Mario Party 5 Critic Reviews

Adds a few nice modes to the Mario Party series, but if you already own "Mario Party 4" there is absolutely no reason to upgrade.

Waking up bleary eyed the next day, our mouths taste like dry Toads and the room smells of Peach. But that won’t stop us going to Mario’s for another party, with so much to do if he threw a party every day of the week we still wouldn’t get ‘board’.

The added Super Duel Mode (which would also be good online) brings a new aspect to the title. Bottom line, despite its shortcomings, Mario Party 5 proves once again why the Nintendo Gamecube is the system to own for multiplayer fun.

Probably the biggest step in making improvements than any of the other sequels has made. Bottom Line: If you're a fan of the series, you won't be disappointed.

Doesn't do anything to revolutionize the franchise, but it's still one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences around.

It may not replace traditional board games, but Mario Party 5 is another solid addition to the Mario Party franchise.

As far as party games go, this is still your best bet.

The real draw here are the minigames, and as always, they are all new. Of course, some are variations on themes passed down, but there are more than enough that surprise and delight to no end.

Minigames, as always, tread a fine line between clever and stupid.

Another solid game from Nintendo – it features a few new tweaks on the old formula but it’s more or less the same game with new boards, new mini-games and a few new characters.

Some of the new minigames are a little stale, and some concepts are recycled, but the new capsule system functions well as the necessary fresh coat of paint.

Easily the greatest party game on the market today. While that isn’t saying a whole lot since anything that isn’t Mario Party is usually schlock and unworthy of anything but the bargain bin, it still proves that there’s plenty of spunk within the series.

On the one hand, it's filled to the brim with imaginative mini-games and modes, on the other it still suffers from the same baffling waiting times in the board-based modes.

It’s definitely the Mario Party title you’ll want to buy if you’re new to the series, since it has the most minigames and the best boards of the Cube iterations.

Mario, get with it -- get hipper, get slicker, and get as good as you outta be. Right now, you're phoning it in.

The control scheme changes during each minigame, so unless you know already know how to play it, you should read the directions and the controls that go with it.

If you don’t intend to play with friends or family that much don’t bother with the title unless you haven’t played a Mario Party title before.

The biggest enhancements come in the single-player experience - always the worst part of the previous games. This time, Nintendo has clearly put some thought into it and come up with a story mode that actiually has a point, rather than being a player-vs-computer rehash of Party mode.

There’s nothing wrong with Mario Party 5 as it stands, but the next installment sure could use an overhaul to freshen the formula.

The new single-player story mode and bonus games add a little more longevity to the game, the fundamental experience is still largely the same as that offered in previous Mario Party games. If you bought "Mario Party 4" last year, Mario Party 5 is hard to recommend.