gene168's Full Review: Mario Party 3 for Nintendo 64
Some fans of the original Mario Party or Mario Party 2 might wonder, "Why try to fix something that isn't broken?" Well, sure there was nothing wrong with those games, but when Hudson created Mario Party 3, it made a whole new and different game that offers gamers a totally different package from the original and its sequel. Although it may look the same, Mario Party 3 is innovative and will provide a breath of fresh air to those who may be a bit bored with their old Mario Party 1 and 2 cartridges.
Overview
The game is basically a turn-based boardgame. Each player(up to 4) takes turns going through the board and at the end of each round, there are minigames, which are the highlight of the video game.
A new feature of the game is the inclusion of a duel mode that dramatically speeds up gameplay. Two players take turns going through the board "claiming" every spot he/she lands on. A player must pay coins if he/she lands on the other players spots, or gains coins if he/she lands on his/her own spot.
Also, the single player story mode makes the game enjoyable even if your friends aren't around to partake in the fun. Some characters are not accessible unless certain portions of the story mode are completed.
Graphics
Basically the graphics of Mario Party 3 are exactly the same quality as the graphics of its predecessors. There is nothing spectacular, but it is sufficient for what this game wishes to accomplish. The only noticeable difference is the cel shading, which makes the game more aesthetically pleasing, but doesn't add too greatly to the game. As with most Nintendo games, the graphics can be best described as "cute and cuddly."
Ease of Control
The controls are not difficult at all to grasp. Each minigame's controls usually do not involve more than the use of two buttons and the control stick. To demonstrate the ease of learning how to play this game: my 5 year-old cousin has become quite proficient at playing the game after only two days.
Sound
The music is only a little bit different from the previous Mario Party's. It's a little bit more catchy and is not fabulous, but is still good. Hudson definitely was consciously trying to avoid making the game too "sappy" sounding, which should be a relief to gamers around the world.
Gameplay
What makes this game great can be summed up in three words: 1. minigames 2. multiplayer-super-fun-action 3. minigames. As most of you know, there are over 70 new minigames in Mario Party. However, unlike the old Mario Party minigames, these are almost all winners. The emphasis on most of the minigames is more on battling other opponents whereas the old minigames stressed individual performance. Of course there are a few minigames that will cause you to moan every time they come up on the screen, but the good ones far outweigh the bad.
There is no doubt that Mario Party 3 is a game intended for multiplayer action. The single player story mode is fun in its own right, but I wouldn't buy it just for that. Although an entire game may take more than an hour to play even when set to the lowest possible number of turns, it is all worth it because time flies by when you're playing minigames. Get ready to stay up all night band have a Mario Party of your own! :-)
Replay Value
The game becomes tedious when played as a one player game, but as a multiplayer game, Mario Party 3 will hold your attention for many weeks(possibly even months). As long as you have a friend or two or three with you, this game will not get old quickly. Certainly this is a game that delivers a lot of bang for its buck.
If you're a fan of the original Mario Party and Mario Party 2, then go ahead and buy Mario Party 3, because you won't be disappointed! If you haven't ever even seen a Mario Party game before, get ready to have hours upon hours of fun with this game! This is one of the few games out there that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
If you found this review helpful, put me on you "trusted" list. :-)
Loads of great minigames Simple enough for anyone to learn New characters from Mario Tennis, Platforms: Nintendo 64, ESRB Rating: EveryoneMore at Amazon Marketplace
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