Super Mario Party: Another Upcoming Occasion For The Nintendo Switch

Mamma mia! The plumber wearing a red hat, his brother, his friends and his foes are going to throw yet another party in October 2018 [15]. There were a few hints of the developers aiming to revert the craze of Mario Party back to its original roots at E3 2018 [1] [4]. This could mean that the sudden devolution of the search for stars can help celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the first main Mario Party instalment from December 1998 and early 1999 [9]. However, the party for the Switch shall consist of some elements from the newer Mario Party games in order to appeal to the younger Nintendo nerds within the current generation of gaming [15]. After another period of young ones finding Mario toys in happy meals at McDonald’s [16] [17], Mario and his friends shall once again try to gather as many stars as possible in order to be crowned as “The Superstar”.

The Super Mario Party logo. [6]

The way how Super Mario Party will set the gameplay back to its turn-based and linear ways without all of the competitors travelling across the board together in one vehicle will be great news for those who especially grew up with the original trilogy from the Nintendo 64 days and the Gamecube era of Mario Party [1] [4] [10] [15]. There will be some boards that consist of the non-linear style for the fans of the current era of Mario Party [10]. Each playable character will have their own dice block, which is a feature from Toad Scramble Mode in Mario Party: Star Rush as an example of how the developers aimed to combine the current era of Mario Party with the previous eras of Mario Party [4] [5] [11]. It is interesting how the eras of Mario Party shall collide into one game for the Switch, Nintendo’s most advanced and impressive console yet.

 

Gameplay footage of the demo of Super Mario Party. [15]

Some positive potential of the gameplay already stood out at E3 2018, according to Nintendo Treehouse, a group of fellow Nintendo fans [1] [4] [5]. Holding the right joy-con quite tightly and punching the air upwards in order to make the chosen party guest hit a dice block might give each player the feeling of hitting a question mark block like how Mario and Luigi would in their main adventures [4]. The demo at E3 2018 seemed to have already given some items to the lucky volunteers who showed up at the time [4], so that there will be some awareness of how those items will benefit the player’s experience in the full version of the game, especially in the main party mode. And let us not forget that an event will occur once a competitor stops at a green space, which has been quite a dramatic aspect of the main party mode since the first main Mario Party game [1] [4] [5]. Once the full version of the game arrives on the market, the Mario partyers who are planning to buy it might as well aim to feel like superstars once again as they experience the familiar, yet refreshing aspects of the main gameplay.

The start of the game introduces a new way of hitting the dice block that is very similar to how Mario and Luigi would hit a question mark block. [4]

There are some aspects that made the main gameplay in the Mario Party series thrilling that could be seen in the demo of Super Mario Party [1] [4]. Once again, the variety of items, including a Fly Guy Ticket and a Buddy Phone shall allow the player to occasionally bend the rules against another competitor [1] [4] [15]. Let us hope the Golden Drink that will turn the player into solid gold will taste good [15]. The ally system, a feature that was also introduced in Mario Party: Star Rush can also benefit the player’s gameplay progress in the Super Mario Party demo [11] [15]. Once you get your hands on a full copy in late 2018, feel free to buy an item from a Flutter to increase your chance of getting the most stars [1] [4] [15]. The aspects of challenging the rules of the main party mode that have been shown in the demo further enhance the likely success of Super Mario Party for staying loyal to what made the Mario Party series successful throughout almost two decades [10].

What a trendy looking device! Could it be the Mushroom Kingdom equivalent to the real world’s iPhone? [1] 

That will be three golden coins, big guy. [15]

Of course, what would a Mario Party be without fierce competition in many different locations? One example of a minigame in Super Mario Party that is shown in the official E3 2018 trailer seems like a quirky rehash of Tanks from Wii Play [2] [6]. There are whole new minigames that involve connecting two Switch tablets together, which is an interesting concept with a practical outcome that further enhances the ambitions of the Switch [1] [4] [5] [6]. For example, both tablets will show one half of a banana and it would be up to a player to put them together and swipe their finger across both screen once the banana is complete [1] [4]. And of course, there is nothing like one competitor going against a team of three, even if it involves trying to steal packages [4]. By the power of consistent motion controls and a new control method for enhancing the current generation of Nintendo, every new minigame should hopefully be quite enjoyable for their playability, as well as their signs of individuality once the game is released for those who did not try the demo out at E3.

