GameReview #1!!

This is my very first game review :D!  Alright the first game I'm going to review is one for the Wii and it's called Mario Party 8!  I wanted to start backwards... don't yell at me :P.


First I'll discuss the story:  The story of MP8 is you are in this carnival and you battle to see who is the biggest star... yeah that's basically it.

Gameplay:  The basis of MP8 is you battle in a board and collect stars and play minigames... let me break that down for you.  There are 6 boards in the game, one needs to be unlocked but I'll get to that later.  The 5 already unlocked boards are DK's Treetop Temple, Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, King Boo's Haunted Hideaway, Koopa's Tycoon Town, Shy Guy's Perplex Express.  Each of which has their own unique design.

Dk's Treetop Temple:  This is like a normal Mario Party board where you reach the star and pay 20 coins.  Simple enough.  The design in this board is based on a sort of forest type of board.  This is my personal favorite because the board and music are both very relaxing to play and hear.

Goomba's Booty Boardwalk:  This board is very simple, you reach to the end of the board and collect a star.. FOR FREE!  Sounds simple but getting there takes time and there are dolphins that will usually give you a ride for 20 spaces or 30 spaces.  The rides usually cost 20 to 30 coins, however if you're last place you sort of get a plus and it usually costs cheaper.  This board is just one path and when you reach Goomba he will give you your star.  The theme of this board is a beach and has a little Mario Sunshine in it.  The music is not bad.

King Boo's Haunted Hideaway:  This board is very tricky.  I'll start with the theme since it will make more sense.  The theme is a haunted house and there are many rooms... but where is King Boo?  In these rooms King Boo is hiding and you have to find him.  There is no telling where he is and beware if you choose the wrong room you will be sent all the way to the beginning!  He won't be in the same room every time because whenever someone reaches the star everyone is sent to the beginning and the entire board changes!  It's like your playing on a new board every time!  This is my sister's personal favorite... I think.  The music fits in with the haunted mansion theme.

Koopa's Tycoon Town:  This board is sort of like Monopoly.  The theme is a town (obviously) and there are different hotels scattered around the board.  You have to invest money in the hotels to earn stars.  There is 1 star, 2 stars, and 3stars.  Whenever the hotel upgrades to more stars, that is how much stars you earn.  Sounds simple right?  Well others can invest in your hotel and if they put more coins in then they can steal the stars you collected.  It's difficult to keep track but if you're into Monopoly this board is for you!  The music is alright.

Shy Guy's Perplex Express:  This board is kind of like Booty Boardwalk except a little different.  The theme of this board is on a train.  Yes.. a train.  When you reach the end of the train you collect a star for 20 coins.  When you collect the star you don't start from the beginning, you go on TOP of the train and go from there.  It's a very simple board yet I enjoy this one a lot... it's still not my favorite :P.  The music in this board is very relaxing... I can't really describe it.

Bowser's Warped Orbit:  This board has to be unlocked in Star Battle Arena.  The theme is obviously in space?  Instead of getting a star you actually steal some.  In this one you have to buy candy and there are two types: Bowser candy and Bullet Bill.  Bowser candy allows you to wear a funny Bowser costume and you are able to hit 2 dice blocks but you are able to steal 3 stars.  Bullet bill candy allows you to transform to a mini bullet bill and you are able to hit 3 dice blocks but only steal 2 stars.  Everyone stars with 5 stars.  The music to this board is a bit bland and out of all the boards in this game this is my least favorite.  I feel as though the board is bland and uninteresting.

Those are all the boards in one game mode called the Party Tent.  This mode can be played with up to 4 people. You can choose to a wide variety of characters like; Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi, Daisy, Toad, Toadette, Birdo, Boo, Dry Bones, Blooper, and Hammer Bro.  Blooper and Hammer Bro. have to be unlocked.  There are 3 other modes called Battle Royale which is a free for all.  Tag Battle which is 2v2 style.  Also, Duel Battle which is only 1v1.  If you play alone the computer players can be set to Easy, Normal, Hard, or Very Hard.  Although playing by yourself is a little boring with others it's fun!  At the end of each turn you have to play a mini-game more on that later.

