Mario Party 8

Mario Party 8 is the 8th game in the Mario Party series and was originally released on Wii back in 2007. In Mario Party 8, Mario and his friends compete for stars in a virtual board game environment, where the player with the most stars at the end is crowned the winner. Up to 4 players can get involved, so grab a few friends and have some fun!

A mix of gameplay styles

The main game mode involves players taking turns rolling a die to determine how far they move across a virtual board. Many tiles on the board are standard ones, but there are plenty of special tiles that trigger both positive and negative in-game events that add to the fun of the game.

Ultimately, though, the aim is to collect coins throughout the game in order to purchase stars that are needed to win. You can even buy candies that act as powerups, enhancing gameplay in various ways. Some candies let you roll more than one die in a turn, and others let you steal coins and items from other players! Minigames also break up the traditional gameplay between each round, allowing players to compete for stars and coins in fast-paced activities. There's a nice balance between the two gameplay styles that all players are sure to appreciate and enjoy.

Mario and the gang

As with many Mario games, a bunch of familiar faces make an appearance in Mario Party 8 that hardcore Nintendo fans will love. Not only are there the traditional playable characters like Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and Waluigi, but there are lots of unique characters that you might not expect such as Birdo and Blooper! In total there are 15 playable characters, 2 of which aren’t unlocked until after completing the Star Battle Arena twice. You can even play as a Mii character though this option is only available in the Extras Zone where you can choose to play one of 8 minigames available.

A selection of boards to choose from

Mario Party 8 features 6 unique boards to choose from, with each one boasting a unique environment with features that aren’t present in the other boards. You’ve got a jungle-themed map based on Donkey Kong, a map set on a moving train, a beachside map inhabited by pirate Goombas, and even a special battle station map which isn’t unlocked until after you beat the main story.

With so much variety, there's plenty to look forward to in Mario Party 8, and it'll be a long time before you get bored.

Pros:

• Range of playable characters and boards to choose from
• Over 70 unique minigames
• Both multiplayer and singleplayer options available

Cons:

• The game can be quite slow-paced at times
• Singleplayer mode gets boring quite fast

Few games have captured the hearts of fans like the Mario Party franchise. It’s a delight to play for gamers both young and old, with straightforward gameplay, creative minigames, and classic Nintendo characters to play them. There have been many new renditions of the game, but the versions for the Wii were incredibly resourceful in terms of gameplay mechanics and game boards. One of the popular games in the franchise, Mario Party 8, was developed by Hudson Soft and was first released on May 29, 2007, for the Nintendo Wii.

Fun At the Carnival

All the previous Mario Party games are set at different locations, each with its own theme and host. Mario Party 8 is set at a bright, festive carnival hosted by the colorful and self-proclaimed “master of catastrophes,” MC Ballyhoo. In addition, the game features six unique game boards to play on, each with its own special events and quirks. Choose your favorite Nintendo character and set out to be the top player at the fair!

So Many Boards!

A few more modern Mario Party games have received criticism about their limited selection of game boards. However, Mario Party 8 provides six fun options to choose from:

• DK’s Treetop Temple
• Goomba’s Booty Boardwalk
• King Boo’s Haunted Hideaway
• Shy Guy’s Perplex Express
• Koopa’s Tycoon Town
• Bower’s Warped Orbit.

Admittedly, some of these boards were more well-received by players than others. Koopa’s Tycoon Town is most likely the most appreciated board in the whole game, featuring a rectangular city with hotels that you have to invest and manage, reminiscent of games like Monopoly. Though it may sound a bit dull, the objective to get more properties and upgrade the hotels is incredibly addicting. Any player can easily pick up on the gameplay mechanic, making it an excellent board for the whole family.

Loads of Minigames

Just like all the other Mario Party games, Mario Party 8 features a massive list of minigames to play and discover. A few of these games are still incredibly beloved today, like Cardiators, a satisfying and engaging chance-based minigame, and King of the Thrill, an entertaining fighting minigame with cohesive game mechanics.

Mario Party’s Legacy

However, just like the other Mario Party games, some minigames didn’t resonate with players. For example, Bumper Balloons is a bit slow and boring with confusing game mechanics. Flip the Chimp is tedious and involves intense reaction-time mechanics that can be incredibly frustrating to nail correctly.

Pros:

• Vibrant art style, creative game boards, mostly entertaining minigames

Cons:

• A few boring/poorly designed minigames