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What is your favorite Mario Party?
- Thread starter tr00per
- Start date
6 is best
It's got great boards, minigames, and the day/night cycle is a really fun mechanic that adds a new wrinkle to the game. Mic minigames are pretty fun too (the mic can be hit or miss though). It's by far my most played MP game.
I would say from there the games gradually go on a downturn, especially with 9 and 10 where they put everyone in a car.
It's got great boards, minigames, and the day/night cycle is a really fun mechanic that adds a new wrinkle to the game. Mic minigames are pretty fun too (the mic can be hit or miss though). It's by far my most played MP game.
I would say from there the games gradually go on a downturn, especially with 9 and 10 where they put everyone in a car.
I haven't played them enough to be sure, but I felt like the recent entries significantly dummned down the mini-games where they required a lot less inputs from the player and never had more than 2 possible interactions. The boardgame part I never cared for but it seemed to always work
I know it destroyed hands and controllers, but the first couple of games are where I had the most fun
I know it destroyed hands and controllers, but the first couple of games are where I had the most fun
Mario Party 3 is still the GOAT for me, fun mini games and the Dual boards are really fun. To be fair though, you can't really go wrong with any of the N64 Mario Party games as this was when the series was at its best.
Out out the GameCube games I would say Mario Party 6 is the best as it has the best boards and mini games. 4 has really good mini games but lackluster boards and only has a small amount of mini games total. Mario Party 5 is good all around and has fun extra content but has an awkward item system that wasn't fully realised until Mario Party 6. Mario Party 7 has weaker boards and the turns start to take way too long from here on out, but it's still fun and 8 player mode is fantastic if you can find that many people willing to play Mario Party with you (good luck with that lol).
Mario Party 8 is okay, decent boards and mini games. Mario Party 9 & 10 have really good mini games but bad boards. Super Mario Party isn't the best imo, lackluster boards, turns take way too long and the mini games offering is worse than 9 and 10.
If you have missed 6-10, I would say 6 and 7 are still worth picking up today as there are the best from those games. Also, don't sleep on Mario Party DS as its just as good as the 64 Mario Party games as far as I'm concerned.
Out out the GameCube games I would say Mario Party 6 is the best as it has the best boards and mini games. 4 has really good mini games but lackluster boards and only has a small amount of mini games total. Mario Party 5 is good all around and has fun extra content but has an awkward item system that wasn't fully realised until Mario Party 6. Mario Party 7 has weaker boards and the turns start to take way too long from here on out, but it's still fun and 8 player mode is fantastic if you can find that many people willing to play Mario Party with you (good luck with that lol).
Mario Party 8 is okay, decent boards and mini games. Mario Party 9 & 10 have really good mini games but bad boards. Super Mario Party isn't the best imo, lackluster boards, turns take way too long and the mini games offering is worse than 9 and 10.
If you have missed 6-10, I would say 6 and 7 are still worth picking up today as there are the best from those games. Also, don't sleep on Mario Party DS as its just as good as the 64 Mario Party games as far as I'm concerned.
I was invited to a friend's work party in 2015 and everyone was dressed like Mario characters. The costumes were fabulous. The drinks were delicious. The romantic aspects were mutually agreeable and invited the prospect of future sexual relations.
If we're restricted to official entries, however, I would say 6.
If we're restricted to official entries, however, I would say 6.
Mario Party 8 on Wii was really great. Every board was amazing. And I spent the most time on Mario Party DS.
Combining 1-3 like that isn't going to make the poll very interesting lol, but I guess you have a limited number of responses. The most popular are 2/3/6.
1 for me, which is a bit unpopular. It has a lot of unique little things that 2 did away with for balance, but personally I like the chaos.
1 for me, which is a bit unpopular. It has a lot of unique little things that 2 did away with for balance, but personally I like the chaos.
Stopdoor probably has the most informed opinions regarding this on the forum. (He'll see this thread eventually anyway, but may as well speed up the process lol.)
My favorite entry is MP6. The day/night cycle is a fun mechanic and for me it got the best overall combination of boards, minigames and items. The mic stuff can be hit or miss but it can be hilarious when it misses as well lol
7 is a close second for me. Pretty similar to 6 overall (minus the day/night cycle) in that it still keeps up with most of MP6's strong points.
7 is a close second for me. Pretty similar to 6 overall (minus the day/night cycle) in that it still keeps up with most of MP6's strong points.
I really love the totally cutthroat feeling of the first game.
The way you lose coins if you lose team minigames, or the minigames where you can straight-up pick another player and steal a bunch of their coins. Or the many, many reversal of fortune spaces where you can steal or exchange stars.
