Feb. 24, 2007 - Long before Wario Ware and Monkey Ball, one franchise claimed the hearts of the mini-game masses: Mario Party. Since it's debut on the Nintendo 64, the Mario Party franchise has delighted gamers and non-gamers alike with it's board-game style gameplay and whimsically fun mini-games

Mario Party 8 is set to debut on the Wii in June (it's been delayed) and promises to use the Wii's motion-sensing capabilities to create a whole new dimension to this classic favorite. The newest incarnation of the franchise promises to include dozens of new mini-games, with a few nostalgic favorites thrown in the mix. The game also features six new themed game boards to play on

Gameplay is widely varied from mini-game to mini-game. One game requires you to row a boat using your Wii-mote, while another requires you to use your balancing skills with the Wii-mote to walk a tightrope. Pointing the Wii-mote at the screen for shooting games and dragging toppings onto cakes are also confirmed uses of the Wii-mote. However, some games just require the familiar good ol' button mashing skill. Some type of organization will probably be used (much like in Wario Ware: Smooth Moves) to prompt the player how to use and hold the Wii-mote

Another exciting new feature in Mario Party 8 is new characters. Although none have been formally announced, early screenshots show Old-School Hammer Bro. from the Mario Universe and longtime underwater nemesis Blooper as new playable characters.

Graphics from early screenshots look to be vibrant and bright. The board environments look playfully entertaining, while the mini-game environments really try to capture the individual essence of each unique mini-game, whether they take place in a jungle, a garden, or a haunted mansion.

Nintendo has also announced that Mario Party 8 also expands upon its already extensive mini-games by adding an "extra-large" mini-game mode. Not much is known about what this mode is, but one might speculate that it includes expansive adaptations of mini-games from party mode.

Mario Party has long been one Nintendo's most anticipated titles to cross over to the Wii. With exciting and fast-paced motion-sensing minigames, Mario Party 8 will definitely build upon the tried and true formula that made its predecessors so irresistible. And with new boards, games and characters, there's a whole lot more to love this time around!

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

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