Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Hudson Soft

Genre: Simulation

Origin: Japan

Number of Players: 4

Rumble Pak: YES

Expected Release Date: ? (Japan Only)

October 23, 1998   18:00

Earlier in 1998, Nintendo and Hudson announced a strategic partnership to jointly design and develop games for both Nintendo 64 and Game Boy. So when I was on the Nintendo of Japan web site when I saw Mario Party and below it it said in English copyright 1998 Nintendo and Hudson I wasn't supprised. Mario Party, a strange mixture between puzzle, board games, racing and action, is only the first of a number of games to be released between the end of 1998 and 1999.

Before you get your hopes up and think this game is Mario 64 2, think for a moment what Hudson is best at. That's right, making cool little mini-games, like bowling, shooting, or multiplayer battles a la Bomberman. Unfortunately, most of the time, these mini-games don't add up to a satisfying whole -- but under the tutelage of Nintendo, Mario Party looks a whole lot more interesting.

Like in most videogame versions of board games like Monopoly, players move on a 3D board and trigger certain events. But instead of cards telling you you have inherited a pig farm, Mario Party throws players into a whopping 50 different mini-games, ranging from racing to shooting. Up to four-players can go head-to-head at the same time. Expect Nintendo regulars, such as Mario, Luigi, Peach and Donkey Kong, as well as stars and mushrooms galore.

The game features different maps/scenery reminiscent of Nintendo's classic games:

-Donkey's Jungle Adventure

-Peach's Birthday Cake

-Yoshi's Tropical Island

-Wario's Battle Canyon

-Luigi's Engine Room

-Mario's Rainbow Castle

And here are some of the mini-games:

-Mario Orchestra: Like Simon Says. Follow the music notes played by the orchestra.

-Ball Battle: Balance on top of rubber balls on a floating island and push the others off

-Bowling: I'm sure you can figure this one out...

-Bobsled Race: Two-player splitscreen races with bob sleds, much like Mario Kart.

Nintendo says the game is very simple to pick up and should delight little kids and grown-ups alike.

Outlook

While Nintendo of America hasn't announced whether Mario Party will come out in the US, the prospect of Mario-themed races and multiplayer battles is pretty cool. It remains to be seen if the game is technically on par with Nintendo's first-party offerings, but judging from the graphics, it certainly looks like it.

More soon.