Board game meets video game with 'Mario Party'

Peach's Birthday Cake is one of the boards you can play

March 12, 1999
Web posted at: 4:00 PM EST

By John Robinson
CNN Interactive Senior Associate Editor

(CNN) -- Nintendo has broken new console game ground by combining a turn-based electronic board game with a multi-player, action-oriented video game.

"Mario Party" begins as a board game where up to four players take turns rolling a 10-sided die then move around one of six character-themed game boards. After everyone takes a turn, the real fun begins with players competing in one of more than 50 available mini-games. These quick games are selected at random and players either compete against one another (4 player game) or in teams (2 on 2 or 3 on 1).

Instead of game pieces, players choose from one of six famous Nintendo characters like Mario, Luigi, and Donkey Kong. If less than four players are present, the computer will play for the remaining characters. Each character has its own unique board like Donkey Kong's jungle board and Mario's castle board. You can choose which board to play on or you can let the computer randomly select it. The colorful, well-designed boards each have special bonuses and obstacles so there is definitely no shortage of variety. The length of the game is determined by choosing how many turns (20, 40 or 60) each player will take.

Slot Car Derby mini-game

The object of "Mario Party" is to finish the game with the most stars. Players collect coins throughout the game that can then used to obtain stars. Coins are awarded for landing on certain spaces or by winning any of the mini-games. While that sounds pretty simple, there are many other ways to collect, or lose, coins and stars. One way is to steal coins and stars from another player with the help of a ghost. Unfortunately, the ghost can turn on you and also take what you have collected.

While the board game aspect of "Mario Party" is a lot of fun, the myriad of mini-games are what make this game a stand out. When a mini-game is launched, players receive instructions on how to play the game and can even practice the moves before the competition begins. Games range from the standard Mario-style run-and-jump games to memory and sports games. One of the mini-games that deserves mentioning is "Bumper Balls." It's a 4-player competition where each player stands on a beach ball and attempts to knock the other players off a small island. The game eventually comes down to two players backing up then bumping into each other furiously until one person ends up in the water. And we all know there is nothing more satisfying than knocking your friend into the water.

Bumper Balls mini-game

At the end of the "Mario Party," the score is tallied and players receive bonuses. The old saying "it's not over till it's over" definitely holds true here because players can use the bonuses to stage a come-from-behind victory. After all of the bonuses are awarded, the winner is crowned and a short animation is launched showing the winning character's celebration.

"Mario Party" is a great concept turned into a truly endearing game that offers tons of variety and replay value. While the graphics and sound aren't stunning, they do a good job of presenting the game. The only real flaws that plague this title are the occasionally pointless mini-game and the fact that you really need to have four players to enjoy the game to it's fullest. Other than those small gripes, "Mario Party" is a game that won't disappoint even the most discriminating gamer.

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