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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Mario Party
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 16 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 12 votes
Read user comments
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Game Info
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Hudson Soft
Genre(s): Puzzle, Party
Players: 4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: February 1, 1999
Summary
Mario Party is designed for 1 to 4 players, but it's not really a party unless you're playing with your pals. The festivities are based on a board game format, right down to the fact that players must roll a die to determine how many spaces to move. The fun starts when players land on different squares, because each space holds one of more than fifty different mini-games. These quick competitions determine who will earn coins and stars, and who will go home empty handed. The mini-games are spread over eight different game boards, all of which are not immediately available. Some of the games pit every man or princess against the others, some are two-on-two, and others are even three against one. The games are simple, but remarkably fun to play. One challenge is loosely based on "Simon Says," another involves a two-on-two bobsled race, and one crazy game makes one player attempt to cross a rope while the other three do their best to shake the player off. You'll find skill games, racing games, puzzle games --basically any type of challenge you could imagine. [Nintendo]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Mario Party 3 Mario Party 4 Mario Party 6
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
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
Even the single-player mode is fun, but the Party really starts when the players interact with each other while competing in this hilarious game.
Read Full Review >Games Domain
An excellent game that should be embraced by all gamers (Nintendo haters and loves alike). The best party game since "Super Bomberman 2."
Read Full Review >GamerWeb Nintendo
Mario creates another new genre and further demonstrates why the N64 is the system for party animals. The first game of it's kind … for groups of three or four people, though, Mario Party is a Nintendo 64 classic.
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
The game that would start a Mario-themed party-game revolution. [Jan 2004, p.189]
Gaming Maxx
The best multi-playerS game for parties, sleep over or a past of time for kiddies & young adults alike. Hudson Soft has taken the game boards of the family room table and crush it all into a game cartridge that is well worth the purchase.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
As with most board games, Mario Party relies heavily on luck (the roll of the dice) and has little to do with skill. Although most of the mini-games are fairly simple to learn and to play, I must warn potential buyers of Mario Party that this game is extremely tough on your controllers.
Read Full Review >Hot Games
Bring over a few friends, and although they may laugh at the cutesy setting at first, the excitement raised by the frantic multiplayer action is nothing short of sensational. Avoid this one if you're one of those shady loner-types.
Read Full Review >Nintendorks
A perfect, addictive blend of luck, skill, and strategy … anything can happen in a game of Mario Party, and that's what makes it such unique and enjoyable game. Throw your coat on the bed in the guest room, because you're going to be staying a while.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
Mario Party reflects Nintendo's current policy in Japan of knocking out gimmicky video toys instead of those pesky expensive-to-produce games. A good laugh with a group of friends, but it's no substitute for the games that made Nintendo's name in the first place.
Read Full Review >Nintendojo
Do whatever you can to play this game the way it should be played : with four players! The amount of trash talking, cheating, and jinxing provided when you're playing with three other people is unbelievable. A great game that pioneers a great new genre : The Party Genre.
Read Full Review >IGN
It's the ultimate party game for N64 on one hand -- but it can also turn into a grueling experience when less than three players are taking part. Mario Party is one of those rare games that has to be played by three or four people to be fun.
Read Full Review >Weekly Famitsu
8 / 8 / 7 / 8 - 31 silver
GameSpot
It's that multiplayer competitive spark of screaming at and/or cheering for your friends that injects life into these often-simple little games, and without it, they're just simple little games. The less-social gamer might want to rent.
Read Full Review >Electric Playground
Playing through a slow-as-molasses round of Mario Party can be an excruciatingly tedious experience. Frankly, I just kept dozing off waiting for my turn.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
Don't expect to win based on skill or shrewd decision making. In fact, this is one of the most random playing board games I've seen! Mario Party is a great idea, but the simplistic nature of gameplay coupled with extremely short mini-games will leave most players feeling unsatisfied.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
A party game with great intentions, but unsatisfying delivery. This is a tedious and often frustrating experience, and its few bright spots get squashed under the weight of Mario's fat, boring ass. This is one dead party.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 12 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Why Not? gave it an8:
The first in a series is usually the best, and Mario Party is no exception. Although there are only 6 characters and 8 boards, once you start playing, you'll see why it doesn't need any more. The mini-games -- all 50 of them -- are what you really want to play this game for, and only a couple fall short of expectations. However, twirling the control stick can get a bit painful. The one place where this game lacks is the story -- it's basically nonexistent. All you do is play a board game. A revolutionary, virtual board game. I give Mario Party an 84/100.
Michael S. gave it a7:
The first party game, a classic.
Zero X gave it a7:
It's a good game but it was all mini-games and the story sucked.
mutated kangaroo gave it an8:
The two things keeping this game from getting a ten are the broken joystick in my controller and the huge blisters on my palm
Robert A. gave it a 7:
Yes this game was very fun. not too challenging. i was one of the sorry souls to use the palm of my hand to spin around the joystick. beware, the joystick will dig a hole into your hand. fun game though :)
Mitchell L. gave it an 8:
When I got this game I could not put it down the story sound and the wacky mini games are all just about as great as it could get but it got a little tidius that's why I gave it an 8.
