario Party installments. You'd think with the Wii Remote, Mario Party 8 would be something new to experience, but instead it ends up not being that much of a step higher than Mario Party 7

Party Central

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 78 / 99
Date: May 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This past year, the Nintendo Wii has really delivered in making a promise of delivering gameplay that is fun and addictive as the game system delivered. That has been the case with great games that really showed it like Excite Truck and the dramatic The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess. With all that said about great games, mini-game excitement has also delivered too with the return of the Mario Party series. It has been almost 2 years since the franchise had its last game on the Nintendo Gamecube, and worked like a charm by being innovative and fun for all ages. Now, it has finally made its way onto the Wii, but is it worth the wait.

Mario Party 8 for the Nintendo Wii is a wild and addictive game that brings out a simplicity for gamers young and old alike, as you unlock and play over 70 minigames that are easy and fun to play. There are also a few new additions here too, as you can also unlock players including Blooper, the sea squid from the Super Mario Brothers games, and Hammer Brothers, which recently returned in a great set of guest cameos in Super Mario Strikers and Mario Superstar Baseball. The graphics are delightful but the gameplay is definitely what brings the game to its success, as you use the Wii remote to play in games like waving a magic wand and using an energy ball to strike Bowser in a one on one showdown, punching a statue to smitherines with a boxing glove, or using it you are shaking a soda can and creating a gusher in one of the duel minigames. You can also use your Mii characters that you've created from games like Wii Sports and have them play in the Star Carnival and play games like ping pong. The graphics are delightful and the sound carries well throughout each of the boards, but the gameplay really does deliver for new Wii owners as well as die hard Mario fans alike.

All in all, Mario Party 8 is a delightful game that welcomes the party franchise Wii owners well. I loved what the series brought out for so many years, and I know that this edition does a great job as well. Considering there are so many great games coming out for the Nintendo Wii like Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, this one is definitely a wonderful addition to your Wii library.

Graphics: B+

Sound: B

Control: B+

Fun & Enjoyment: B+ for solo players; A- for Multiplayer Action

Overall: B+

Really bad party

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 58 / 111
Date: June 01, 2007
Author: Amazon User

NOT WIDESCREEN! I've played every Mario Party. I've enjoyed them up until about 5. That's when they started making big mistakes. This is the worst Mario Party yet. I'll explain why.

First, and most obvious, is the HDTV problem. This game is not in 16:9 widescreen at all. It fools you at first. The first screen and the menu is in full wide screen but the actual game and the mini-games are all in 4:3 format with horrible patterned borders on each side. A very cheap and annoying ploy by Nintendo. The graphics look great, but then when you start playing, it looks worse than Gamecube.

TIP: Change your settings to 4:3 instead of 16:9 on a widescreen TV. Then just change your aspect ratio. This will give you the same game but without the annoying bars. You can still have it in 480p, it just won't be 16:9.

Next is the controls. They are very far from imaginative. It's basically simplified WarioWare. You do very simple tasks to complete a mini-game and most of them are boring and dumb. Some games require movements with the remote that just don't work most of the time. You'll find yourself failing right away most of the time just because of the controls.

Now we have the game boards. They are completely different this time. It's basically a race to see who can roll the biggest numbers. They give coins away like crazy so winning mini-games is almost worthless. I finished one game against the computer on easy and we all had 5 stars. Dumb. I won all the mini-games, yet the computer always had over 50 coins. Most of the boards are stupid and cheap and will just make you mad.

Then we have single player mode. This is way different from party mode but you have to play it to unlock some stuff. The only problem, it's unfair. You play against the computer and they constantly get perfect rolls, tons of money, and tons of candy. I have yet to win the first match after 3 attempts.

The game is unfair, barely fun, annoying, and has tons wrong with it. I was really close to just getting it from gamefly but I love Mario Party so I bought it. If you really want to play it, put it on your list. It's not worth the money in the same way Cooking Mama isn't. For the most part, it doesn't even seem finished.

If you liked Mario Party 6 or 7, you'll feel let down by this one. I feel ripped off with this game.

Good clean fun for parents and kids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: June 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

My 6-year-old daughter wanted this game and saved her allowance and birthday money to buy it. She and I have had the best time playing this. I am not an avid gamer so it is just the right speed for she and I. There are some games that are so funny that she is laughing so hard while playing. She asks me all day long if I will play MP8 with her. My 11-year-old will butt in and play with us as well.

We've only had it about a week and have opened up about 98% of the mini games but are still having a blast with it.

I've seen some complaints about the computer always rolling 10s and getting the good prizes and squares but I have not noticed this. I find the game play to be pretty competitive. We have beat the computer characters many times and there have been times where it is neck in neck and pretty exciting right to the very end.