Isn’t this a remarkable concept being brought into action? [4]

Another minigame that involves two Switch tablets being linked together. [5]

Looks like some new competitors will be invited to the craze as well. Pom Pom, who debuted in Super Mario 3D Land with Boom Boom might as well show Wendy O. Koopa how partying as a female koopa is done [13]. At least the Monty Mole would refrain from deceitfully cheating by not throwing rocks or burrowing underground [12]. And last but not least, the ordinary goomba will not need hands to hit a dice block [15]. And perhaps the player’s Mii can be a guest as well? Ah, the good old days of partying in Mario Party 8, when a Mii would wear the usual plumber attire and be a complete mute [3]. It may seem weird to witness Bowser as a playable competitor once again, but at least he might be on his best behaviour in a slightly out-of-character manner, similar to how he competed in Mario Party 4, Mario Party 10 and Mario Party Star Rush [11]. As the eras of Mario Party from the previous 3D game consoles created by Nintendo are somehow combined with the current era [1] [4] [5] [15], the old and new guests shall do their very best to get the most stars.

Stand aside, Wendy and Hammer Bro! [13]

Goomba can somehow steadily ride a tricycle without any hands! [15]

The exciting thing about Super Mario Party for all of the worshipers of Princess Peach, otherwise known as Princess Toadstool is that it will be marked as her 100^th official appearance in a video game [14]. The pretty princess in pink has appeared in more games than any other female character throughout the entire history of gaming since her debut in 1985 [14], so there is no wonder that her 100^th appearance will be celebrated by her loyal fanbase. Do you think she might have made some cake for Mario and the other party guests while she was in another castle? Or has the cake already been baked for her as a reminder of her 100^th appearance? Either way, let us hope that her royal highness will enjoy the celebration. After all, she has been Mario’s presumed sweetheart for over three decades.

Princess Peach has made it this far from her debut in 1985. [14]

Remember 2013 being referred as “The Year of Luigi”? Well, perhaps 2018 could be The Year of Peach since Super Mario Party will be her 100th appearance. [15]

After almost twenty years of competitors buying stars and hitting dice blocks, Super Mario Party could be a splendid example of how a game would revert back to its original roots with a few modern elements [1] [4] [15]. Even though compiling several memories from each main Mario Party instalment from every era of 3D Nintendo games into one 3DS game seemed like a wonderful opportunity for a closure in late 2017 [10], I suppose that there would still be plenty of room for another incredible instalment, as long as the developers at Nintendo maintain that creativity and reliability that could last and stay fresh up to a possible Mario Party 64. After all, the Mario Party series still holds the record for the longest-running minigame series in the history of gaming and it might as well keep that record for a long, long time [10]. If you would like to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mario Party series, then Super Mario Party might be the way to witness an outstanding celebration.

Let’s-a play in late-a 2018! [15]

References:

1. GameSpot Gameplay. (2018). Super Mario Party Live Gameplay Demo | E3 2018. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IvmajTJivI. Last accessed 10th Jul 2018.
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3. Nintendo. (2007). Mario Party 8. Nintendo Wii. Kyoto. Japan
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16. ThomasPussyCat. (2015). Super Mario McDonald's Commercial (UK, 2015). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A54lRJj0om4. Last accessed 8th July 2018.
17. Valay, B. (2018). Super Mario Happy Meal toys returning to the UK this summer. Available: https://nintendoeverything.com/super-mario-happy-meal-toys-returning-to-the-uk-this-summer/. Last accessed 11 Jul 2018.