Mario Party 8

[SuperPhillip]

I've only owned up to the fourth edition, played and was turned off by the fifth installment, but the new Wii remote controls just might be the pick-me-up I need with this series. The only bummer is no online play, but that was expected. Hopefully the obvious Mario Party 9 will fix that.

I just saw Gametrailers' review (8.3) on the game, and my interest is piqued.
http://www.gametrailers.com/player.php?type=mov&id=20015

Anybody going to pick it up?

[PC!]

I never really got into any of the Mario Party games, or party games in general for that matter, but the Wii has me interested.

[Eddy]

This is the first Mario Party game I've been looking forward to playing since Mario Party 2.

[simpsonsfan]

I'm buying this one. I own the whole series.

[Mynd Hed]

Online play would be a tricky addition to Mario Party; the problem of lamewads dropping out of games when they're losing would be multiplied over the span of what can be an hours-long game, but it would be nice to be able to play online with some of my IRL friends who no longer live close enough to get together for normal multiplayer on a regular basis, especially if voice chat were incorporated. Oh, well, maybe when 9 inevitably hits.

I'll definitely be giving this one a rent, because the MP titles are always good for at least a weekend or so of fun if you can get enough people together. I'll wait and see whether it's worth a purchase, though, because the thing about Mario Party is, if you have any doubts at all about whether it's worth your fifty bones, well, there's always another one coming right around the corner that might just improve.

[Dogbert]

I wasn't planning to buy this until a price drop, but Circuit City has it for $39.99 and also has a buy two get $20 off special on Wii games. I can't pass it up at $29.99 plus tax. That's my first Mario Party purchase since MP4. I was really disappointed with the increased randomness in MP4 and I heard it only got worse with the other GCN editions. MP8 is Nintendo's chance to win me back and innovative controls won't mean a thing if skill is only loosely related to success once again. MP needs some randomness (it is a board game after all), but giving, taking and trading stars just by luck was too far.

Either way, I'm hoping for MP2 & MP3 on VC sometime. I'd buy MP1 too, but with the control stick spinning issues, I doubt NoA will allow it to be released. Of course, they might not let any of the series hit VC if they think $10 MP games would hurt sales for MP8-MP11.

[email2003]

Nintendo Power magazine gave the game a 7.5 and stated, "8 is enough!"

[Sigma]

Nintendo Power magazine gave the game a 7.5 and stated, "8 is enough!"
Yeah my fellow staff members over at the Nintendo Wii channel at AMN reviewed this and they were not impressed and these guys are hardcore Nintendo fans.

You can check the review out here (http://wii.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=9923). Needless to say they didn't really care too much for Mario's 8th party.

[email2003]

IGN.com / 5.6

And it shows. IGN.com went into full detail about this game. The game is still the same as the last damn 7 Party's and the graphics were the worst of them all. IGN.com states the graphics are still at GameCube type graphics but even worse than that. WTF Nintendo!?

I was gonna get this but I guess I'll hold my cash for Ninja Gaiden Sigma for PS3.

[Eddy]

IGN.com / 5.6

And it shows. IGN.com went into full detail about this game. The game is still the same as the last damn 7 Party's and the graphics were the worst of them all. IGN.com states the graphics are still at GameCube type graphics but even worse than that. WTF Nintendo!?
Blame Hudson Soft. They're the ones that make the game, not Nintendo.

[Sigma]

Blame Hudson Soft. They're the ones that make the game, not Nintendo.
Hudson Soft also made the horrible Fuzion Frenzy 2 for 360. Hudson should stay away from making party games forever and just stick to rehashing the same Bomberman games over and over.

[sdp]

Mario Party 1-3 were great. I trully think each MP was better than the last. The minigames were all fantastic. MP4 made the jump to Gamecube and it was also great.
MP5-7 aren't bad, I like them. Its just more of the same and different mini games and small added additions don't have the same impact like they did in the earlier installments did. Any game would get stale with yearly installments.
How well do the MP games sell? Do they really make enough to warrant a yearly sequel? Another odd thing is why can't you ever get them for cheap? I can understand not being players choice to not eat up the sequels sales but on used stores the cheapest I've found is 30 and that was MP4 others ar $40.


From what reviews i've read MP8 is essentially a gamecube game that they made for Wii at the last minute. I bet MP9 Will be a lot more fun have more wiimote related games and better graphics and "revive" the franchise which many thought MP8 would do.

Online play would work for the Mario Party series, especially since the "friend code" system encourages for you to know the actual person you'd be playing against. Some random player you'll never see again would log off but if its your friend from school it'd be different. For "random" player games they could have a shorter mode to encourage someone to keep playing, even if it was over simplified like who ever wins 10 mini games first ala Pokemon Stadium. Also in the later mario parties they made it so even if you were losing you could still recover later in the game.

What I really want is Mario Party DS, I think that would be a lot of fun and would be fresh. Mario Party Advance was alright but not as fun as the console games. I think the DS version could be more faithful adaptation to the portable.


BTW the MP series is still the best party series that exists, I have yet to play another party game that is actually fun.

