Mario Party 5
- November 10, 2003 00:00 AM PST
The Party�s back�but do you really want to RSVP?
From the opening overly saccharine musical theme alone, gamers will realize that Mario Party 5 isn�t going to break any taboos or even much new ground�but it�s still hard to beat for inoffensive, slow-paced group gaming.
C�mon, Party People
Mario Party 5 really forces fun down your throat. Everything is joyous and colorful and wonderful and magical in the dream realm where this board/action game hybrid takes place, and various talking stars tell you how to play the game. You will love it�because it is joyous and colorful and wonderful and magical, and you are ordered to love it! The single-player Story mode has been improved (mainly by consolidating the A.I. turns and speeding things up), but it�s not as much fun as two-on-two team games. Actually, four live people is the only way to go�there are so many random elements (twists of fate, stolen items, funky power-ups) that strategy almost doesn�t matter.
Curiously, MP5 balances 60 easy-to-control mini-games like collecting flowers, ice skating, and simple mathematics with the ability to build a cutesy, death-dealing battle machine for arena combat. It�s kinda fun but not really what the series needed. Less of the Disney-parade/Muppet Show music would have been nice, too.
Bored Games?
The main problem here is a me-too feeling; it�s as enjoyable as, but largely interchangeable with, any previous Party. It�s nice to see new playable characters like Boo, but why not invite other Nintendo icons to Mario�s party (Pok�mon, Samus, Fox McCloud)? There�s nothing wrong with Mario Party 5 as it stands, but the next installment sure could use an overhaul to freshen the formula.
