CRG Reviews: Mario Party 8


 * Name: Mario Party 8
 * Publisher: Nintendo
 * Developer: Hudson Soft
 * Platform: Wii
 * Release: May 29, 2007
 * Genre: Party
 * Players: 1-4
 * ESRB: E

Review
When most Nintendo 64 players hear the words 'Mario Party', they can almost always think of the many blisters they endured from playing the first installment. Fast forward eight years later, and we have Mario Party 8, a perfectly fun and blister-free installment.

The graphics and sound quality are what you'd expect from a typical Mario title. However, the gameplay is where it really shines. Apart from the unique boards, there are some absolutely enjoyable minigames to sink your (Wario-style) teeth into. Most of them have some clever pun names to go along with the objective of the minigame.

As mentioned earlier, the boards are incredibly unique. My favorite, by far, is the board involving a train.

The single player mode, Star Battle Arena, is just as entertaining, though you don't aquire much minigames. The story is awesome, and the new unlockable characters (Blooper and Hammer Bro) add some depth and variety.

For the first time in the series history, Mario Party 8 allows players to play as their Mii avatars, but only during certain modes. However those games must be unlocked.

On a side mode, the hosts, Ballyhoo and Big Top (the former's top hat), are entertaining as hell, though they can get very annoying at times, not unlike the DK spaces changing into Bowser spaces, and, as a player, landing on the Bowser spaces.

Key components

 * Graphics- 9.2
 * Gameplay- 9.0
 * Controls- 8.3
 * Sound- 7.8
 * Entertainment- 8.5
 * Replay Value- 9.5

Final score and final words
And the results are...............

8.7 (Solid)

No need to worry about blisters here; this game has safe (though sometimes annoying) controls, awesome minigames, and an enjoyable story mode. Makes ya wanna break out your party hat (or your plumber hat, depending on your mood).

Joshua Garriga (a.k.a. ComicReadingGamer)