Mario Party
About the Game
Mario Party turns a trip around the Mushroom Kingdom into a contest of coins, Stars and perfectly timed betrayals. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Wario and Donkey Kong compete on interactive boards, with a short action challenge interrupting the board game after each round. You can learn the basic rhythm quickly, but staying ahead means balancing your coin supply against the next Star purchase and the hazards between you and Toad.
The original Nintendo 64 game has a particularly unpredictable personality. A useful shortcut can become a detour, a friendly-looking space can cost valuable coins, and a player who struggled through several turns can climb back into contention with a good run of minigames.
Gameplay & Experience
Every turn mixes a dice roll with decisions about your route. Coins buy Stars, while board events and Bowser threaten to upset your plans. Minigames change their format according to the spaces everyone lands on, creating free-for-all, two-against-two and one-against-three matchups. That shifting team structure means your biggest rival on the board may suddenly become your partner.
Boards with their own personalities
Peach’s Birthday Cake, Yoshi’s Tropical Island and the other boards use different layouts and events rather than simply changing the scenery. Choosing a board changes the risks you need to watch and how you plan your next few turns.
Play beyond a full board
Minigame Island provides a separate progression of challenges for one player. It gives solo players a reason to practice the timing, movement and unusual objectives that make the multiplayer rounds so lively.
A living-room competition
Bright character animations and short musical cues make it easy to follow whose turn has gone brilliantly or terribly. Computer opponents can fill empty places, so a full group is optional.
Standout Features
- Six familiar playable Nintendo characters
- Interactive boards built around collecting coins and Stars
- Free-for-all and team-based minigames
- Minigame Island for a separate solo challenge
Please note: Some minigames involve rotating the Control Stick. Use your thumb rather than your palm to avoid skin irritation.
Quick Specs
| Platform | Nintendo 64 |
|---|---|
| North American Release | 1999-02-08 |
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Developer | Hudson Soft |
| Genre | Party / Board Game |
| ESRB | Everyone |
| Physical Media | Nintendo 64 Game Pak |
| Players | 1–4 local |
| Average Critic Rating | 79% — 33 exact-platform critic ratings, MobyGames |
