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What's wrong with Mario Party 8?

K

koam

Member
*NOTE THIS IS MY FIRST MARIO PARTY GAME EVER*

My friend really wanted to play this yesterday so she went out and bought the game for me. We tried it out in 3 player mode. I don't understand the hate this series gets. I can understand the yearly installments bother people but really, the game is fun. I'm a big fan of board games so this fit right into my alley and there's a lot of minigames. I've only played it for like 2 hours so i dunno, maybe it gets repetitive.

The only immediate flaws i noticed are, WTF is widescreen support? That's pretty retarded and could have been added easily.

It's based a lot on luck but most board games are anyway. The candies and mini-games help fix that though.

I didn't really play with the settings, but is there no way of removing the CPU players?

The other thing i don't get is IGN's review. It really feels like they reviewed an early build or something. My game doesn't even have those nasty borders that they show in their review. The mini-games' controls didn't appear to be tacked on but maybe that's cause i'm used to wii games that have tacked on controls by now :lol
 
It takes a level of commitment to insult Mario.

IGN thinks they're cool because they do that.

It's like pinching the pope and then running away.
 
josephdebono said:
IGN reviewers and haters don't have friends to play it with.
Click to expand...

The game DOES looks really boring if you play single player. I get bored when it's the computer's turn when we play with 3 players heh. So is there a way to turn that off?
 
Nothing. It's the game I bought my Wii for after all.


koam said:
The game DOES looks really boring if you play single player. I get bored when it's the computer's turn when we play with 3 players heh. So is there a way to turn that off?
Click to expand...
Sadly, no. :/ The only thing you can do is to skip the CPU singleplayer minigames - it's in the options somewhere.
 
Here's what's wrong:

As with most Mario Party games, MP8 is plagued by horribly long and tedious menus. Why must I have to cycle through the same shit just to go to the store or to the mini game plaza? Same goes for incidents once you begin the game. They NEED to cut out text and just focus purley on momentum.

Also, it gets confusing when you have to shake the wiimote to hit the die. In my opinion you should just be able to hit any button. Most of the mini-games require players to hold the controller sideways, which is how they end up holding it going back to the menu. Your first reaction is to it "2" to roll the dice. Small design flaw in my opinion.

Other than that it's fine but the sheer tediousness of the menus and character dialogue can kill enthusiasm.
 
It's number "8". If you hated it you'll hate it more because it's successful, if you've played it before and liked it you'll bitch there's nothing new.

It was my first Mario Party and I had some good times with it. Deserves more slight apathy than hate.
 
evilromero said:
Here's what's wrong:

As with most Mario Party games, MP8 is plagued by horribly long and tedious menus. Why must I have to cycle through the same shit just to go to the store or to the mini game plaza? Same goes for incidents once you begin the game. They NEED to cut out text and just focus purley on momentum.

Also, it gets confusing when you have to shake the wiimote to hit the die. In my opinion you should just be able to hit any button. Most of the mini-games require players to hold the controller sideways, which is how they end up holding it going back to the menu. Your first reaction is to it "2" to roll the dice. Small design flaw in my opinion.

Other than that it's fine but the sheer tediousness of the menus and character dialogue can kill enthusiasm.
Click to expand...

Shake the remote? What? I just flick the controller upwards to hit the die? Am i doing this wrong or are you?

Also, i don't get the whole, hold the remote sideways complaint. I haven't played the game much but there were a lot of pointer based games. I also didn't notice the menu problem cause once i'm in the game, i never get out? I do wish that you didn't have to see those "enter candy store" or whatever things all the time.

Can I skip the entire CPUs turn? I don't mind if he moves around on the board, i just don't want to see it.
 
I've had a blast everytime I've played it with my nephews. Last time I did noticed that the presentation is not very good. They could definitely improve the visuals and the interface overall. I think it's appropiate that reviewers point out the flaws. I imagine how awesome this game could be if they put more effort on the development. I do have fun with it anyway.
 
Koam, you haven't been playing Mario Party games as long as most of us. When you've played every single one, these minor complaints become more paramount. Trust me. Put some more time into MP8 and you'll discover issues that could have easily been addressed. The only problem is, most of these issues have been in the series since 4 and have only gotten worse.
 
koam said:
*NOTE THIS IS MY FIRST MARIO PARTY GAME EVER*
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Well, there you go. I loved the first Mario Party, enjoyed the second one, and then quit buying them because there was very little going on in the way of change.
 
Mario Party 8 is awesome. It's one of the few games I can think of that can have hardcore and casual gamers seated in front of the same television set and having fun.
 
The only thing wrong with this game is that it's been done 7 times before (more if you count the handheld versions). It's only good if you aren't sick to death of them already AND you have enough physical friends to play with on a regular basis.

In any case, it's not a $50 title. Add online multiplay with a decent lobby and maybe it'd be fun again (kicking a strangers ass may be more fun than kicking your same friends asses for the 8th time.)
 
The previous series highlight was Mario Party 5. With its greater variety in game modes, better graphics and fun Wii control, Mario Party 8 has become the new definitive Mario Party title.
 
