As Nintendo released the latest in its string of Mario games for Wii U, nostalgic gamers and neophytes alike are itching to get their hands on a copy. However, while Mario Party 10 might be, in theory, the latest game-changer in the world of fun adventure games full of minigames, plumbers, and familiar characters, it falls short of living up to fans' expectations.
Essentially, the Mario Party games for the Wii U, and the series as a whole, are meant to be interactive video board games riddled with minigames. However, its latest incarnations have done away the more complex rules and options that generally give board games their charm, opting instead for easier quests.
The game is divided into three core modes: Mario Party, Bowser Party and amiibo Party. Each of these options feature entertaining and distinct, with only minimal elements shared across different modes. This makes for an entertaining game to play with friends or family. In general, Mario games for the Wii U should really be played as a group. Playing alone with the game's AI is allowed, but it will be much less rewarding.
On the plus side, Mario Party 10 enjoys the perks of the latest in gaming technology. So far, it's one of only few Mario games for the Wii U, developed for optimum interactivity with the console's trademark gamepad and Nintendo's interactive amibo figurines.
However, even these features aren't used to their fullest. For one, there are a lot of missed opportunities in terms of how the gamepad can be used, and amibo's functionality doesn't really translate well to Mario Party's gameplay. Perhaps the best use of the gamepad would be in the Bowser Mode, where you get to play as Mario's main antagonist and blow fire at players and mess with their minds.
All-in-all, Mario Party 10 is still an excellent gift for children, who just might be able to get hundreds of hours of enjoyment out of it. It's also for hardcore fans and Mario game collectors. Unfortunately, it's not for everybody. With Nintendo's record of selling games that can be fun for all ages, Mario Party 10 scores poorly on the list. One can only hope that the future of Mario Games for Wii U gets better.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