Star Battle Arena Mode:  This next mode is to unlock the other board and the two characters.  In this mode you go through each board battling a computer and if you win you move on to the next board.  At the end of the 5 original boards you face the new one and if you win that board you do a final mini game with Bowser.  When you finish the first time you unlock the new board AND Hammer Bro.  In order to unlock Blooper you have to finish it twice.  The boards are a little different here so I'll give you an overview.  For Dk's TT you only have to get 2 stars to win.  Goomba's BB you have to reach to the end WITH 50 coins, the board is a little shorter.  King Boo's HH you have to find 2 stars and each costs 10 coins.  Koopa's TT you have to own 3 hotels.  Shy Guy's PP you have to reach a koopa troopa in the middle of the train with 50 coins.  Bowser's Warped Orbit you have to steal the other opponents stars.  Yup.. all five stars.  This is a very frustrating mode and it took me HOURS to finish one time and I'm scared going back again.  I really hope they don't have this in Mario Party 9.

Mini-games:  The mini-games are split into different categories: free for all, 1 vs 3, 2v2, 1v1, and Battle games.  The free for all mini games are obviously everyone for themselves.  1vs 3 mini games has you either fending for yourself or in a team of 3.  2v2 mini games has you working with a partner in a mini game.  1v1 mini games are called Duel games and it's you battling with one other computer or human player to compete for each others stars or coins.  Battle mini games are sort of gambling... sort of.  You pay up to a minimum of 10 or a maximum of 50.  First place gets you 75%, second place gets you 25%, and third place gets you 5%, and fourth place gets you... nada.  There is also other mini games like Extra, Last, and Challenge.  Those can't be played in the Party Tent.  Challenge mini games are only for Star Battle Arena and Extras are for the Extra Zone.  Overall the mini games were pretty good except for the fact that most of the duel mini games were rip offs of the free for all mini games.  There was a good selection of mini games to play.  Some are very easy to win.  Others are nearly impossible to win unless the computers are on Easy or Normal.

Extras Zone:  In this tent you play the extra mini games that you buy from the Fun Bazaar.  These mini games are rip offs of the bowling game from Wii Sports.  The Ping Pong game from Wii play.  And there is also a racing one but I don't play them because they are controlled very badly!  They are poorly designed and boring to play!

Fun Bazaar:  This place you either buy the terrible extra mini games or the soundtrack of the game or voices of the characters.  You can also buy figurines but they useless.  All of these costs tickets.  These can be earned after playing the Party Tent or Mini Game Tent.

Options Mode: - _ - no need to explain.

Graphics:  These graphics were very similar to the Gamecube Mario Party's and fail to make me go WOW.  Am I complaining?  Nope because there are worse looking games for the Wii.  The detail to these boards are pretty good to be honest.

Overall Score:  If you are very familiar of the Mario Party franchise and if you have bought EVERY copy of them then this would be a great collection.  To those who don't know the franchise... well you might not be impressed with the game.  The boards were very creative and fun to play on and the music is very addicting!  The mini games disappoint a little because they are very easy to win.  Overall I give this game an 8/10.

I hope this was very informative!  I know it's a lot to read but I enjoyed typing this review and there are more game reviews to come :D!  See you Monday!

Schedule

OK let's get things straight.  I have a plan for every blog entry I post.  It will consist of this schedule:

Wed.- I will have Game Talk which involves me giving an update on what I've been playing.

Fri.- In this segment I will give game reviews!  Mostly on Nintendo game systems.  Occasionally I will do a review for Xbox 360.

Mon.-  I will give plans on what I want to do in the future.  More like an update and news.
   
*Note* I might not do these every week due to school starting.  I will try my very best to do all of these... See you guys Friday :D!

About GameGuy

OK so I am starting a new blog BUT it's all about gaming!  YAY!  The reason I am doing gaming is I don't think it fits in with my other blog and I am starting to go in gaming O:!  I won't post things everyday I think it will be every other day.  Tomorrow will be my first post and in this blog I'll be less serious and more fun!  I'll be talking about gaming news, game reviews, and giving you an update on what I'm really playing.  My goal is to get a capture card to actually record things and upload them on YouTube.  Unfortunately that's expensive for me... I will say I am a Nintendo fan so sorry Microsoft and Sony fans.  OK guys I'm leaving so see you tomorrow!