Mario Party makes a huge return with #9. With fun mini-games, and the multiplayer will make you keep playing more.
This one is a welcome return. The boards are nice. The graphics look nice. Soundtrack is nice. The Minigames are a lot of fun. The Multiplayer in fun to. Especially with 4 players.
The gameplay still has the same formula, but given a twist. For example, the basic Mario Party formula where you move your turns and then play a mini-game is gone. Instead, it happens at a specific point. I like this because i hate being bombarded with mini-games. In #9, its frequent where it doesn't get redundant, and it speeds things up. Another thing that has changed is no coin or star collecting, instead it's only mini-stars. Also, For the first time in Mario Party, each board has Boss Battles. Where you can defeat such classic foes such as Bowser and King Boo while still playing against each other. This is a nice, and welcoming feature.
Instead of walking to space to space all over the place. Instead, you all stay where you are, thanks to The appearance of a car. Driving around the stage, i thought it was gonna ruin the game. Instead it made it a lot more organized and quick.
It controls fine. whether its motion-controls, wii-mote sideways, or whatever. I never had a problem with them.
Every time they play, players can earn Party Points that are used to unlock special items and features in the Museum. You can unlock a different board, different modes, and different cars. Your probably wondering, wheres the unlockable characters? Well.......this brings me to my first negative.
First off, theres only 2 unlockable characters. Second, you have to complete the single player mode to unlock them. Single Player is you playing on all the boards and trying to win them all, problem is, this CAN get redundant, especially when your losing over and over again.
Speaking of negatives, another problem is the lack of Wi-Fi feature. Come on! This is 2012, the ninth game in the series. You think maybe they have some kind of online mode? Because Mario Party is in serious desperation for Online Multiplayer. Lets hope that we get that mode in Mario Party 10. Because if we don't, i'll be angry.
And finally, even though the new type of gameplay is cool. I do wish they has a classic mode or something, or an ability to play the classic way in the different set-up. That would've been cool.
Oh well, at least the Wii finally got a good Mario Party game. #9 is a welcome return for Mario Party. If you have a bunch of friends, or a family. This games for you. And remember.... Have fun WIIth it.