I've even played this by myself while the kids were at school one day! Loads of fun.

IF YOU WANT TO PLAY YOUR Wii WITH YOUR FRIENDS YOU NEED TO GET THIS GAME!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: September 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Nintendo has done a great job with the Wii. The only problem is that most of the games for it only allow one to two players at any given time, so Nintendo comes out with MARIO PARTY 8! this game is a 4 out of 5 stars in one player mode, but when you get three or four people playing, it ROCKS!!!! this is a SPECTACULAR game to play with your friends. It will entertain you and your guests for hours! The Wii remote is the key to this games great multiplayer action. you can enjoy different kinds of gameplay like 1 on 3, 2 on 2, or every man for himself. each type of gameplay has games that are unique it. Like one of the 1 on 3 games is, one person shoots snowballs at the other three, and another is the three trying to stop the one from making it it the top of a tower. So, in summery, THIS IS AN AWESOME GAME TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS!!!!!!!

Mario Party 8-an entertaining game for the whole family.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: June 23, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Mario Party 8 was the first real game that I bought for my Wii. I was hoping that because there are so many great (and classic) games relating to Mario, that this game would be another great one considering the $50 price tag. I was thrilled when I played this game for the first few times because it exceeded my expectations.

So what's to like about this game? First of all, there's a TON of things to do! The main part of the game has you playing as a Mario character (you get to choose from quite a few different characters including Boo, Wario, Waluigi, and Dry Bones). There are 6 different boards you can choose from (from Donkey Kong to a haunted house to a monopoly-type board), all with the same goal only completely different looks. Each player takes a turn moving around the board to collect coins and ultimately get a star. After all 4 players go, you play a minigame (some are 4 player, some are 2 vs. 2, and some are 1 vs. 3) and the winner gets coins. When a player gets a star, another star appears on another part of the board and you start all over again attempting to get the new star. With other tricks and surprises (like candy pieces that allow you to do certain things and mystery board spaces), no game is the same and there's a lot of competition.

There are other games you can play besides the main game. The second game option allows you to choose from a selection of other games. For these, you play minigames and each win puts you ahead of the other players. For example, the goal of one game is to win 5 minigames to ultimately crown yourself the winner. Another has you flipping "tiles" after every win and whoever has flipped the most tiles at the end of the game, wins.

After every game you play, you get a certain number of "carnival cards". With these carnival cards you can buy more options for even more gameplay. You can buy "figures" which are basically collectible figures of random Mario-themed items and you can display them sort of as trophys. You can also buy other really fun minigames that you can play anytime you want.

Lastly, I know other reviewers have said that this game should be for kids. However, I'm 19 years old and I find it very entertaining. This is truly a game that everyone, no matter what age, can enjoy.

And what's not to like? As I mentioned above, the price isn't all that great. However, because most Wii games are the same price, and because this game brings a ton of entertainment to my family, I was willing to forget how much I paid for it. Still, this means that you need to REALLY like this game in order to be ok with the price. Second, when it's just my sister and I playing against the system, the waiting time between turns can be a pain. Other than that, this game is all positives.

If you're interested in buying a game for your Wii that is fun for the whole family, be sure to check this one out!

Just Flat Out Disapointing

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: June 02, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing these Mario Party games since Mario Party 5 came out for the Gamecube, and I've been hooked ever since. I had so much anticipation built up for this game, but it turned out that I'll probably be trading this game in for something else after just buying it and playing a whole night of it with my friends.

In past Mario Party games, there were all kinds of things that made playing the board aspect of the game enjoyable. Mario Party 8 fails in this area. The board is just flat out boring, and nothing really crazy happens as opposed to the previous Mario Party games. There are no spaces where rival players can take over and use them to take away your coins or stars or something like that.

Duel games don't carry their same appeal as they did in previous games. I used to be terrified of them because there was more at stake. Now the highest stakes are losing about 20 coins or so. If you're a veteran Mario Party gamer like myself, you know this isn't a big deal, and hence forth, that aspect of the game is pretty much gone.

The mini games aren't very fun either. Sure, there are lots of them. However, like previous reviewers have stated, they don't really take advantage of the Wii. Over half of the games require you to play your Wii remote like an average game pad. That was disappointing. The games where you actually use the Wii remote are just okay. I still think that Nintendo could have done a better job with these as well.

There are a few new faces in the game, which is nice to see. Graphics are decent, but not impressive. Of course, you don't play these games for the graphics either. Plus, this game does feel like a Gamecube port, and feels a little rushed, too.

I just think they could have done so much more with this game, and they didn't. After I was done playing this game with my buddies for about 4 hours straight, I felt just flat out disappointed. I've had way more fun with previous versions of Mario Party, and ask anyone who hasn't given this franchise a shot, you should probably give one of the earlier versions a try. Honestly, this is the worst Mario Party game I've played.

