Super Mario Party Review: The Pinnacle of Switch Party Games?

As a seasoned gamer with over a decade of experience, I've played countless Nintendo Switch games. Today, I want to talk about a classic party game – Super Mario Party. Since its release, this game has been loved by players for its fun gameplay and diverse mini-games. So, how is this game really? Can it continue its success on the future Nintendo Switch 2? Let's delve into it together.

1. Super Mario Party Game Introduction: Reigniting Party Enthusiasm

Super Mario Party is a Nintendo Switch title in the classic Mario Party series. The game retains the core gameplay of the series, such as rolling dice to move forward, collecting stars, and playing mini-games. The biggest highlights of this installment are the addition of more characters, maps, and mini-games, and the full utilization of the Joy-Con controller's features, bringing a more diverse gaming experience.

2. Super Mario Party Game Review: Pros and Cons

2.1 Gameplay: The Core Fun of Party Games

The core gameplay of Super Mario Party is still the classic "board game" mode, where players take turns rolling dice to move around the map, triggering various events, with the ultimate goal of collecting as many stars as possible.

• Pros:
  • Easy to Pick Up: The rules are simple and clear, even friends who don't play games often can quickly get the hang of it.
  • Strategic: In addition to luck, players also need to consider how to use items, choose routes, and other strategies to gain an advantage.
  • Multiplayer Fun: Supports up to four players on the same screen, making it a great choice for party entertainment.
  • Abundant Mini-Games: The game has a large number of built-in mini-games, with diverse types and fun gameplay, always bringing surprises.
  • Partner Mode: The innovative partner mode allows two players to team up and cooperate to compete against other teams, increasing the game's strategy and interactivity.
• Cons:
  • Too Much Luck: The randomness of the dice can sometimes make it difficult for stronger players to win, affecting the fairness of the game.
  • Long Playtime: A game can take a long time, and it can be tedious if you're far behind for a long time.
  • Limited Number of Maps: Although the map designs are unique, the number is relatively small, which can easily lead to repetition.
  • Online Mode Experience is Average: The online mode features are relatively simple and lack some social interaction elements.

2.2 Graphics: Cartoon Style, Vivid Colors

Super Mario Party uses a typical Nintendo cartoon style with vibrant colors, cute character designs, and imaginative scene designs.

• Pros:
  • Vibrant Colors: The graphics are bright and give a relaxed and cheerful feeling.
  • Exquisite Character Models: Classic characters such as Mario and Luigi have detailed models with rich actions and expressions.
  • Imaginative Scene Design: The map scenes are unique and rich in detail, full of fun.
• Cons:
  • Average Graphic Detail: Limited by the Nintendo Switch's performance, the graphic details are average, and the jaggedness is more obvious.
  • Low Resolution: In TV mode, the resolution may not reach native 1080p, which affects the visual experience.

2.3 Sound Effects: Lively and Cheerful, Setting the Atmosphere

The game's sound effects are lively and cheerful, and the background music is light and pleasant, which can well set the party atmosphere.

• Pros:
  • Pleasant Music: The background music has beautiful melodies and cheerful rhythms, making you feel happy.
  • Rich Sound Effects: The game has rich sound effects, and there are corresponding sound effects feedback for various actions and events.
  • Character Voice Acting: The voice acting of Mario and other characters is classic and highly recognizable.
• Cons:
  • High Music Repetition: Playing for a long time may make you feel that some of the music is repetitive.

2.4 Story: Weak Plot, Focus on Party

The plot of Super Mario Party is very weak, mainly to provide players with a reason for party entertainment.

• Pros:
  • Easy to Understand: The plot is simple and easy to understand, and will not burden players.
• Cons:
  • Lack of Depth: The plot lacks depth, which may disappoint players who pursue a story experience.

2.5 Handling Feel: Joy-Con Features Fully Utilized

Super Mario Party fully utilizes the features of the Joy-Con controller, bringing more diverse operation methods.

• Pros:
  • Motion Control: Many mini-games require motion control, which increases the game's interactivity and fun.
  • HD Rumble: The Joy-Con's HD vibration technology can bring more delicate tactile feedback and enhance the game's immersion.
  • Easy to Operate: Even players who are not good at game operations can easily get started.
• Cons:
  • Some Motion Controls Are Not Accurate: The motion control accuracy of some mini-games is not high, which may affect the game experience.
  • Joy-Con Drift Issue: If there is a drift issue with the Joy-Con, it may seriously affect game operation.

2.6 Overall Evaluation

Overall, Super Mario Party is an excellent party game that retains the classic gameplay of the series and adds more innovative elements. Although the game has some shortcomings, such as too much luck and long playtime, these shortcomings cannot hide its charm as a party game.

Score: 8.5/10

• IGN Score: 7.5/10 (https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/10/05/super-mario-party-review) - IGN points out the shortcomings of the game's mini-games and online mode.
• Metacritic Score: 76/100 (https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/super-mario-party) - Metacritic's comprehensive score shows that media reviews are mixed.

