After the success of Wii Party, which has shifted more than six million copies worldwide since its release, there were understandable concerns among Mario Party fans that Miis had replaced Mario as Nintendo's party characters of choice. Not a chance. Mario Party 9 will be released in March and the plumber is ready to show the Miis how it's done.
With 10 previous games in the series though (including two handheld titles on GBA and DS), it should have been obvious that Mario Party would never die. That's why Nd Cube - the development team in charge of Wii Party - is now working on Mario Party 9.
Mushroom For Improvement?
While some of the mini-games in Mario Party 8 felt a little devoid of character and didn't really feel like they were taking place in the Mario universe - like the one where you stood in a generic city and had to shake a can of fizzy pop so it would explode before anyone else's - Mario Party 9 has a clear Mushroom Kingdom vibe to it.
One board appears to be set in World 1 of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, complete with windmills, green hills, a fortress and a beanstalk, while none of the mini-games we've seen so far are set in generic locations as in Mario Party 8.
Indeed, we've spotted Mario, Wario, Peach and Yoshi blasting a Blooper in one mini-game while the foursome attempt to avoid being trampled by a Wiggler on another game. There's also a Mario Sunshine-inspired level, complete with Pianta People and palm trees, in which the plumber and pals have to catch CheepCheeps in hoops.
There's also the promise of Boss battles at the end of and in the middle of each stage with all the players working together to defeat King Boo or Bowser.
Another addition is vehicles. Now all four characters can get in a car and drive across the map as a group. Each player takes turns to be the captain of the vehicle and when you're the captain you have to hit the Dice Block to determine how many spaces the vehicle will move forward.
This one has clearly been designed for the Wii and if Wii Party was anything to go by, we're in for a treat.
i am a big fan of the mario party games and i am definitely going to get this game!
i hope its like mario party 2 if it is then i will defonetely get it because i also played that with my brothers and it had amazing themes. i may get this
Definitely looking forward to this!
I am a huge Mario Party fan and I am looking forwards to the realise of this game.
Wow, looks great
I'm really liking Mario Party 9 but i'm also liking M+S 2012 3ds, so which should i get...?
Guess there's only one way to find out...
Cautiously optimistic about this one. It does look good from the little we have seen
...FIIIIIIIIGHT!!!!
Wii games that weren't designed for the Wii? Surely not!
I actually was able to read the unedited preview of the game and I got very excited. Now, however i feel very dissapointed that everything regarding Classic Mode is deleted. Does that mean it wont be in the game? I mean the Minigames in the game look great, but the concept of it all doesnt sound nor look very convincing, it looks like its much more luck, strealined based which I dont like since Mario Party was already alot about luck in the first place. But I still have hope, if anything the fact that they mention it (at first) could be a hint for it, I mean, I feel it is impossible that after playing a game, one could come with something that simply isnt in it!I mean thats a serious screw up! ONM could you please confirm us if it was just a mistake or real? I think every Mario Party fan is looking for that confirmation regarding this game! Thanks! Whatever the case i will still give it a try, i mean i love Mario Party and who knows maybe this concept could become something special.....but I still want my classic Mario Party!
I wish they would go back to having the costumes depending on which board you choose like in MP2. I always loved being a pirate in that game.
I like the car levels...but are there any levels without them?
They always dissappoint me... This might be the first mario party I wont buy unless I am furtherly convinced!!
Don't worry, mate. At least there would be a Party, Solo and Extras mode for you to try out. I have played this game, you know. Trust me, you'll be playing this game for months!