Or the 1 vs. 3 game where it's basically "hey you're in a Bowser suit and there's nothing you can do except let the other 3 players hit you with hammers and steal as many coins from you as they please".
I haven't played 2 or 3, but I watched GiantBomb play them and it seems like they totally neutered that aspect since the 2nd game.
The way you lose coins if you lose team minigames, or the minigames where you can straight-up pick another player and steal a bunch of their coins. Or the many, many reversal of fortune spaces where you can steal or exchange stars.
Or the 1 vs. 3 game where it's basically "hey you're in a Bowser suit and there's nothing you can do except let the other 3 players hit you with hammers and steal as many coins from you as they please".
I haven't played 2 or 3, but I watched GiantBomb play them and it seems like they totally neutered that aspect since the 2nd game.
The one with the car is the only decent one. The new one with only a few different boards is very bad.
In terms of overall package: probably 6.
In terms of boards: 1 or 2
In terms of QoL, UX, game modes besides classical Party and minigames: Super Mario Party (which is not on the poll :/ )
PS: Secret best overall package is Wii Party U, though. Heavily underrated game!!
In terms of boards: 1 or 2
In terms of QoL, UX, game modes besides classical Party and minigames: Super Mario Party (which is not on the poll :/ )
PS: Secret best overall package is Wii Party U, though. Heavily underrated game!!
Maybe I'm blinded by nostalgia but the one I enjoy the most when I play again is definitely Mario Party 2. Mario Party 3 comes close, but the boards are much better in 2. 1 is a bit underwhelming although it does have that more mean spirit of messing with your rivals in petty ways.
From the GC era, I really enjoyed 6 and 7, which both have great boards, minigames and mechanics (and unlockables!). 4 was never my cup of tea although the minigames are mostly excellent, and 5 has very weak boards and the wonky introduction of the capsules that didn't really feel interesting until 7.
The Wii era is terrible. 8 has terrible minigames with slightly interesting boards, and 9 is just a disgrace. I'm mostly happy with Super Mario Party, though, even with its very glaring flaws.
From the GC era, I really enjoyed 6 and 7, which both have great boards, minigames and mechanics (and unlockables!). 4 was never my cup of tea although the minigames are mostly excellent, and 5 has very weak boards and the wonky introduction of the capsules that didn't really feel interesting until 7.
The Wii era is terrible. 8 has terrible minigames with slightly interesting boards, and 9 is just a disgrace. I'm mostly happy with Super Mario Party, though, even with its very glaring flaws.
4 has the best minigames. The series had a pretty strong start on GameCube. 5 was a downgrade and introduced a weaker item system. Then 6 came out which is arguably one of the best in the series. 7 is once again another downgrade. 8 is super weak too unfortunately, and 9 and 10 went in a completely different direction.
Lol
I dunno, people have probably said enough here, but personally I like to give a shout out to Mario Party 7 for the 8-player mode, which is a unique riot and I wish had not gone away, and Mario Party 10 for the 1v4 Bowser Party mode that isn't always balanced, but when it is is super cutthroat and down to the wire. It's a shame only the last board is really good for it and there's only like 10 minigames for it, but I've had some killer games of it over the years.
I only ever played 3 and one of the other N64 ones, and 3 was way better.
Is there a reason 3 never got a VC release?
Is there a reason 3 never got a VC release?
🙄 Oh yeah, and I can only roll my eyes at worrying if the minigames got "gimmicky" - like, it's Mario Party, the whole point is that minigames are a slapdash gimmick that surprises you with new mechanics and controls. The minigames did have a lesser balance of kind of "full control" games where you move and jump around in later games, but they never went away and it's more accessible for everyone that way anyway while still being fun tests of skill. I don't think there was ever a down-turn in minigame quality, even Mario Party 8 with a heavier motion control balance is still a fun riot, the simple motion controls are perfect for what Mario Party is.
2,4 and 6.
Super Mario Party was also damn good, only because of the minigames and the insane improvement that it was over the Wii and Wii U entry (s)
Super Mario Party was also damn good, only because of the minigames and the insane improvement that it was over the Wii and Wii U entry (s)
2 is my favorite. I rented it and brought it over to friends house and we played for several hours.
Sucks because I've never played it and I hear it's one of the best : ( At least I get the reason 1 never made it onto VC
Definitely 3. Had the best balance, a ton of strategy with all of the items, great boards, gameguy, dual boards, etc. 6 and 7 are both really good.
3 > 2 > 6 > 5 (it's nice that the Star Spirits are hosts of though).
3 had a campaign I actually cared about as a kid, plus there were lots of items and the duel mode was fun too. It needs to be re released! I don't own SMP, but it's been fun to play with friends!
