Super Mario Party
Super Mario Party | |
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![]() Icon artwork, featuring some of the game's playable characters | |
Developer(s) | NDcube |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Director(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Designer(s) |
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Programmer(s) |
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Artist(s) |
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Composer(s) |
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Series | Mario Party |
Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch |
Release | 5 October 2018 |
Genre(s) | Party |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Super Mario Party is a party video game developed by NDcube and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The eleventh main instalment in the Mario Party series, it was released worldwide on 5 October 2018, and sold 1.5 million copies by the end of the month [citation needed], making it one of the system's best-selling games. As of 30 September 2019, the game has sold 7.59 million copies.[1]
Gameplay
The traditional gameplay of the older Mario Party games returns in Super Mario Party, after the previous two games' departure from the established form. The standard game mode, Party Mode, features up to four players taking turns and navigating the board in search of stars while competing against one another in a variety of minigames. A second mode, known as Partner Party, has two teams of two players also searching for stars on a free-movement board similar to those in Mario Party: Star Rush.[2] The game can be played with only one Joy-Con controller per player, allowing two players to play together with only one Switch system, which comes with two Joy-Con. Super Mario Party also takes advantage of the Switch's local wireless capabilities, allowing teams to play from separate Switch consoles and allowing multiple Switch consoles to be arranged and synchronized to create larger, multi-monitor environments[3][4][5] in a mode called "Toad's Rec Room"[2] (as patented prior to the game's reveal[6]).
Some of the minigames can be played using traditional button controls, while others may be controlled by motion controls, such as a tricycle race minigame known as Trike Harder.[7]
Toad and Toadette return as Super Mario Party's host, directing the players through the game.
Online play
Super Mario Party features online multiplayer for the first time in the Mario Party series. While Party Mode's board games are restricted to offline play,[8] players are able to play the game's 80 minigames with other players either locally or online independent of the board games in the game's "Online Mariothon" mode. In the Online Mariothon mode, players compete in five randomly-selected minigames aiming to get the highest score. It also features leader boards and a ranking system, as well as rewards that the players can receive for playing the mode.[2][9]
Playable characters
The roster of playable characters in Super Mario Party includes Mario, Luigi, Rosalina, Dry Bones,[5] Boo, Koopa Troopa, Hammer Bro, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Shy Guy, Bowser, Wario, and Waluigi, all of whom are returning characters, with Bowser being fully playable for the first time. New playable characters to the series include Bowser Jr. and Diddy Kong, who had only previously appeared as a playable character in handheld Mario Party games; Pom Pom, Goomba[5] and Monty Mole, none of whom have previously been a playable character in Mario Party, although this is the former's debut in the series, and the latter two have appeared as NPCs throughout the series.[10]
Development
Super Mario Party was developed by NDcube.[11] Nintendo revealed Super Mario Party on 12 June 2018 during their Electronic Entertainment Expo 2018 Nintendo Direct presentation,[12] where they also announced that the game would release on 5 October 2018 for the Nintendo Switch.[13] In August 2018, Nintendo said that Super Mario Party would not support the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.[14] In September 2018, it was revealed that Super Mario Party would not support handheld mode.[15]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | 76/100[16] |
Publication | Score |
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Destructoid | 7.5/10[17] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | 9/10[18] |
Game Informer | 7.25/10[19] |
GameSpot | 7/10[20] |
IGN | 7.3/10[21] |
Nintendo Life | 8/10[22] |
Nintendo World Report | 8.5/10[23] |
USgamer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Super Mario Party received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator Metacritic.[16] IGN gave the game a 7.3, stating "Super Mario Party delivers the couch multiplayer experience the series is famous for," though also mentioning a lackluster selection of maps. The game in general was widely criticized for only having four boards in Mario Party and Partner Party, and many reviewers also found these boards to be too small compared to old Mario Party games. The game was praised for its wide variety of modes and characters, however, probably the highest praise went to the minigames.[citation needed]
Sales
Super Mario Party sold 142,868 physical copies within its first 2 days on sale in Japan, outpacing its predecessors Mario Party 10 and Mario Party 9.[25] Super Mario Party debuted at #5 on United Kingdom sales charts for physical copies sold, at a very crowded time.[26] By 31 October 2018, total sales of Super Mario Party reached over 1.5 million copies, far exceeding Nintendo's expectations and making it the fastest selling Mario Party game since Mario Party 6.[27]
Total sales reached 7.59 million copies by the end of September 2019.[28] As of March 2019, the game has sold 1.22 million copies in Japan.[29]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
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2018 | Gamescom Awards | Best Family Game | Won | [30] |
