Mario Party 8

Description

Mario Party 8 keeps the classic Mario Party format: up to four players roll dice, move around themed boards, collect coins and Stars, and compete in short minigames between turns. The game features more than 60 minigames and six game boards, including a haunted house, moving train, and treasure island. The game features 14 playable Mario characters and dedicated Mii-focused extras. Modes include the main multiplayer party mode, a single-player Star Battle Arena, a minigame-focused mode, a Fun Bazaar for unlockables, and an Extras Zone where Miis can be used.

Its main Wii-specific addition is the use of the Wii Remote. Minigames use motion and pointer controls for actions such as tightrope walking, snowboarding, rowing, lassoing, cake decorating, and other gesture-based challenges. This made the title more physically interactive than the GameCube entries, even though the core board-game structure remained familiar.

Reception was mixed with critics generally appreciated the accessible multiplayer and Wii Remote minigames, but criticised the now dated presentation and weaker single-player elements. Commercially, however, it was a major success, with reported sales of more than 8 million copies, making it one of the Wii’s stronger-selling party titles. It was notably the last entry in the series by Hudson Soft who had undertaking development since the initial title on the Nintendo 64.