3. Super Mario Party Game Guide: Play Party Like a Pro

3.1 Beginner's Guide

• Understand the Rules: Before starting the game, be sure to understand the basic rules of the game, including how to roll dice, how to use items, and how to play mini-games.
• Choose a Character: Choose a character according to your preferences. Different characters have different special dice, which may affect the game strategy.
• Familiarize Yourself with the Map: Familiarize yourself with the various areas and events on the map to help you better plan your route.
• Master Mini-Games: Practice mini-games more often to improve your win rate, which can help you get more coins and stars.
• Make Good Use of Items: Using items reasonably can help you gain an advantage, such as using double dice to increase the number of steps forward, and using warp mushrooms to quickly reach your destination.

3.2 Advanced Skills and Strategies

• Control the Dice: Some characters have special dice that can help you better control the number of steps forward. For example, Princess Peach's dice can more easily roll high numbers, while Donkey Kong's dice are more likely to roll 0.
• Use Terrain: Some maps have special terrain, such as teleporters, obstacles, etc. You can use these terrains to change your route.
• Interfere with Opponents: You can use items to interfere with opponents, such as using poison mushrooms to prevent opponents from moving forward, and using ghosts to steal opponents' coins.
• Cooperate for Win-Win Results: In partner mode, maintaining good communication and cooperation with your teammates can help you better compete against other teams.

3.3 Best Equipment and Skill Combinations

There are no equipment and skill concepts in Super Mario Party, but different characters have different special dice, and you can choose the right character according to your game style. For example, if you like adventure, you can choose Bowser, whose dice are riskier, but the returns are also greater.

3.4 Speedrun Skills and Hidden Elements Guide

Super Mario Party does not have a strict speedrun concept, but you can win faster in the following ways:

• Choose the Right Character: Choose a character who is good at mini-games, which can help you accumulate coins and stars faster.
• Familiarize Yourself with Mini-Games: Practice mini-games more often to improve your win rate, which can help you get more coins and stars faster.
• Use Items: Using items reasonably can help you reach your destination faster, or interfere with your opponents.

There are some hidden elements in the game, such as unlocking new characters and maps, which can be unlocked by completing specific tasks.

4. Super Mario Party Game Recommendation: Who Should Buy It?

Super Mario Party is very suitable for the following people:

• Like Party Games: This is a perfect party game that allows you to spend happy time with your friends.
• Like the Mario Party Series: If you like the Mario Party series, then this game is definitely not to be missed.
• Want a Relaxing and Casual Game: This is a relaxing and casual game that allows you to relax in your free time.

If you don't like party games, or are tired of games with too much luck, then this game may not be suitable for you.

5. Super Mario Party on Nintendo Switch 2: Promising Future

With the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 (nintendo switch2 price), we are full of expectations for the performance of the Super Mario Party series on the next-generation console. The improved performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 will bring more exquisite graphics, smoother running speeds, and more diverse gaming experiences.

Here are some possible improvements:

• More Powerful Hardware Performance: The more powerful hardware performance of the Nintendo Switch 2 can bring more exquisite graphics and smoother running speeds, improving the overall game experience.
• Richer Game Modes: It is hoped that more new game modes can be seen on the Nintendo Switch 2, such as larger-scale multiplayer battles, and more in-depth story modes.
• More Complete Online Mode: It is hoped that the Nintendo Switch 2 can bring a more complete online mode, such as supporting voice chat, leaderboards, and friend matching functions, so that players can better interact with global players.
• Nintendo Switch2 Compatibility: Considering nintendo switch2 compatibility, we are more looking forward to Mario Party being backwards compatible, or launching an upgraded version, to meet player needs.

6. Purchase Recommendations Combining Nintendo Switch 2

Currently, the price/performance ratio of purchasing Super Mario Party is still relatively high. But considering that the Nintendo Switch 2 is about to be released, if you are not in a hurry to play this game, you can consider waiting for the Nintendo Switch 2 to be released before making a decision.

• Sufficient Budget: If you have a sufficient budget, you can consider purchasing the Nintendo Switch 2 and look forward to future possible Super Mario Party new works.
• Limited Budget: If you have a limited budget, you can continue to play Super Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch, or wait for the used price to drop.

7. Summary

Super Mario Party is an excellent party game that retains the classic gameplay of the series and adds more innovative elements. Although the game has some shortcomings, these shortcomings cannot hide its charm as a party game. With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, we are full of expectations for the performance of the Super Mario Party series on the next-generation console. I hope Nintendo can continue to bring us more fun party games. With the release of nintendo switch2 first look, we are more looking forward to a more excellent Mario Party work on the NS2 platform.

I hope this review can help you better understand Super Mario Party and make an informed purchase decision. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment area, and I will try my best to answer them. Let's look forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 and future Super Mario Party new works together!