System: Wii
Dev: Next Level Games
Pub: Nintendo
Release: July 30, 2007
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
Review by Jonathan Marx

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Online play is well done for the most part. Getting matched up to players via a ranked match is a piece of cake. I like how the rankings last only for the duration of a season. Seasons are only a few days long and you'll actually be able to see the season countdown in the main lobby. Disappointingly, getting matched to your friends is not so easy. You'll have to call or write your buddy and find out what their friend code is then punch it in before you can play with them. I hope it's not like this for all online Wii titles. It works like the DS Wi-Fi which is somewhat inefficient.

Graphics are straightforward and nice. They're not thrilling though. All of your favorite characters are well drawn, and the effects and movements are smooth. It is a basic Mario party game with nice backgrounds that aren't particularly detailed or dramatic.

The music is fun and lighthearted. It is very repetitive however, and will most likely end up annoying you. I thought the sounds were acceptable for the most part. One sound in particular is awful. The shrill whine made during Mega Strikes and missed saves is absolutely unnecessary. My second Xbox 360 made that sound when it would freeze up entirely. The limited voiceover work that is in the game sounds fine. It's exactly what you expect from Nintendo characters. I love when Mario calls for the ball; that little guy's great.

Controls are well executed. There are only a few buttons to worry about so it's really easy for anyone to have fun. You will use the Nunchuk attachment in tandem with the Wii remote. You'll pass with the A button, shoot with B, chip with C, and dribble around with the analog stick. That's all there is to it. Don't worry about a lack of control depth; simplicity helps make the game so enjoyable.

This is a good game that's fun to play both with friends and online. It's not a game you will play for long periods, but it is a game you'll keep coming back to. The graphics are fine, but the sounds are a bit dodgy. The gameplay is classic Nintendo multiplayer fun and will put a smile on your face. This is not a must buy title, but if you do pick it up you won't regret it... much.

By Jonathan Marx
CCC Freelance Writer

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