Another hit in a great series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 13
Date: May 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This is the 8th installment in the Mario Party series from Nintendo. Like its predecessors, Mario Party 8 features tons of mini-games (some new, some variations on older games) and a board-game style competition for anywhere from 1 to 4 players.

Audience: This game truly has the potential to be one of the select few that is fun for nearly everyone. Gamers and non-gamers alike, of all ages, will find the mini-games very entertaining and the competitive boards a lot of fun! I should also note that the "audience" here is really a multi-player audience--it's much more fun to play with other people than against a computer player.

Graphics: 'Cartoony,' typical Wii graphics. The graphics are actually quite beautiful, though obviously not realistic. Very pleasing to the eye though.

Gameplay: Gameplay is simple and easy to get the hang of. You choose a board, everyone picks a character, and then the fun begins. Like previous Mario Party games the object is to complete some objective on each board (stars or coins or whatever) while competing in various mini-games and activities along the way.

Control: Even non-gamers will find the mini-games pretty easy to get the hang of. The Wii remote is put to good use here--as a lasso, a flashlight, a hammer or mallet, and many other things!

Challenge: The challenge from this game comes mostly in the form of competition from the people you're playing against. It is what you make it, I guess. There is a single-player competitive mode as well, though I haven't gone far enough in it to know if it becomes more difficult as it progresses.

Storyline: Well, there really isn't one. It's just a...well, a party. Hence the title. You do earn carnival cards and can use them to unlock new games and to buy floats for a parade. Not much more to it than that.

Overall: This is a great first Mario Party installment for the Wii. It manages to capitalize on all the Wii's strengths--the unique controllers, the cartoon-like graphics--and should be great fun for quite some time (until Mario Party 9). And unlike some of the Wii release titles this game seems very polished.

Waited months for it and not that impressed

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: June 04, 2007
Author: Amazon User

My wife and I got our Wii in December. Since then, we have enjoyed Wii Sports immensely and have even enjoyed Wii Play to some extent. Mario Party 8 was supposed to be the next great game. I have to say it wasn't that great. Here's my review:

1. As most of the reviewers have already mentioned, the lack of support for widescreen is disappointing and if you have a TV that is prone to burn-in, it will be a problem. Luckily we have a LCD TV that we play the Wii on, so it's not really a concern for us. D+
2. The minigames are too simple and do not take full advantage of the Wiimote. Motion is too simplistic and a lot of the games do not really use motion-sensing. C-
3. The Extra Large minigames are a little better, but bowling is horrible compared to Wii Sports. The table tennis game is a big improvement over Wii Play though. Moped Racing is about the same as Cow Racing in Wii Play, so not much improvement there. B-
4. The fact that you have to unlock all the minigames playing the board game is very annoying. For one, the board game is too easy to win at if you play against the computer. I need to crank up the difficulty level the next time - I blew through the monopoly-esque board game in 10 minutes and only opened up three minigames. It seemed like a waste of time. C-

There are some good things about this game:
1. It is a great party game if the people playing are not that adept at gaming. I'm by no means a hard-core gamer - my wife and I grew up with Galaga and Ms. Pac-Man and still enjoy playing them. We spend maybe three hours a week on the Wii, so this system is defintely geared towards people like us. B+
2. My wife likes the game a lot because the games do not require hours to master - she can pick up the Wiimote and practice a couple of times and be competitive. B+
3. Once you unlock the minigames, you can play them in several different ways. You can play them individually or in a game-show mode. The only problem is if you have more than two people, there are only a select number of games that four people can play. B+

All-in-all, this game is just OK. I expected the minigames to be more like those on Rayman. I would only recommend this game to those that have friends over a lot or those with kids. Hopefully Nintendo will continue to work with the motion-sensing capabilities of the Wiimote and produce a better product in Mario Party 9.

just got it, still getting the hang of it

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: May 31, 2007
Author: Amazon User

i just got the game last night, as far as i can see the game is pretty good, not as bad as they say it is, the graphics are pretty good, i like the new camera angle as it follows your character closely, some of the mini games might seem like you have played them before in other wii titles, but i have yet to have a game where all four players can play at the same time and not having to share a wiimote (i.e. smooth moves multiplayer) i have yet to try the single player mode though i imagine is as good if not better than the one on mp7. i'm glad they added a single player mode since sometimes you don't have a full house, or you're the first one up on a saturday morning and there is no one awake to join you. i agree with most people that online would have been an awesome thing to add, but making it playable online now, when nintendo hasn't really gotten their online system up and running to its full potential, would just bring up more and more complaints. all in all in the little time i have had to play it (about 2 hrs) i am happy with my purchase. i don't feel robbed, its a great addition to the wii library.

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