Mario Party DS

"Solid Party for the DS"

For this review I'm going to avoid categorical breakdowns with individual scores and such. I'll just try to include what's important. Let me first note that I enjoy the Mario Party series although I have not played every single installment. I should also say that I, unlike some party-game snobs, really like MP8 on Wii. If you're tired of the MP experience then you may just want to save your $30.

The graphics and sound are solid and pretty par to what you'd expect from the DS; not exceptional and certainly not weak. The story is lame but I doubt anyone is expecting some gripping tale of intrigue when they pop in a Mario Party. However, the solo story mode carries enough weight for a player to enjoy when no one else is around for multiplayer. Makes it handy for travel. And it's certainly better than the single player in other MP's I've played. There's enough variety with minigame-only play that will turn this into a Warioware of sorts for the gamer traveling on an airplane or something.

But multiplayer is really the only reason to own a Mario Party and Nintendo pulled off a fun experience here. For starters, you only need one card to play with up to 4 people, good! Having seperate game screens really benefits some of the minigames because you cannot see what your opponents are doing. For example, one minigame involves players running around a maze with a camera. The objective is to take a candid picture of each player, first player with all three pics wins. But with 4 DS units, meaning 4 separate game screens, you do not know where the other players are located. It turns into a FPS of sorts. Point being, this minigame would never work on one TV screen. And there are quite a few minigames that make use of this "where the heck are they" motif. This brings a fresh coat of paint to the MP minigame formula.

And, while I've yet to unlock all 60+ minigames, I do like what I have seen moreso than any other MP. Some make great use of the stylus, some incorporate the microphone, and some use the tradition d-pad/a button setup (in fact some even require all 4 buttons). There's good variety and the added element of DS quirkiness beats out the way MP8 handled Wii's motion-sensor controls.

Extra features include 5 puzzle games reminiscent of Dr. Mario/Tetris block-flipping types. These alone add great replay value for those aforementioned travels. There's another I've yet to unlock so I can't comment on that. And, of course, there's the useless prizes you win.

My biggest complaint is the level design. Nothing really new or exciting here. It's a mild throwback to the N64 MPs, but it seems the developers are running out of ideas. Say what you will about MP8, but those were some crafty game boards. Luckily, the minigames in MP DS are above average and some of the best I've seen in the series.

I have also found it far easier to end with 5+ stars in a 10-turn game. A new item they added is a star pipe which can be purchased for 15 coins. This pipe is used to be transported directly to the star at the begining of your turn. Plus you can make multiple purchases at the item shop in one go, something I've never seen in a prior MP (seems a little unfair). This means you could spend 45 coins to carry three star pipes (max item count 3) and just nab a star on your following three turns. This could get a little out of control so some friends may opt to ban the use of this item. The person that wins most the minigames becomes too favored in MP DS, but, as I said, you could make house rules to curb anyone taking too big a lead.

One other new feature is a grouping of hex items that are picked up around the board. These have varying effects but you essentially set a trap on one of the game spaces and if an opponent lands on it he/she suffers the consequence (pays you 20 coins e.g.). It's new and an extra touch but doesn't add too much life to the dull game boards.

Overall, I'm happy with this game. It'll get old over time but most games do. If you have friends with a DS then it is a worthwhile buy. Get 3 people to all pitch in on the purchase if you don't want to spend too much.And if you have a spouse/mate then it makes for a great game to play together. The pacing seems faster so a 15-turn game will only take you about 45 minutes, which is another benefit. But don't buy it for single player alone. Hope this helps-

Best Feature: minigames
Worst: gameboards

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/26/07

Game Release: Mario Party DS (US, 11/19/07)