Topic: REVIEWS: Mario Party 8

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: nintendogamecube86
Online would improve the series a lot. What about if you want to play a game late at night? Or those who don't know anybody else with a Wii? I am not gonna buy 3 Wii Remotes just so I can play the occasional multiplayer game.

Should have been buying those remotes over time instead of all at once, heck I have 3 remotes and 2 nunchucks (going to get another pair when I play MP8 with my family)

[Bloodworth]

I just realized how awesome MegaByte's avatar is.

[Flames_of_chaos]

Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix

Quote
Originally posted by: nintendogamecube86
Online would improve the series a lot. What about if you want to play a game late at night? Or those who don't know anybody else with a Wii? I am not gonna buy 3 Wii Remotes just so I can play the occasional multiplayer game.

Should have been buying those remotes over time instead of all at once, heck I have 3 remotes and 2 nunchucks (going to get another pair when I play MP8 with my family)

I agree unless your going to use them immediately get them overtime. Hell I still have only 1 360 controller because almost no game has split-screen since "everyone hates it" so your only options are playing over online and the much expensive and annoying setup, system link. It makes me sad how that is a trend on the 360(and potentially PS3) because it kills the fun of having a get together if only one in the group gets to play.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Lord_die_seis

Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix

Quote
Originally posted by: nintendogamecube86
Online would improve the series a lot. What about if you want to play a game late at night? Or those who don't know anybody else with a Wii? I am not gonna buy 3 Wii Remotes just so I can play the occasional multiplayer game.

Should have been buying those remotes over time instead of all at once, heck I have 3 remotes and 2 nunchucks (going to get another pair when I play MP8 with my family)

I agree unless your going to use them immediately get them overtime. Hell I still have only 1 360 controller because almost no game has split-screen since "everyone hates it" so your only options are playing over online and the much expensive and annoying setup, system link. It makes me sad how that is a trend on the 360(and potentially PS3) because it kills the fun of having a get together if only one in the group gets to play.

Well I would think with the Wii you would be buying more Wiimotes because it has been quite obvious that many of the Wii games are meant to be played with family/friends.

[Patchkid15]

would this be a good game to buy if you just need something to do for a whole month

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Patchkid15
would this be a good game to buy if you just need something to do for a whole month

If you have someone to play with, I would say yes. Alone I would say, most definitely not.

[that Baby guy]

I used to try to play these games with my family.  However, even with their completely random add-ins and all things like that, all three of my opponents would devise a plan to try to force me to lose.  It didn't really work, and they didn't like it.  I was always upset that they didn't include some hit games from the previous entries, instead creating new games,  which purposefully avoid some of the better games they have created, causing the games to get worse and worse, rather than better.  I won't be picking this up, though in two or three years, I'll probably get a Wii iteration of the game.

[LuigiHann]

"would this be a good game to buy if you just need something to do for a whole month"

I haven't played this series since Mario Party 3, but if it hasn't changed (and the review suggests that it hasn't) then yes, a 4-player 30-round match should last about that long.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

Thatguy, that's exactly why I gave up on Mario Party games.  There are always a few good mini-games in an entry, but never enough to make it a great game.  Granted I haven't played them all, but I stick by Mario Party 2 as the best entry and await its Virtual Console release...unless Nintendo actually feels like going online one of these days.

[Smash_Brother]

I have to throw my hat into this ring...

I'm enjoying this game. Yeah, you don't do anything when someone else is taking their turn, but guess what? MP games are built around the premise that you're playing a virtual board game. Did you play "Chutes and Ladders" or "Candyland" as a kid and complain when other players were taking their turns?

Furthermore, you need to be paying attention to what is going on, even when it's not your turn. Clever strategists know how to maneuver two other players against each other so they can profit and come out on top in the end. In fact, there's a layer of strategy to MP games which I have to believe that most people don't appreciate at all. A solid game with four players all looking to cut each other's throats can be pretty intense, but only when all players know how to work the game and how to manipulate. It's similar to a game of SSB except that it's more akin to risk than it is to a straight up action game.

