Review: Mario Party 5
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.
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