Mario Party Superstars has been released for the Nintendo Switch on October 29, 2021 in North America by Nd Cube.
In 2018, Super Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch has attempted to revert back to the original Mario Party formula by having players collecting stars on traditional boards again just like the good old Nintendo 64 and GameCube days. Super Mario Party is also the very first Mario Party to actually implement online play as well.
Previously, the last console Mario Party game that had players collecting stars on traditional boards was Mario Party 8 for the Wii that was released all the way back in 2007. Just like from Mario Parties 1-7, Mario Party 8 was developed by Hudson Soft. However, Mario Party 8 was unfortunately the last game in the series that was developed by Hudson Soft. Since Mario Parties 9 and 10 were developed by a brand new company called Nd Cube. However, the formula has changed for Mario Parties 9 and 10. Since players now share/ride on a car to move around the boards.
Unfortunately, the reception has been overall pretty negative for Mario Parties 9 and 10. Since players generally weren't used to the new car mechanic. Although, the first Mario Party that actually implemented the car mechanic was Mario Party Advance that was released in 2005 for the GameBoyAdvance. Although Super Mario Party is generally a better game than Mario Parties 9 and 10 were, Super Mario Party still doesn't nearly have as much content as the original Mario Parties had.
Presentation - Is Mario Party Superstars a true throwback to the original Mario Party series? Mario Party Superstars is definitely a true throwback to the series (even more so than Super Mario Party), but Mario Party Superstars still suffers from the same exact problems that Super Mario Party has. Since Mario Party Superstars could have easily included a few more original boards, a few extra characters (maybe even unlockable), and also make the online mode more robust as well.
Mario Party Superstars has a total of 5 playable boards. There are exactly 2 boards each from Mario Parties 1 and 2, and 1 board from Mario Party 3. The five playable boards are Yoshi's Tropical Island (MP1), Peach's Birthday Cake (MP1), Space Land (MP2), Horror Land (MP2), and Woody Woods (MP3).
Mario Party Superstars has a total of 10 playable characters. Of course, Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Daisy, Wario, and Waluigi are playable. The other three playable characters are Rosalina, Donkey Kong, and Birdo. Remember that Daisy and Waluigi were actually first playable in Mario Party 3 for the N64 that was released in 2001. So, this will be the first time that Daisy and Waluigi can play on boards from Mario Parties 1 and 2. This will also be the first time that Rosalina and Birdo can play on boards from Mario Parties 1-3 as well. Toad isn't playable this time around since Toad went back to being the host again just like he did in Mario Parties 1 and 2. Even the main menu is a throwback to Mario Party 1 as well.
Just like in Mario Party: The Top 100 for the 3DS that was released in 2017, Mario Party Superstars also has a total of 100 mini-games. However, according to Mario Wiki, there is actually a total of 105 mini-games since there's an extra 5 item mini-games. There are some mini-games that are in both Mario Party: The Top 100 and Mario Party Superstars. Although, there are also some mini-games that are in Mario Party: The Top 100, but aren't in Mario Party Superstars.
Total number of mini-games from Mario Parties 1-10.
Mario Party 1 = 12
Mario Party 2 = 21
Mario Party 3 = 27
Mario Party 4 = 8
Mario Party 5 = 10
Mario Party 6 = 12
Mario Party 7 = 6
Mario Party 8 = 2
Mario Party 9 = 4
Mario Party 10 = 3
Graphics and Sound - The graphics/renders that are in Super Mario Party are re-used in Mario Party Superstars.
Most of the tracks in Mario Party Superstars have been re-used from Mario Parties 1-10. Although music from the menu before you start a mini-game has been changed. However, the same exact theme song that shows how much coins that you've earned in each mini-game has been re-used from Mario Party 1. Also, the main menu in Mario Party Superstars has the same exact theme song that's used in the original Mario Party 1 menu as well.
