Mario Party 10 - Nintendo Wii U

Gameplay

In Mario Party 10, the goal is, of course, to collect the most stars. Just like in part 9, all 4 players are together in one vehicle, navigating a course together. You can choose from different levels, each with its own theme and rules, just like in the other parts. Unfortunately, just like in part 9, there's no real single-player mode in this part, which I personally find disappointing. But in Mario Party, it's all about the mini-games, which are the most fun for me. Mini-games come in various forms, from simple guessing games to super quick reaction games. From helping each other to getting in each other's way, there's enough variety, and that's what makes the game so enjoyable. The tablet controller doesn't have much function apart from reading Amiibo. The only time you'll see it in action is when Bowser escapes. You'll see a prison and the numbers 1 through 6; once all the numbers are rolled, Bowser is freed, and that's when the real fun begins. Bowser has always been a naughty boy, and he's no different here.

In addition to the Party mode, the game offers 2 other modes: Bowser Party and Amiibo Party. Bowser Party is something I've seen for the first time in a Mario Party game. While in Party Mode you play for yourself, in Bowser mode, you really have to cooperate. Of course, you can also choose to be Bowser yourself, and that's when the tablet controller comes into its own a bit. The goal of this mode is to stay ahead of Bowser, or if you're Bowser, to catch your opponents.

I'm personally not too keen on the Amiibo mode. It's a nice extra, but many extras are hidden behind Amiibo figurines, and if you want those, you really need those figurines. The figurines are not only expensive but also hard to come by. So if you really want to unlock everything, get ready to dig deep into your pockets and start searching for all those figurines supported by Mario Party 10.

Graphics

Mario Party 10 is the first Mario Party in HD, and you can clearly see that. Despite the cartoon style, you can see a noticeable difference from part 9. The levels are beautifully crafted, and the characters are also very well made. The music and sound effects are fine and suit this fun party game well. I can't say much more than that it looks and feels familiar.

Conclusion

Mario Party 10 is definitely a fun party game, especially because it's the first in HD and the first for the Nintendo Wii U. However, I find it unfortunate that you're always in a vehicle together again, and can't play separately, like in Mario Party 1 through 8. If there's ever a part 11 released, I hope they combine this. Furthermore, I miss an online mode, so you can play with friends online. Right now, Mario Party is a great game to play together, but having that option would have been nice. My biggest gripe is still the Amiibo; despite having quite a few, there are still figurines I need to be able to use everything. Something I personally find disappointing about this game is that mini-games appear randomly and not after everyone has had a turn.

Pros and Cons:

+ Mario Party finally in HD.
+ Bowser Party.
+ Fun mini-games.
+ Beautiful levels.
+ Preview of how long a level will last.
+ Plenty of innovations.
- Only levels in a vehicle.
- Amiibo Party imposes limitations without the figures.
- Still no online mode.
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