When it comes to virtual board games, Nintendo has really conquered that market for the past several years with the success of the Mario Party franchise. Undoubtingly, the series that started from the Nintendo 64 back in 1999, has been the dominant force in the Mario spin-off franchises. It has proven to do so well from the N64, 4 editions for Nintendo's last home console, the Gamecube, and the recent success of Mario Party 8 for the Wii, the mini-game series has still remained as popular as it has been before. The biggest glitch though has remained in the handhelds. With the faults that have occured from the Game Boy Advance edition of Mario Party, many hanheld gamers have still been anxious for something a bit more to hold on too for the party. Now, with a new version for the Nintendo DS, it has proven to be a different course.
Mario Party DS brings the popular Mario board game series to a different handheld, and does deliver. There are over 70 different mini-games that range well from the simple use of the stylus, to the button mashing we all loved from before. There are five differnet boards for you to play on ranging from Toadette's Music Room, to Wiggler's Garden, the caterpillar from Super Mario 64, and many more to play with. There are also so many games to play around with that take full advantage of the Nintendo DS like more boss battles like Hexoskeleton, where you have to knock down a king-sized Dry Bones, to his knees by kicking fruits at him, to make him spill down to the floor, or the all-new Rotisserie Rampage, where one player is spinning the meat the other three players are on top of, as you try to roast them out to dry.
The gameplay takes full advantage of the DS as you even use the stylus, and the microphone in a game like Blowdown, where you'd have to knockdown a giant whomp by blowing into the mike. The graphics have proven to work much better here, than the e-card and the GBA versions of Mario Party, and takes the gameplay to a whole new innovation, as was the case with the Wii version. Sadly though, there is one big disadvantage with the game, there are 5 boards to play on, a few fewer than the editions from the N64 and Gamecube versions. Nevertheless, it still remains big on the graphics, sound, and fun all in one. It takes a step in the direction DS owners have desired for the franchise.
All in all, if you haven't played any edition of Mario Party before for the Gamecube, Wii, or N64 days, you'll definitely love this one for the Nintendo DS. It has so much fun at a great value in gameplay, excitement, and everything you'd expect from Mario, Luigi and company in a game that is fun and loveable in the palms of your hand. I absoluetly recommend this a whole lot, so party on down.
Graphics: B
Sound: B
Control: B+
Fun & Enjoyment: B 1/2+ for solo play; A- for multiplayer action
Overall: B 1/2+ Mario Party DS
If there were ever two consoles destined for Mario Party, it's the Wii and DS. Wii owners got their version a few months ago, and now all of us DS owners are finally getting ours!
I've played Mario Party since the first one originally came out for N64 years (and years...) ago, but the DS finally gives Mario Party the platform it truly needs -- the touch screen is perfect for the minigames, but there is still a great balance between touch-screen-based mingames and 'normal' minigames.
The single-player Story Mode is interesting but I can only play it for a few turns at a time before I start going crazy watching the COM players to play through... but that's to be expected because Mario Party's success is dependent on getting some crazy friends together in the break room to play!
That being said, I was initially disappointed because there's no Nintendo WFC capabilities (only local multiplayer), but then I realized that that was probably a smart move since no one in their right mind would sit on the Nintendo WFC and play with strangers for an hour -- we'd just be starting games over and over again when people left!
So yeah... Mario Party DS is every bit a must-have for Nintendo DS as Mario Kart DS. EVERYONE who owns a Nintendo DS should at least have these two games, no excuses!
Introduction:
Mario Party DS is quite a hoot! This isn't the first time I've participated in the Mario Party series as I've also played Mario Party 7 (another game you should check out) for the Nintendo Gamecube. I shall disclose to you the plot, as well as the good and the bad points of this newest fiesta.
Plot:
It's raining sky crystals, and one falls near Mario. The next day, Mario tells all of his friends about it. During this gathering, Kamek brings an interesting note from Bowser. Apparently, Bowser wants to apologize for being a jerk, and throw a big feast for the crew. Who could resist? In other words, the characters aren't that bright (I mean, come on! Would you really go to a villain's house for dinner? Bowser has kidnapped Peach herself at least a dozen times!), and they accept the invitation. The invitation was an elaborate trap, as a big cage falls over the crew, as they arrive. Using his sceptor, Bowser shrinks the crew into "Mini" heroes, takes the sky crystal they have, and wisks them away. Now, everyone wants to be the hero, and this is where you come in: play as Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Peach, Daisy, Yoshi, or Toad, and travel through a garden, a piano room, a jungle, a library, and Bowser's own lair. Your goals are to outshine the other heroes, collect all of the sky crystals, and defeat Bowser once and for all. Good luck!
Bad Points:
1. Not enough girl characters. Out of all eight characters, only two are female. While this topic is on the table, there aren't as many characters (male or female) to choose from as Mario Party 7.
2. Some mini games require luck. I don't like this.
3. Some mini games just stink, and others require you to work with a COM or two (if you're playing solo). While these minigames can be fun, If your luck is bad, and your partner/partners stink, you may be in trouble. That's just not fair.
4. There are certain spaces on the game boards where you get five coins while someone else gets five coins. You get to choose who you want to be your friend. When I'm playing and someone else lands on such a space, I'm never their friend... Besides, giving coins to a COM opponent is just stupid.
Good Points:
1. Most of the minigames are fun and addictive.
2. Most of the minigames are hillarious! They really took advantage of the fact you're tiny. Rubber Ducky Rodeo anyone?
3. The boards are fun, with various traps and rules to keep you from being bored.
4. Some of the bosses may be challenging, but not to the point of frustration. They're relatively simple once you get the hang of it, and they're quite a bit of fun themselves.
5. Unlike Mario Party 7, you don't have to buy your rewards with milage points. All you do is get a certain number of points to get rewarded with something. This saves time, and helps keep away repetition.
6. The boss trophies are comical.
7. The mini games take great advantage of the stylus and the mike.
Conclusion:
That's all I can say. Overall, this is a very staightforward game that's great for dull moments. It should be noted that you don't have to save, but the game saves automatically, every time you complete a minigame (this is true in story mode as well). So when you want to quit, just play the mini game (that always occurs) at the end of the turn, wait until the end of it, and when you see the board again turn it off. Or, if the current turn isn't going well, just turn the DS off and you'll start that one turn over again (providing you've played at least one turn and minigame by this point). If you like this game, look into Mario Party 7. Have fun! - Mario - Mario Party Ds - Nintendo Ds Games - Mario Party'
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