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Mario Party 8

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6.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 41 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 78 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Hudson Soft

Genre(s): Party

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: May 29, 2007

Summary

Play with motion control! Row your way down a river, punch a statue to pieces, steer race cars and mopeds, and handle a balancing pole while walking a tightrope. Play with the pointer. Drag and drop decorations onto cakes, shoot Boos in haunted house, quickly choose your answer in a game show. Mash those Wii Remote buttons. Jump and pummel your way through a football brawl, hop and run across an obstacle course of spinning platforms. Mario Party 8 includes six brand-new boards, dozens of minigames and many new modes. In a franchise first, you can collect special power-ups and transform your character into a boulder that smashes rivals or a coin-sucking vampire. Mario Party 8 includes "extra-large" minigames like Star Carnival Bowling and Table Menace. [Nintendo]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Mario Party 4 Mario Party 5 Mario Party 6 Mario Party 7

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameFAQs

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GamePro

Played alone, against the computer, the game is barely worth popping out of its case. But, having even one other human opponent ups the fun exponentially--you just can't get the same satisfaction out of trash talking against a faceless computerized enemy.

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AtomicGamer

In the end, Mario Party 8 is a fun game that I'd recommend to most Wii owners. Given that, this review was written from the perspective of having multiple people playing the game. With that out of the way, I'll just say one last time – Pick this one up, you and your friends will have a great time with it.

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GameTrailers

The level of customization and personalization available in Mario Party 8 and the intuitive fun of the Wiimote make it the quintessential party accessory of 2007. What few control weaknesses are present are overshadowed by the inane fun and competition, a host of unlockables, and addictive mini-games.

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Yahoo! Games

Let's be honest, who looks to party games for stunning originality, cutting-edge presentation, and engrossing single-player modes? It's Mario. He parties. So will you.

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Nintendojo

It may be subtle, but they add a spritz of freshness to what many feel is a stale series, and is reason enough to purchase Mario Party 8, especially for those holding out for something new in the franchise.

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Console Gameworld

Bottom line is that if you love Mario Party, you’ll still love Mario Party 8. If you don’t love the Mario Party games, this one isn’t going to do anything that will change your mind, even with the Wii controls.

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Cheat Code Central

They did a good job giving Mario Party lovers what they like and, for once, they actually showed improvement and innovation.

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Nintendo Power

It's not a perfect game, but it is a perfect fit for the Wii, and will likely be a series favorite for fans. [July 2007, p.92]

Pelit (Finland)

Simple, pure, childish fun. Wiimote freshens the series, but underneath it all still lies the same old Mario Party in both the good and the bad. [Aug 2007]

GameZone

Buy it for the multiplayer, pass on the single-player.

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Game Informer

Mario Party should be about fast-paced fun, which is why I prefer to get my kicks with the spastic, oddly humorous "Rayman Raving Rabbids."

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Games Radar (in-house)

It's still plenty of wacky, crazy fun with four human players, but it's still a shame that it doesn't rise above the glut of other minigames compilations on the Wii despite its prestigious pedigree and the most impressive cast in all gamedom.

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GameDaily

Despite these complaints, Mario Party 8's motion controls, fresh new options and accessible bonus content make it a party that shouldn't be missed -- not even by those who thought that the series' best days were already long gone.

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DarkStation

Mario Party 8 is a great title to bring out if you want to have a good sit down, laughing experience with a game. Mario Party 8 is not perfect and leaves plenty of room for improvement in the future, but for those who didn't invest in a Gamecube and now have joined the large install base of the Nintendo Wii, Mario Party 8 is a good opportunity to check out what you have been missing.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A group of friends can still have fun with it, but it's just too similar to previous versions. [Aug 2007, p.88]

Gaming Age

The biggest omission from Mario Party 8, and the one that kept it from achieving an even higher score, is online play.

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GameSpot

There are some good minigames in Mario Party 8, but the overly familiar, chance-heavy board game wrapper gets in their way.