It's pretty funny cause you can easily see who's played the game here and who hasn't.

The game is a yearly installment so how is this different from Madden or the other games? I love the NHL series but i'm not going to go out and buy them every year. I'll probably buy one or two per gen max (usually one EA and one T2). But, I do agree they need to price this better, maybe $40.

Also, what's so good about MP1 and 2 that sucks in the newer versions? Why did it peak at 2? If they come out on the VC, should I buy 1 or 2?
 
_leech_ said:
"Sure, it smells like shit... but if you like the smell of shit, it's really good!"
Click to expand...

LOLZ!!!

The same can be said about yearly sports titles or WWE titles or endless iterations of fighter series, etc.

Not liking a genre does not qualify you to state what is good or not good about a particular entry in that genre.
 
Count Dookkake said:
LOLZ!!!

The same can be said about yearly sports titles or WWE titles or endless iterations of fighter series, etc.

Not liking a genre does not qualify you to state what is good or not good about a particular entry in that genre.
Click to expand...

Well let's not use "upgrade" iterations both offensively and defensively. Either they're generally good or they're generally bad (all things being equal). I'd argue that they tend more toward the latter, be it for sports games or party games. I'm a PES fan, I feel the pain of barely evolutionary sequelitis, but I'd also add that the analogy to sports games isn't a perfect one.

I think the Wario Ware series has a better approach to sequels where each sequel is truly innovative (even though Touched fell pretty flat imo, it certainly wasn't a lazy sequel). But Wario Ware is (apparently) aimed at both casual and hardcore audiences, whereas Mario Party has always been a strictly casual affair (at least from the perspective of its design and marketing), which explains at least part of the distinction. I'm a big fan of mini-games (Wario Ware: MM and Twisted were among my top games of last gen), but the Mario Party series has often fallen rather flat with me.
 
I played it and it really feels tacked on. I mean no matter how hard you swing that lasso you don't really see a proper reaction on the screen. Sucked ass for me.
 
AstroLad said:
Well let's not use "upgrade" iterations both offensively and defensively. Either they're generally good or they're generally bad (all things being equal). I'd argue that they tend more toward the latter, be it for sports games or party games. I'm a PES fan, I feel the pain of barely evolutionary sequelitis, but I'd also add that the analogy to sports games isn't a perfect one.

I think the Wario Ware series has a better approach to sequels where each sequel is truly innovative (even though Touched fell pretty flat imo, it certainly wasn't a lazy sequel). But Wario Ware is (apparently) aimed at both casual and hardcore audiences, whereas Mario Party has always been a strictly casual affair (at least from the perspective of its design and marketing), which explains at least part of the distinction. I'm a big fan of mini-games (Wario Ware: MM and Twisted were among my top games of last gen), but the Mario Party series has often fallen rather flat with me.
Click to expand...

Good post, but I would venture to say that even though the series may have fallen flat with people who have played multiple versions, to new players it has the same sense of fun as all the others. If someone would have liked the older ones, they would probably like the new one. This doesn't mean to say that they would need to play every version or even be inclined to play every one. I've skipped a few and still found 8 to be as fun as the others.
 
koam said:
It's pretty funny cause you can easily see who's played the game here and who hasn't.

The game is a yearly installment so how is this different from Madden or the other games? I love the NHL series but i'm not going to go out and buy them every year. I'll probably buy one or two per gen max (usually one EA and one T2). But, I do agree they need to price this better, maybe $40.

Also, what's so good about MP1 and 2 that sucks in the newer versions? Why did it peak at 2? If they come out on the VC, should I buy 1 or 2?
Click to expand...

I disagree that the series peaked at 2. I wouldn't even say it has peaked yet, but 4 is my favorite. That said, I was a little disappointed by 4. Mostly I believe it was the maps. While pretty and interesting, I didn't enjoy them as much as the exploration heavy maps where you could be completely screwed over by star placement.

Some of the games also felt a little off, not enough to make them unplayable, but definitly not as tight control wise. But, I'm definitly the odd man out of my group, where everyone else adores it.

Still fun, I just imagine that 9 will be much, much better.
 
evilromero said:
Here's what's wrong:

As with most Mario Party games, MP8 is plagued by horribly long and tedious menus. Why must I have to cycle through the same shit just to go to the store or to the mini game plaza? Same goes for incidents once you begin the game. They NEED to cut out text and just focus purley on momentum.

Also, it gets confusing when you have to shake the wiimote to hit the die. In my opinion you should just be able to hit any button. Most of the mini-games require players to hold the controller sideways, which is how they end up holding it going back to the menu. Your first reaction is to it "2" to roll the dice. Small design flaw in my opinion.
.
Click to expand...

-It plagues most games in the series, but seems worse in this one with the extended animations on the map but, the time per player turn is far too long, they need to speed things up to keep our attention in the game

-All the different control schemes are a bigger hassle than usual. Back in the day it was various combinations of A, B and Z. Now you have to hold the remote all kinds of different ways per mini-game.

-The game also seriously lacks in the 4 player mini-game department instead they stocked up on duel minigames for some reason.