[AnimatedSnow47]

I picked this up today (when I walked into the Gamestop I frequent, they both saw me and exclaimed, "Mario Party 8!" :anime: ) and I am impressed.

The only bummer for me is the faux widescreen. The graphics and sound is great and defintely a bump up. The boards are different, varied and I like the new candy system even better than the orb system in previous GCN incarnations. The mini-games are nice and varied--and no more of those tortrous Bowser games either. It controls well, and is even fun to play single-player, at least in my opinion.

Fans of previous Mario Party games or fans of casual-type games such as Wii Sports and Wii Play will enjoy it greatly.

Coming Next for Me: Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree

[mookie75]

Nintendo Power magazine gave the game a 7.5 and stated, "8 is enough!"

And if you read the review, you see that, while they pick at the interface and the graphics, they still admit that the game succeeds where it matters most for a Mario Party game. Namely, it's good fun when you get your friends together and play it.

But then, your next post clearly shows that graphics are the only selling point in your game purchasing decisions, so you probably made the right decision in passing this one over.

[simpsonsfan]

Picked it up today at Bull Moose Music cheaper than Walmart at $45.79. Played it as soon as i got home and couldn't believe how great it was. Playing the game I was somewhat surprised at how basic most of the mini games were since I thought it would use more Wiimote movement. It seemed like it was rushed or that it was originally planned for the Gamecube then when they released the Wii it was just changed to the Wii. I give it a score of 8.5.

[The Avatar]

I bought it. It's okay. It's good for casual gamers like me. Although, it can get pretty long at times. Actually, this is the first Mario Party game that I've ever played. I never bought the Mario Party Games for N64 and never bought a GameCube. The minigames are pretty good. I just hope that Mario Party 9 takes more advantage of the Wiimote on the game boards.

[FireWarrior]

Just got this yesterday at my local Fry's. Was on sale for $38.99 and I need new Wii games so I couldn't pass it up. Have yet to open it though. Will admit that this is the first Mario Party game since Mario Party 2 that I'm looking forward to. MP 3-4 were sucky, 5 was ok, and I've yet to play 6 or 7.

[Eddy]

I don't see why so many are complaining about Mario Party 8's graphics. Mario Party was never a real graphics powerhouse. Even for N64 games, they looked pretty bland compared to a lot of other titles.

[Juu-kuchi]

Blame Hudson Soft. They're the ones that make the game, not Nintendo. No... Nintendo is also to blame for persisting in continuing these games and farming them out to Hudson Soft for development.

[Draven]

YAY!!! I had this game on reserve for MONTHS! I bought it fully paid off.

Yes, I like the Mario Party series.

I'm not sure why you guys are complaining about the graphics, I personally think the graphics for Mario Party 8 are better than the ones 7 had. The whole look of the boards is sharper and the view better. Esp. on Booty Boardwalk. There are flashy Final Fantasy typish animations when you eat candy, like with the Thrich Candy.

I really like the host Ballyhoo, and his friend Top Hat.

And I am THRILLED I get to unlock Blooper and Hammer Bro.! YAY!!!

And the inclusions of being able to play as Miis in the Extras Zone is really cool. I am ALWAYS reminded of Captain Spaulding's Murder Ride from House Of 1,000 Corpses whenever your character is on the roller cart ride in the Extras Zone intro!

My only MINOR complaints are there are less of a story than 7, where Bowser was trying to ruin the cruise. Here, it's just hanging out at a Circus, or carnival, and Bowser shows up here and there.

Also, I'm not crazy how the Star Battle Arena presents the one-on-one battles back to back to back. I would have liked a break!

But all in all a good game.

[Eddy]

My only MINOR complaints are there are less of a story than 7, where Bowser was trying to ruin the cruise. Here, it's just hanging out at a Circus, or carnival, and Bowser shows up here and there.
I don't think Mario Party has ever really been known for that great of a plot.

[Draven]

This is true, and I don't expect a deep plot with crazy twists and insane conpiracies. But at least a LITTLE bit of set up would be nice.

But I DO like Ballyhoo's laugh.

"HA! HA! HA!"

[Mynd Hed]

Got a chance to play around with MP8 a little, and I'm not impressed. The minigames are as fun as you would expect, but the board game surrounding them still hasn't improved in any meaningful way. It's still slow-paced as anything, chock-full of boring waiting while the computer completes its turn and long, pointless text bubbles that'll have you frantically hammering at the A button in a fruitless attempt to get back to the fun.

In another year I'll no doubt be renting Mario Party 9 in the vain hope that Nintendo or Hudson or whoever else Ninty farms out development to will make some kind of token attempt evolve the franchise and eliminate the glacial pace, presentation problems, and other flaws that perpetually hold MP back from being a really strong franchise instead of an outdated oddity good for a yearly rental and nothing else, and I'll no doubt be back here shortly thereafter, making a post not unlike this. *sigh* Such is life.

[simpsonsfan]

Any predictions for Mario Party 9 anyone? My prediction is that it will involve the internet someway like needing to download stuff online like other characters or games maybe. By the way I'm still loving Mario Party 8 :lol:.