The Game Awards 2018 | Nominated | [31] | ||
Gamers' Choice Awards | Fan Favorite Family-Friendly Multiplayer Game | Won | [32] | |
Titanium Awards | Best Social/Family Game | Nominated | [33] | |
Australian Games Awards | Family/Kids Title of the Year | Nominated | [34] | |
Game of the Year | Nominated | |||
2019 | National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards | Game, Franchise Family | Won | [35][36] |
2019 Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Video Game | Nominated | [37] | |
15th British Academy Games Awards | Family | Nominated | [38] | |
Multiplayer | Nominated | |||
Italian Video Game Awards | People's Choice | Nominated | [39] | |
Best Family Game | Nominated |
References
- ^ Romano, Sal (31 October 2019). "Switch worldwide sales top 41.67 million, he Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening sales top 3.13 million". Gematsu. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Jenni (14 June 2018). "Super Mario Party Talks About Partner Party, Online Multiplayer". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Gach, Ethan. "Super Mario Party Lets You Combine Two Switches". Kotaku. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (12 June 2018). "Super Mario Party might be the most creative Switch game yet". The Verge. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
But where things get really interesting is when you get multiple Switch tablets in the equation. Players will be able to pair off into teams, displaying content on each Switch instead of dividing up the screen for split-screen
- ^ a b c "Super Mario Party announced for Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ Machkovech, Sam (15 April 2018). "Nintendo's new multi-screen patent isn't just crazy—it might already hide in Switch". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ Tran, Edmon (12 June 2018). "E3 2018: Nintendo Reveals Super Mario Party For Switch". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
- ^ "Super Mario Party's online minigame mode is outrageously limited". Polygon. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ Craddock, Ryan (15 June 2018). "Super Mario Party Will Feature Online Play With Friends, But Only For Minigames". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
- ^ Dell-Cornejo, Daniel (12 June 2018). "Super Mario Party announced for Nintendo Switch". Nintendo Wire. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "SUPER MARIO PARTY". Australian Classification Board. Government of Australia. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Espineli, Matt (12 June 2018). "Nintendo E3 2018 Press Conference News For Switch - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Fortnite, Mario Party". GameSpot. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (12 June 2018). "E3 2018: Super Mario Party Announced with Release Date". IGN. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
- ^ Life, Nintendo (24 August 2018). "Super Mario Party On Switch Won't Include Pro Controller Support". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ Life, Nintendo (22 September 2018). "Super Mario Party For Nintendo Switch Won't Support Handheld Mode". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Super Mario Party for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Carter, Chris (3 October 2018). "Review: Super Mario Party". Destructoid. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Slead, Evan (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Shea, Brian (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review". Game Informer. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Ramée, Jordan (5 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review - Friend and Foe Unite". Gamespot. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ Claiborn, Samuel (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review". IGN. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
- ^ Olney, Alex (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Gibson, Casey (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ McCarthy, Caty (3 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Review". USgamer. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
- ^ Romano, Sal (10 October 2018). "Media Create Sales: 10/1/18 – 10/7/18". Gematsu. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Craddock, Ryan (8 October 2018). "Super Mario Party Rolls A Number Five In Its UK Charts Debut, FIFA 19 Still On Top". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
- ^ Nintendo Co., Ltd. (31 October 2018). "Six Months Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2019" (PDF). Nintendo. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ "Top Selling Title Sales Units". Nintendo. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
- ^ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2019/190425_3e.pdf
- ^ Keane, Sean (22 August 2018). "Gamescom 2018 award winners include Marvel's Spider-Man, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate". CNET. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ Grant, Christopher (6 December 2018). "The Game Awards 2018: Here are all the winners". Polygon. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
- ^ "2018 Gamers' Choice Awards". Gamers' Choice Awards. 9 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Titanium Awards 2018". Fun & Serious Game Festival. 10 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- ^ "Your 2018 Winners". Australian Games Awards. 19 December 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
- ^ "Nominee List for 2018". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Winner list for 2018: God of War breaks record". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (23 March 2019). "Kids' Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
- ^ Fogel, Stefanie (14 March 2019). "'God of War,' 'Red Dead 2' Lead BAFTA Game Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Italian Video Game Awards Nominees and Winners". Italian Video Game Awards. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2019.