-Candy is Lacking when compared to the far superior Orbs they left us in 7.

-The maps are less "inspired" and lack the charm past maps have

-I still don't understand why they don't bring back older minigames ( Bumper Balls ) that were absolutely fantastic.

-They really need a better Minigame only selection mode. Something where you add a bunch of your favorite to a playlist then begin to play them one after another.

Some of the Mario Party 8 minigames are great, and i can see Mario Party 9 turning out fantastic if they address these issues, plus a couple more I haven't mentioned
 
Count Dookkake said:
LOLZ!!!

The same can be said about yearly sports titles or WWE titles or endless iterations of fighter series, etc.

Not liking a genre does not qualify you to state what is good or not good about a particular entry in that genre.
Click to expand...

Why do you think people complain about EA so much? Frankly it annoys me a little that Nintendo can't be bothered to put in the effort to ever improve/change the gameplay in some of their series of games (looking at you, Pokemon). I mean, there's nothing harmful per se with releasing EA-style minor upgrades in the form of entirely new games (which basically all play the same), but its an incredibly low bar to set... when they could be putting in actual effort and doing so much more.
 
Count Dookkake said:
Good post, but I would venture to say that even though the series may have fallen flat with people who have played multiple versions, to new players it has the same sense of fun as all the others. If someone would have liked the older ones, they would probably like the new one. This doesn't mean to say that they would need to play every version or even be inclined to play every one. I've skipped a few and still found 8 to be as fun as the others.
Click to expand...

Right, I also generally skip about 3 or so between iterations, and I haven't actually bought a Mario Party either.

One thing I should add is that part of the reason MP is so huge is because it fills that multiplayer niche. I think Wario Ware could easily do this as well but for some reason they always drop the ball on it (see: Smooth Moves). Mario Party may not have great core gameplay, its board game mechanics may be painfully bad at times, and it may rarely evolve in any meaningful way, but it still stands apart in the multiplayer minigame space. Maybe one day a publisher will realize that there's a lot of money to be made in copying and substantially improving upon Mario Party, but until then MP will remain the undisputed champ.
 
FieryBalrog said:
Why do you think people complain about EA so much? Frankly it annoys me a little that Nintendo can't be bothered to put in the effort to ever improve/change the gameplay in some of their series of games (looking at you, Pokemon). I mean, there's nothing harmful per se with releasing EA-style minor upgrades in the form of entirely new games (which basically all play the same), but its an incredibly low bar to set... when they could be putting in actual effort and doing so much more.
Click to expand...

I am aware of the complaints levelled against EA. I just don't think these types of complaints matter. We all know what to expect when a series comes along with a yearly update. This is no longer a surprise.

As for putting in more effort and "doing so much more" - that's what new series are for. Why muck up a formula that has been such a cash cow? If things get too stale, then the sales will suffer, and then changes will be made. Until then play your old WWEs.

EDIT-

Don't forget that this is the first MP with motion control. Girls are already predisposed to liking this series. Willing girls plus motion controls
plus alcohol
makes this a very good installment. You may not like the game itself, but the meta-game is SPECTACULAR!
 
Well I never had any time with MP before number 8, my little guy (he is 4 and a half) loves the game, I have to play a 10 round party every evening and I enjoy it most of the time( probably for the fun of seeing my boy having fun) Even if it is not a GOTY this is the game that had the most play time in my home for a couple of month. My daughter who is 2 and a half even tries to play (and I have to finish with her character after a couple of rounds)
On the other side as an adult player I would not play it as my game of choice(go bioshock go) but with a couple of friends and some alcoholic beverage it could be fun as well.
 
Mario party is great with social friends who are 'nongamers' so to speak, and have their girl friends / wives. Mario has charm that very VERY few characters have, and somehow, it can draw anyone in.

What's wrong with Mario Party, is that people think it's going to be something they can enjoy by themselves with fewer than 3 other friends.

Not possible.
 
My problem is that I win almost every time with meteoric Star and Coin counts and it pisses off whomever I'm playing with. :P
 
I've played a lot of the Mario Party's Koam and I'll fill you in.


1) MP8's mini-games, in general, suck. Mario Party, at some points in it's life, was the king of coming up with new mini-games. Hell, if they released Mario Party 1, 2, and 3 on VC I'd get it. MP8 just doesn't have any mini games with lasting appeal.

2) The series has really gone now where. All they've added is new gimmicks to the board game itself. I still can't switch over computer turns, speed up or slow down the game pacing, or play online. The graphics don't even look that good.





But then again I thought Rabbid Rabbits sucked hard too.
 
koam said:
You've clearly played the game and have a valid opinion.
Click to expand...
I have, unfortunately, played the game quite a bit.

Whether or not my opinion is valid.....?

There are some wicked awesome Wii mini-game games. But, if you want to pass them up in favor of Mario Party 8, be my guest.
 
I loved Mario Party 1, but never felt the need to buy any future instalments... Until Mario Party 5.

I rented it and very quickly realized that I had wasted my money. I might as well have taken out my N64 and played the first one. (Ok, MP5 didn't have controller-destroying minigames, but even still. I expected a little more...)
 
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