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Hardcore Gamer Magazine

Some of the minigames are fun but the board game that frames the whole experience relies far too much on chance. [Vol 3, Issue 2, p.58]

Worth Playing

The problem is that the Mario Party franchise hasn't really evolved or changed much from its days on the Nintendo 64. Yes, there are new characters, stages, and mini-games, but despite their clever designs, they're quickly growing repetitive and stale.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

It's just such a waste to see "Mario Party" get a frsh start here, only to have us turn the Wii-mote on its side to use it like any other motion-control-free controller. [Aug 2007, p.72]

Da Gameboyz

Overall Mario Party 8 is mixed bag of experiences.

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G4 TV

It’s safe to say that we’re all getting a little sick of mini-games on the Wii, but Mario Party 8 delivers a pretty good batch wrapped up in some interesting board designs. Perhaps they’ll work out the rest of the kinks in time for Mario Party 9.

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NintendoWorldReport

The series is screaming for reinvention, and even the introduction of Wii control was not enough to invigorate it.

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GameSpy

While unimpressive from a technical standpoint, and uninspired from a mini-games standpoint, the core Mario Party formula remains intact.

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NGamer UK

Mario Party has never dazzled but this is the dullest it's ever been. [Aug 2007, p.48]

Games Master UK

With brand new controls they had a chance to reinvigorate the franchise. They didn't. [Aug 2007, p.65]

The Wiire

The lacking options and point-and-click interface could have been so much better.

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PALGN

The only thing that barely saves this is that it's a four-player game with some light competitive play. Otherwise, it's eminently missable - wait for something better unless you absolutely must have a Wii-based four-player board game.

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1UP

A really disappointing (but, as mentioned at the start of this review, inevitably still entertaining) Wii debut for the series. Perhaps the next game will truly take advantage of the Wii controls through and through.

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IGN

All of our complaints about previous games – the slow pace, the lackluster single-player affair, the loose attention to detail – all remain and with Mario Party 8 we can add another criticism: ignorance of the Wii remote.

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Game Almighty

Besides the tired gameplay, Mario Party 8 has some serious presentation issues that will make you wonder if you’re still playing a Gamecube game.

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Armchair Empire

Mario Party 8 has sold extremely well but it seems to be riding the crest wave of previous Mario Party titles, because there’s nothing worth coming back for.

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games(TM)

It’s the same old formula with a few moments of motion-controlled inspiration. [Aug 2007, p.111]

Zentendo

A slopped together and stripped down fest of mediocre minigames.

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GamerNode

Mario Party 8 is probably the series' biggest step backwards in its lifetime, and after eight years of consistency from the franchise, this addition falls way too short to recommend a purchase.

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Kombo

Just because it’s Mario doesn’t mean it’s a party worth going to.

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Gamer 2.0

Like a good song that got overplayed on the radio, Mario Party 8 is simply too much of a good thing. The series is in desperate need of a revival and one can only hope that Nintendo looks at this title as reference of what not to do in the future.

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Edge Magazine

Criticism has often been aimed at Hudson’s perpetual shrug of the shoulders as to how to milk new games from the same old buttons and analogue stick setup, yet here we find all-new motion controls and still no freshness. [Aug 2007, p.95]

Eurogamer

Mario Party 8 is a "would have, should have, could have" kind of game. With such an depressingly long list of wasted possibilities, and so many other mini-game collections available for Nintendo Wii (The excellent Rayman Raving Rabbids, for one) It would be wrong of me to say you should pick this up.

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VideoGamer

With the core gameplay being dull, the mini-games uninspired and the presentation severely lacking, this is a game that only the most die-hard Nintendo fans will find any worth in.

