Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Wire

So here we are again with the third and almost certainly the last Mario Party for the Nintendo Switch. We had something new who tried to be old, something old it tried to be new, and now we move to the next logical step: why not both? The influences and intentions of Super Mario Party Jamboree are not hard to see, and they largely succeed in bringing the best out of the pile. This game is not designed to invent or use any special tricks. Instead, it’s a simple but highly polished affair, with sturdy boards reminiscent of the series’ past and a selection of largely rewarding mini-games. This may seem impressive on paper, but as it goes on, it ends up being the biggest Mario party ever held. and one of the best in recent decades.

Before getting into the heart of the Jamboree, he manages to make a strong impression with the biggest lineup of any Mario party. You’ve got all the expected headliners (including Kevin Afghani’s debut as Waluigi), frequent guests (please never leave Toadette on the sidelines again), and a few thugs lucky enough to be here (Spike!). Although there are only two newcomers, they are very welcome. At this stage, Polina had rightfully secured her status as a main character, and everyone I showed this game to instantly fell in love with Ninja. Get the little guy, Nintendo!

As already mentioned, the main elements here are boards and mini-games. We can’t have a Mario party without them. While it starts with just four meager boards, you’ll be able to unlock two classic boards from the N64 era pretty quickly, as well as a regular Bowser board after that. Both Rainbow Castle Mario and Western Land benefit from the glow, and it’s definitely welcome, but I can’t help but wonder if they shouldn’t have been in Mario Party Superstars instead. The alternative is that the Nintendo Cube developer sets a (welcome) precedent for microdosing nostalgia.

These two are fairly simple boards that actually do a great job of highlighting the concepts used in the new ones. Mega Wiggler’s Tree Party is a great introduction, and Goomba Lagoon’s changing tides will reward experienced players, but it’s Roll ’em Raceway and Rainbow Galleria that really impress here. They both have interesting item mechanics, deep layouts (thanks to the scale and tactful movement across the three floors respectively), but still feel comfortable like Mario Party. Collectively, these seven options are an excellent assortment, ready for replayability and stronger than almost all of the last few games in the series (remakes notwithstanding).

However, not only individual elements of the board work well. This is how Jamboree takes almost everything from previous games and turns them into its collection of party favors. Item shops, variety in how stars are handled on boards, returning options for players who are not inherently performance-oriented, unexpected events that keep the game interesting – up to and including Chance Time; They’re all here and doing a good job. This means that the formula’s inherent randomness is alive and well, but if I wanted a fair experience where I could keep all my friends, I wouldn’t play Mario Party.

This number has one drawback – Jamboree games can last a long time. I was really surprised to see that the “standard” move is ten, but the estimated game time is 90 minutes. Nowhere does this seem more pronounced than what this game feels like is its own gimmick. Jamboree friends will sometimes appear, giving players the opportunity to recruit them to cooperate and gain benefits such as better dice rolls and extra coins. They even “double” any buffs or debuffs you encounter. Land on the red spot? Lose coins twice. Get to the Star? You can buy two!

This in itself is normal, as is the way other players can steal a buddy by walking by, creating a separate kind of mad dash from Star. The problem is that deciding who will hire them comes down to a very long mini-game event. On their own, they can take over five minutes to complete, and while some of these games are enjoyable in their own right, in this context they simply take too long. It’s the epitome of Jamboree’s pacing problems as well as how slowly characters move around the board, and while I suppose the latter could be fixed with some kind of update, I don’t think there’s any cure for the former.

Speaking of mini-games, there are 112 mini-games waiting for us here. That number sounds impressive, but only about 50 of them are mini-games in the sense that you’ll encounter them between turns. Even if we include the Items and Duels minigames in this total, that still means that about half of the available minigames are exclusively for non-party modes. This is nothing new for the series, although the division of individual games seems more pronounced in the Jamboree.

Overall, it’s a good collection of games in terms of variety and new concepts, but few of them strike me as “everything” that can rival the likes of Bowser’s Big Blast and Pushy Penguins. Prime Cut, where you and your partner have to eyeball a perfectly cooked steak, is definitely a new favorite along with All the Marbles, the fairly simple ball race that gave it its namesake. Whether it’s fair to judge this line on the series’ legacy is definitely a question to ponder, but I can’t deny that I don’t like most of these games.

Don’t confuse the lack of iconic standout moments with overall enjoyment in the moment. The amount of fun fun far outweighs the setbacks, although it’s worth mentioning that there are a few “quiz” and “survival” style mini-games that add to the previously mentioned pacing issues. This is not a problem unique to the Jamboree, but it becomes even more noticeable along with everything else that can slow it down.

The Jamboree managed to learn a big lesson from Super. Unlike its predecessor, it allows players to disable motion-based mini-games. This allows the game to be played both on handheld and with a variety of additional controller options, and provides a more consistent experience. The downside to this is that the Joy-Cons have become more toned down – an ongoing trend now that we’re in the twilight of the Switch’s lifespan compared to earlier days. I still think the Super is a great showcase of the controller’s potential, but I’m glad its focus has largely shifted to individual corners.

The point and point is Rhythm Kitchen. This separate mode is designed for swaying to the beat. It works on that level (although the musical element could use some work) and is supported by a cute cooking show theme. As a co-op game, it stands out from its peers. I don’t think I have any desire to visit Toad’s Item Factory or Skydiver Flight School again. The same goes for the not-so-dynamic Bowser Kaboom Squad. Neither of them actually fails at what they set out to do, but their aspirations only go so far.

The winner here will definitely be Kupatlon for 20 players. As competitors collect coins through a series of increasingly challenging mini-games, your characters will race around a track to see who can cross the finish line first. Simple, yes. Addictive and perfect for online multiplayer games with strangers? Definitely. It’s about as much of a battle royale as Mario Party gets, and it works well as the equivalent of the PvP subgenre.

All this is united by a simple and appropriate theme – a party. It’s enough to liven up Jamboree’s menu and presentation, including a simple but enjoyable single-player “historical” mode. I’ve been playing these games for decades now (thanks for all the rentals, Mom), and I don’t think any previous game has tried so hard to look so consistently good.

Consistency is really key here. No single piece of Super Mario Party Jamboree is world-shattering or a must-see. Overall, this is perhaps the most rewarding and carefully implemented game since at least the GameCube. It’s absolutely superior to its “Super” sibling, although I think there’s definitely a place for both Jamboree superstars and Mario Party in your collection/rotation. Considering how exceptional this record is (again, long time fan), that’s high praise.

Ultimately, the biggest takeaway here is that the team behind these multiplayer mainstays have finally found the formula, and the future of the Mario Party series is looking brighter than it has in a long, long time. Keep up the good work and I will answer every time.