Remember how you couldn't originally practice a mini-game before playing a mini-game for real in Mario Party 1? Since, practicing a mini-game before actually playing a mini-game was first implemented in Mario Party 2. However, Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars actually changes the way how we practice mini-games. This time around, you can test practice a mini-game before jumping into a mini-game. So, there's no more exiting out of practice mini-games.
However, there has been some errors/mistakes that was used in Mario Party: The Top 100 that has been fixed up in Mario Party Superstars. Since some of the music in the mini-games from Mario Party: The Top 100 didn't match from the Mario Party that the mini-games originally came from. For example, you could have a mini-game that was originally from Mario Party 3, but still had music from a different Mario Party such as Mario Party 6.
Gameplay and Lasting Appeal - Mario Party Superstars mostly reverts back to the original Mario Party formula from Mario Parties 1-3, but there are some elements that are used from the later Mario Parties.
Just like in Mario Parties 1-8, you have to pay $20 coins for a star again in Mario Party Superstars. Also, Chance Time is now officially back that was actually last used in Mario Party 6. Unfortunately, there's no option to have team members that was last used in Mario Party 8. Since team mode were first implemented in Mario Party 4. Also, Story Mode has also been omitted from Mario Party Superstars. Story Mode first debuted in Mario Party 3, and was last used in Mario Party 9. Also, you can have up to a total of three items in Mario Party Superstars. Also, Skeleton Keys make an appearance in Mario Party Superstars that was first and last used in Mario Parties 2 and 3. You can also taunt your opponents again in Mario Party Superstars like you could in Mario Parties 1-8. This time around, you can use various stickers to taunt your opponents. Of course, you can steal coins and stars again in Mario Party Superstars just like you could from Mario Parties 1-8, 10 and Super Mario Party. You can also play boards and mini-games online with friends and random people as well.
Remember how you originally lose coins if you lose a mini-game in Mario Party 1? Well, that feature is still only exclusive in Mario Party 1. Which the same thing also goes for such not being able to practice a mini-game in Mario Party 1 as well.
However, there's one feature that's exclusive to Mario Party Superstars. Which is the ability to add in extra turns after you officially begin a game. Which could even sometimes change the fate of a winner.
Ultimately, Mario Party Superstars is a true throwback to the original Mario Party formula that hardcore Mario Party fans have been wanting and waiting for years. Super Mario Party was Nd Cube's first attempt to revert back to the original Mario Party formula, but Mario Party Superstars expands that idea even further (and almost perfectly). You can even say that Mario Party Superstars is pretty much like a true Mario Party All-Stars. Even though Nd Cube first added in a total of 100 mini-games from Mario Parties 1-10 in Mario Party: The Top 100, none of the actual board/s were a throwback to the original Mario Party series.
However, there are still a few things that needed to be ironed out for Mario Party Superstars to truly be the very best Mario Party game of all-time. For example, there could have easily been just a few more boards added from Mario Parties 1-3. Like, I personally would have added three boards each from Mario Parties 1-3, so there could have been a total of nine boards instead of only having a total of five boards. Also, I would also make some changes to the online mode as well. Even though I can technically play online with random people without using any type of codes, it's still extremely difficult to actually play online with randoms. Also, one last thing that I would do is just add in a few extra playable characters such as Diddy Kong, Boo, Dry Bones, and maybe even Pauline since Pauline was never actually playable in a Mario Party game before.
The extra boards that I personally would have added such as DK's Jungle Adventure (MP1), Mystery Land (MP2), Chilly Waters (MP3), and Deep Bloober Sea (MP3).
The Good - Mario Party Superstars is a true throwback to the original Mario Party series/formula, mainly from Party Parties 1-3. Can play boards and mini-games online with friends and strangers. Some past features return in Mario Party Superstars such as taunting, chance time, and even some past items.
The Bad - Mario Party Superstars could have added in a few extra boards and characters. Plus, the online mode could have been fixed up as well.
Overall, GameSpot Score: 9 out of 10.