Mario Party 2

"Perhaps the best of the Mario parties"

Introduction

This was the first game in the series that I actually played, and the format of the game got me hooked quickly.

Gameplay - 9/10

The gameplay is comparable to the first, and in some places better. As with the original, you go around the boards collecting stars, but there are some interesting new elements. On all boards, the star will move randomly (whereas, in the original, it remained in one place on some boards), and there is the addition of the item shops, which allow you to grab mushrooms to allow you to move further, and a magic lamp to take you directly to the star. The game is a little less luck-based this time around, with nowhere near as many chance spaces, but you can get big turnarounds in coin totals from the battle minigames that feature.

The minigames are generally better - here you don't get the frustration of losing coins in any games aside from the battle games, and although many do return, they are mostly improved. For example, in Face Lift, you get to manipulate the face of one of six characters instead of just Bowser, and Bowl Over actually gives the team of three players a chance to win coins, even if two of them are knocked down. The only bad game here is Crane game, which is no fun at all unless you happen to be in the crane, and the inclusion of clocks to increase the time only adds to the boredom as you watch as the single player slowly picks everyone up and drops them down the warp pipe. Another complaint I have is that the computer players are often too good; for example, in Torpedo Targets, if you happen to be navigating and playing against 3 computers, you will find that the computer seems to have an inbuilt sixth sense that allows them to find all targets in a matter of seconds.

Another new element is duel mini games; these are mostly fun to play, although Rock, Paper, Mario is totally luck-based, and Quick Draw Corks is ridiculously hard against a computer player set to hard difficulty.

Bowser gets more to do this time; whereas in the original, he sat in one spot all the time, here he will occasionally appear on the board and steal coins. On one board, he shoots a giant laser that steals the coins of all players in his path. Furthermore, you now get to use the Bowser Suit, previously seen in some of Mario Party's Minigames, in board play, and steal coins from your opponents.

Story - 6/10

There is some semblance of a story, although the introduction is something you will probably have no desire to watch twice. In each Board, Bowser has taken over the place and you must become the super star to defeat him. The ending cinemas are well done and often quite funny.

Graphics - 8/10

They're not quite as good as the original, but they are still good. The most interesting thing about this game is that each board, save for one features the characters putting on costumes to suit the "theme" of the board (Pirate costumes for Pirate Land and Cowboy/Cowgirl Costumes for Western Land. Only Peach's costumes disappoint as she makes a pathetically half-hearted attempt to get into the spirit of things, insisting on wearing the same pink dress while the Mario brothers (and Wario exchange their plumbers' overalls for often stylish costumes (particularly in Space Land).

Music - 10/10

This has some of the best music in the Mario Party series, with most of the boards (with a few exceptions) featuring fun and catchy tunes, particularly the uplifting tune that accompanies Western Land and the spooky music in Horror Land.

Replayability - 10/10

This game is great, and is something you will want to play again and again.

Final Verdict

Buy. If you liked Mario Party, you will like this. While I have not played Mario Party 3, this is somewhat better than Mario Party 4 and Mario Party 5. I'm currently awaiting Mario Party 6's UK release, and I only hope that will bring back the good old Mario Party days.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/04