3 had a campaign I actually cared about as a kid, plus there were lots of items and the duel mode was fun too. It needs to be re released! I don't own SMP, but it's been fun to play with friends!
This is a weighted poll by grouping the n64 titles together. That said my favorites are 3, 5, 6, and 8 with 2 and 4 being up there as well.
Never played the N64 ones since N64 was non-existent in my country, but from 4 onwards my favorite is MP6. As already mentioned, the board selection alone makes it tower above other games in the series post-N64 and the day-night cycle that switches board throughout the game added a lot of fun. The boards were really elaborate too, which hurts after recent entries have gone with such basic boards.
2 is probably my favorite but it's only got a slim lead over 4 & 6. Generally the even numbered entries are better than the odds, except for 8 which is the worst by far. Super Mario Party is ok. I really liked Mario Party Advance for doing its own weird thing.
6 is 100% worth it. They really went all out with the Day/Night mechanic, I enjoy how it even changes the appearance of the minigames. All around great entry.
7 is fairly worth it. I feel it has the best item system. 5 introduced capsules, but placed capsules didn't have ownership, so you could screw yourself over with your own capsules. 6 and 7 fixed that so that your capsules would benefit you and give the game a bit of a monopoly feel of capturing spaces. Minigames are maybe a bit weaker in this game. 8-player mode is an interesting addition, provided you can find that many people to play with.
8 is maybe worth it. The randomly generated haunted house board is really fun. There's enjoyable minigames in there, but the RNG in this game seems to make it so you're playing a ridiculous amount of 1v3 minigames. (at least in my experience). Candy items were a huge downgrade from capsules, though the character transformations from eating the candy were amusing. If you want more Mario Party after having played the other Hudson Soft entries, I'd say get it.
9 is kind of worth it. The minigames are still fun. I don't like the boards much at all. I enjoyed the minigame modes, Choice Challenge and whatever the flower garden mode was called.
10 was not worth it to me. The minigames are really simplified and easy. (Ex: Peepa Panic. Slow autoscroll with very easy to dodge enemy patterns and you get 3 health). The boards continue to stink.
Poll would have been a lot more interesting had 1, 2, and 3 not been grouped together.
For what it's worth, the second one was always my favorite.
For what it's worth, the second one was always my favorite.
5 by a country mile thanks to some really standout minigames and the surprisingly extremely robust car combat mode.
2, 3, and 5 are the pinnacle of the series. 4 and 8 are decently enjoyable too. I used to include 1 in that but I never actually played it much; went back to it a couple years ago and was astonished at how many series mainstay features weren't introduced until 2.
The Wii Party games are also pretty good as well. I never touched the handheld ones; they looked fun, but them being not on a console limits their appeal.
2, 3, and 5 are the pinnacle of the series. 4 and 8 are decently enjoyable too. I used to include 1 in that but I never actually played it much; went back to it a couple years ago and was astonished at how many series mainstay features weren't introduced until 2.
The Wii Party games are also pretty good as well. I never touched the handheld ones; they looked fun, but them being not on a console limits their appeal.
OP
OP
Yeah I was limited to 7 choices, so I figured grouping 1-3 and ignoring the non-numbered entries was the best choice. I figured most people would pick 1-3 anyway (though if I knew what the favored entries were, I might have done differently).
Thanks for the opinions, everyone. I've got an idea of what to shoot for now!
Thanks for the opinions, everyone. I've got an idea of what to shoot for now!
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The early ones are really good.
Play Mario Party 1 for the original version of the coin economy (2v2 and 3v1 minigames don't add new coins into circulation, so there's less inflation and the 20 coin price for a star makes more sense). Well, don't actually play it, since it has the infamous analog stick spinning issue, but it's interesting.
Play Mario Party 2 for the polish and general production value, and some really good board design.
Play Mario Party 3 for the item gameplay, which gives you a lot more options on any given turn, and thus more ability to actually do things on purpose.
I never got into the later games as much. The Gamecube ones are still alright, but after that, I'm really not a fan.
Play Mario Party 1 for the original version of the coin economy (2v2 and 3v1 minigames don't add new coins into circulation, so there's less inflation and the 20 coin price for a star makes more sense). Well, don't actually play it, since it has the infamous analog stick spinning issue, but it's interesting.
Play Mario Party 2 for the polish and general production value, and some really good board design.
Play Mario Party 3 for the item gameplay, which gives you a lot more options on any given turn, and thus more ability to actually do things on purpose.
I never got into the later games as much. The Gamecube ones are still alright, but after that, I'm really not a fan.
