Awesome Product

During the standard game, four different characters compete on one of six themed boards. When playing with fewer than four people, players select which characters the computer will control, as well as their difficulty level and handicap. Players can also select from five different areas to play on from the Play Choices screen by selecting the Select File screen in the beginning. Here, the player is given the choices of five different areas to play on: Party Tent, Star Battle Arena, Minigame Tent, Extras Zone, and the Fun Bazaar. The Party Tent allows for characters to compete on boards in three kinds of battles: Battle Royale (four-player competition; one to four players), Tag Battle (two-vs. two; one to four players), or Duel Battle (one-on-one; one to two players). In the Star Battle Arena mode, one player faces off against one opponent on each board in which when you get to the last board, Bowser will take the star from you and you will face against Hammer Bro or Blooper in Bowser's Warped Orbit, then once you defeat the character, Bowser will give you back the Star Rod and you will face in a final mini-game called Superstar Showdown. When you win the battle you win the game. In the Minigame Tent, players can play several non-board challenges from the minigames. The extras zone has the eight extra minigames that don't appear in board-play with your Miis. Finally, the Fun Bazaar has the player use their carnival cards to unlock minigames and other surprises. In the Fun Bazaar, there is a place where if you buy it with your carnival cards, you may listen to music and character voices. Minigame records can also be viewed here. For general board-play modes, players take turns (10 to 50 turns) rolling a dice block and moving across the game board, with the goal being to getting as many stars as possible within the alloted turn limit.

Fun for all ages. :) Worthy of the Mario Party Name!

Nintendo Wii: Mario Party 8

Mario Party is the game that has brought me back to
Nintendo. I originally discovered it back for the N64
and then I once again played it on the gamecube. When I
heard that they were making number 8 for the Wii I decided
to buy the entire system for that game.

Mario Pary games are like electronic board games. Up to
four people can play and you roll an electronic dice like
a board game. You then move on the board. At the end of
each person's board you play a "Mini-game". These mini
games are either 4 on 4, battle 4 on 4, cooperative teams,
or 1 on 3 games. You compete for coins that you can use
to buy stars during the game. The player with the most
stars & coin combination wins.

This game had 4 30+ year olds having a blast at my home!
It was beyond fun. We were giggling and moving like no
other party before.

Mario Party 8 takes great advantage of the Wii remote system.
At the start you have to swing your remote up to roll your dice.
You have normal pointing and moving motions along with a dart
throwing motion at points.

The mini games greatly use the controller. You are shooting,
balancing, lassoing, shaking, and so on! Great fun. :)

I was not disappointed. This is the second game that I have
purchased (and I rarely purchase games, only rent). I'm so
happy that I have a Wii now. :)

5/5 Fun for everyone!

Latsyrhc
Tamarack Collectibles

PARTY TIME! Un-bias review of Mario Party 8.

Although repetitive in nature, the Mario Party Franchise has been a booming business since its first release on the Nintendo 64. With a new game coming out every year like a sports franchise, the series has seen little change over the past 7 titles. Finally, with the next-gen revolution we see some large changes that make this ever-popular party game legend worth picking up for a second chance...Here's the scoop...

Pro's...

-- Great graphical improvement from the last installment.
-- NEW Wii CONTROLLER MINI-GAMES (can't stress enough how cool that is)
-- Even with one other person, this game is playable for weeks at a time.
-- Intuitive board game design keeps the competition high up until the very last minute.
-- Familiar characters in familiar settings. Always a plus.
-- Cheeky sound effects and music are reminiscent of classic Nintendo gameplay.
-- Fun for ALL ages.

Con's...

-- The same basic concept as all the other Mario Parties.
-- NO ONLINE PLAY (really big bummer)
-- There are already tons of mini-game collections for the Wii.
-- If you have no friends, this game is REALLY lame to play by yourself.
-- Guaranteed to start a fist fight when you accidentily punch your friend in the jaw with your wii-mote.

For playing video games with more than one person, it doesn't get much better than this. The energy that comes out of competing in such worthless little mini-games with a friend is dumbfounding. If you have at least one friend, and at least one wii, pick up this game and play it til your arms are tired from waving them around like a lunatic to earn coins and stars. ^_^ Happy Gaming!

Party Central

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+

Tires out easily!

This is a party game. You absoloutely CANNOT play this alone, or it's no fun!
I'm not being incredulous here, but I honestly feel that this is a game for a 5 year old. Adults definitely will find it amusing, but only for the first two or three games. It becomes obvious that the person who is in last place all of a sudden takes the lead by the end of the game, and this is actually pretty daunting to those who try to imbed some strategy (me).
The minigames are fun - but they also get boring quick. I didn't buy this product and played at a friend's house. I stopped playing after two games. The two maps that I played were straight lines - no joke. Needs variation and a (tiny tiny bit) more complexity! (Oh yeah, and my friend returned her copy of the game to the store.)