If you've got some friends to play with let Mario start your party!

Mario Party 9

                For most people familiar with Nintendo, seeing any other Mario Party game does not come as a surprise.  Nintendo keeps churning out one after another, as evidenced by the 9 in the title.  While the series is playfully mocked in most older gaming circles, the fact that Nintendo has been able to successfully produce nine different versions of this game proves that they have done something right with the formula the concocted over a decade ago when the first one was released.

                The game puts players in the shoes (or feet) of classic Nintendo characters as they make their way around a game board displayed on screen.  For half the game play is much like a traditional table top board game.  Players roll dice on screen, move forward on spaces and reap the corresponding rewards of whatever space they land on.  Where the game takes a turn occurs between turns of the game.  After each player has had a chance to move around the board, every player participates in a “mini game”, side games each lasting a minute or two that pit players against one another or the computer for in-game rewards.  Reaching certain points on the board awards players with stars and after a set amount of turns the player with the most stars wins the game.  Different boards throw different twists into the gameplay that make each board a unique playing experience.

                This is an excellent multiplayer game for kids. Mini games are easy to learn and pick up, they don’t require lots of time to think about or learn the controls.  Often times players will be put on the same team to work against the computer or each other, requiring quick teamwork to be successful.  Like its tabletop counterparts, Mario Party 9 also functions as a great way for kids to learn good sportsmanship.  A lot of the game hinges on luck, even sometimes favoring the player currently in last place.  Combined with the fact that there can be immediate turn around between games, it helps kids realize that not winning isn’t the end of the world, but part of what makes ultimately winning so fun.

                If you’re looking for a fun multiplayer game for several kids Mario Party 9 is perfect.  For Nintendo fans or players new to the Nintendo universe it is a great way to spend some time interacting with other gamers.  That being said, this game is not one to pick up if the gamer will be playing single player most of the time.  Half the fun of the wacky mini games is the fun chaos that ensues while trying to learn a new game fast with other players. Another caveat is one that was alluded to earlier, that there are several different versions of this game, with the potential for more.  Often they are so close to another that if you own one, it is by no means necessary to purchase the latest version when it is released.  

                For teaching kids good sportsmanship, resource management and teamwork, you would be hard pressed to find a different game that is as successful for its target audience.  If you have groups of kids wanting to play together, this or any of the Mario Party games are not to be missed.