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Game Revolution

Also, about the ultra-long credits that you can’t skip: please. It’s like watching the dirt get shoveled onto my open grave as I wait for the ordeal to end.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 6.8 (out of 10) based on 78 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Michael gave it a10:
Awesome as ever. Get some friends, some drinks, and have a party. Not for the geekiest gamer, there's not a lot of challenge, single player sucks, moving around the board is entirely based on luck, etc.etc. Playing this alone would be only slightly better than playing Monopoly solo. It's a friggin party! Get some friends who you can stand to have around your stuff and who make you laugh, then play. Trust me, it's fun. Not a game to be taken seriously, just an excuse to have a good time.

Alex C. gave it a1:
Sheesh, Mario Party has gotten crap since the original. Playing minigames which aren't actually that good over and over again can get pretty boring, plus the game boards, whatever they're callled, are crap too. A once great series ruined by repetitive gameplay and a lack of good minigames.

Todd S gave it a4:
Mario Party 8 is a major disappointment. The minigames are simple and fun, especially when theres split screen multiplayer, but the series never really improved on it's flaws. The board game is luck based, requiring no skill at all. While it may seem like a perfect opportunity for anybody to jump in, it's moreso a waste of time. Any system which rewards failure and punishes success is broken. The audiovisuals would have been acceptable 3-4 years ago, but in current standards, they are awful. I see little ways that this game has improved upon Mario Party 7 and even Mario Party 4. Most of the minigames you missed from the old games didn't come back. Nintendo put a very little amount of effort into this game. The final product shows.

Sque M. gave it an8:
Mario Party 8 Graphics: 8/10 (Just like their previous Gamecube games) Sound: 8/10 (Awesome music and okay sound effects make this worth hearing) Controls: 8.5/10 (Almost niche, though it sometimes won't work) Gameplay: 7.5/10 (Just like the previous MP games, though rather on luck than strategy) Lastability: 9/10 (Worth playing, especially with 2-4 players playing this) Overall: A- (Sure it's not the best but it one of the best Mario Party games ever).

Rachel Y gave it a5:
To be honest, I think it's an okay game... Easily not worth a 10, but it's not worth like a 2 either. Only buy it if you know more than one person is gonna be playin' it, haha. It's great for 3+ people, it's a good laugh. A lot of it was based on luck, I've found, and sometimes the minigames take a while to figure what you actually have to do! Overall, the game is alright - best on multiplayer. But if you are looking for a good one player AND multiplayer game, I recommend Mario &Sonic at the Olympic Games, or even Wii Sports!

Jack H gave it a2:
Oh no, it's ANOTHER Mario Party game. I'd bet $1000 that Nintendo finds a way to stretch this series to Mario Party 15. The mini games would probably include sawing logs and opening cans. Oh wait, they've already done that! I enjoyed the first few Mario Party games, but this is just ridiculous. The fact is, the whole game is based on luck. You could win every stupid mini game and still come in last. If you already have any of the Mario Party games, there is absolutely NO reason to buy this game. Unfortunately, there will always be people willing to buy these games, and will in fact buy Mario Party 9, and Mario Party 10, and Mario Party 11, and Mario Party 12, and Mario Party 13, and Mario Party 14, and finally Mario Party 15, which Nintendo will give some unimaginative new name to, like Mario's Big Bash.

Doug L gave it an8:
A fun game to play with 2-4 people. Best with 4 really. Most of the minigames are fun, some are eh and a few are real clunkers... a couple of my favorites are only for 2 player mode which is a bummer. Overall it would be nice to have more games even if some were similar or derivatives of each other. Game play is a bit long a "standard" game of 15 turns takes about 1.5 hours, this is not the game to start for a quick hit, it is similar to a board game in that it does take some commitment to finishing. I would agree that there is a high degree of randomness to it but i think that is part of the fun who wants to playa game for 1-2 hours if they already know who is good and going to win. If you are more "hard-core" switch off the bonus stars and play on the Tycoon board it requires the most strategy and rewards those who win mini-games the most. Overall fun game with friends with a good replay value, but not in any way a "ahrd-core" game.

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