So yeah, while I'm not finished with it yet, I so far love the board designs and the minigames have all worked just fine for me. Then, there's the unlockable minigames which you can play with your Miis which are a lot of fun.

The biggest downside is the 30 FPS graphics. What the HELL is up with that?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I played a couple boards last weekend.

So far I'd say the experience has been smoother than last 2 party games, mainly in the control department.  The fact that there's less games involving mundane running/jumping mechanics is a good start, and focusing on the pointing and tilting functions feels good, especially after everyone easily understands the minigame controls thanks to the included demo animations.

Soda bottles ftw

Yanking carrots ftw

Faster board running ftw

The shortcomings I ran into were mostly technical and presention:  30fps board vs. 60fps  minigames (wtf), slowdown during special effects on the board (wtf), and tons of slow, boring menus and interrupting text boxes.

I haven't tried the Game Arcade yet.  Treetop Bingo in MP6 was alright.

[that Baby guy]

Alright, I've figured it out.  They need to make a "Wario Party."  Then include slightly longer games than what is in Wario Ware, and have them based on fun concepts.  Imagine, a game where everyone races to get through part of a Super Mario Bros. stage.  You know, stuff like that would be fun.

[MegaByte]

I figured I'd mention that I gave my copy to a family (a mom, dad, high-school girl and middle-school girl) after reviewing it.  They love it.  In particular, they really like the random elements of the different boards.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: MegaByte
I figured I'd mention that I gave my copy to a family (a mom, dad, high-school girl and middle-school girl) after reviewing it.  They love it.  In particular, they really like the random elements of the different boards.

Well they are intelligent people, I personally love the game and feel it is the best MP game.

[IceCold]

I own at the shaking game.. They really should have come up with better minigames though.. There are quite a few fun ones, but with the remote, there's no excuse for nearly all of them not to be awesome.

Monopoly stage is pretty fun, but the Windmill one in MP7 is better.

But why the hell did they make the Minigame star based on coins again instead of wins? One battle game can undo a whole match..

[MegaByte]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
MP games are built around the premise that you're playing a virtual board game. Did you play "Chutes and Ladders" or "Candyland" as a kid and complain when other players were taking their turns?

Ah, but I didn't have to sit through an announcer all the time.  Also, I hated those games as a kid because they're all random with no skill involved whatsoever.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: MegaByte

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
MP games are built around the premise that you're playing a virtual board game. Did you play "Chutes and Ladders" or "Candyland" as a kid and complain when other players were taking their turns?

Ah, but I didn't have to sit through an announcer all the time.  Also, I hated those games as a kid because they're all random with no skill involved whatsoever.

I think the MP games have skill involved, I usually always come out 2nd or 1st (usually first) because if you dominate the mini games you have an advantage.

[stedaman]

Really nice game. Its fun when with others. The sweets added to the board is a nice touch and allows for some exiting gameplay. Just like a board game alot is to do with the luck. But then most of the mini-games are about who's more skilled which is coool and I like playing them. I don't like the sheer luck minigames though...like the card battle and  snipt eh wire to the bomb thing etc.

On the whole its a good game and pretty fun. I can see why your score is low...but a bit too low imo. I would give an 8.

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
I'm enjoying this game. Yeah, you don't do anything when someone else is taking their turn, but guess what? MP games are built around the premise that you're playing a virtual board game. Did you play "Chutes and Ladders" or "Candyland" as a kid and complain when other players were taking their turns?

Even then, when the other players took their sweet time making their next move the other players would bitch up a storm. This happens A LOT in the Mario Party games, even more so in the newer games (I don't recall the turns taking quite a while to finish on the N64 games).

As for MP8, I had some fun playing it with S_B and friends (though those friends didn't enjoy the game at all...), in fact my dad got me a copy, and I sold it back because playing it alone was a BORE and my nephew and niece didn't get into the game AT ALL.

Its definitely time for Nintendo and Hudson to rethink their MP strategy. Make a party game that actually ENTHRALLS players, not bore and alienate them.