Summary: Well, it took me a short time to beat this game... and I think that the first thing I thought to myself once finishing the game is "Is that it?"
I don't know, maybe it seemed like there were more boards in Mario Party 1 or more Minigames. This game seems too short.
I did not play Mario Party 2, but I did play Mario Party 1. This game is the same as Mario Party 1 except the game is much more confusing. With duels and special blocks, and all sorts of stuff, the board games take some time to play.
However, like I said before, this game is short.
What's new to Mario Part 3 is that there are different boards, gambling minigames, and Duel mode. The boards are kind of confusing at first, which really created an atvatage to those who own the game when they compete against those who don't. Gambling minigames are, to be plain, stupid. It is very frusterating that many of the minigames such as the gambling minigames are by chance, and not by skill. The duel mode is shorter than regular games, and in most ways making it better than the regular type.
Most of this game is based on luck, which really frustrates me. Any remaing parts that require skill require you to push the A button as much as you can, and things of that sort.
In summary, this game is only as exciting as a board game can get. It is an average game, thus I give it a 3. I don't really reccomend this game to anyone as a game to buy. This is more of a game to borrow.
Summary: We all have to give this game recognition because of its unique innovation. Although this cartridge holds 3rd as its previous titles, Mario Party 3 excels beyond any expectations from its prodeccesors. Let me give a quick recap on why this game reigns over the other two before discussing its content.
Mario Party 1 delivered much entertainment for players all around. It had a lot of replay value due to the fact that the games are simple to comprehend and fun. The problem was that the games get to repetetive and start losing their edge. When Mario Party 2 came out, new mechanics were introduced, which was the ability to actually purchase items to benefit yourself. The new mechanic felt short due to the fact of lacking items. The other problem was that most of the mini-games inserted were nothing but cleches from the first but in different forms(ooohhh). The items are also very expensive which disregards the whole idea of trying this new method of gameplay in the first place. Basically, the first two were merely "lab animals" in order to create a much more innovative game like Mario Party 3.
First off, has there really been a video game out there that involve playing it as a game board? I mean a game that does not already exist as a game board itself like Monopoly? I believe that nobody had ever thought of this idea before. We consumers miss the fact that at some points in video game history, there are games out there that need the recognition that they deserve but don't. Mario Party 3 is one of them and many people do not not see that clearly but if you look close enough you will begin to realize this new aspect. You might be asking yourself "So what if it's a video game board, you can always play with the real things?" Now if you think about it, its nothing new but it is.
First let me ask a question, have you ever been cheated in a game before? specifically a game board such as Sorry or Monopoly. I bet you did, and don't you wish that someone was there to see you cheater and catch that person red handed? Well, in Mario Party 3, you do not have to worry about that anymore. The game is pretty much uncheatable because everything is stable. All the pieces are there to stay and cannot be tampered with. The game is also the look-out guard itself, never letting anybody cheat or do so otherwise. Also, tired of playing against people who just plain suck when it comes to games?, then a computer player would fit you well for your own purposes. No longer do you need to have to wait for any other living person out there in order to play.
Second, and for most advantageous is its ability to let you do something that a regular game board cannot do. You are actually going to see your pieces come to life and engage itself in games that television can provide. You can't fly on little planes shooting each other to see who wins in a regular game board its just not possible, or maybe yet that is. Also, you no longer have to move your pieces by hand all due to the fact of the controller. Its like moving them with your mind sort of speak, which is also another great contribute for all you lazy potatoes out there.
Anyways, I chose Mario Party 3 because its the best one of the 3. The game is extremely very addictive and has replay value that exceeds any other game. I usually have my friends come over and we would play until we felt like doing something else. We usually get so caught up that we do not even realize how much time was accumalated. I usually win but that does not stop them which brings me to another intersting topic. Anytime my friends and I play a game, they would always say they were pissed because of losing. Usually, they would stop playing and we would go on with our lives. But, when it comes to playing Mario Party 3, I notice a difference. After being the victims of another loss, they would want to play another round even if they knew they were not going to win. So, there is something good about this game to talk about. My friends play games to win, but in this case, they play for the fun of it. I have never seen anything like it and I give all the credit to Mario Party 3 for providing that urge to just have "FUN" and not to play because of wanting to win.
Overall, a wonderfull game with many promises. Promises to keep everyone entertained. I enjoy playing this game more than any other 4-player games than any other. I definitely recommend this game for any fun seekers out there who have the time to play this accomplishment of a game at home. Nintendo smiles once again.
Summary: After playing Mario Party 3 (MP3) extensively, I am led to wonder exactly what went wrong with this version. I enjoyed MP1 and MP2 immensely, but there’s just something wrong with the latest installment of the Mario Party 3. The game has a lot of minor (and some major) flaws that simply add up to a mess of a game.
The gameplay is essentially unchanged from the previous Mario Parties. You choose a Nintendo character and move around a board hoping to accumulate more stars than your competition. At the end of every turn, you got to play a mini-game. These mini-games are obviously the main reason to play any Mario Party game, as they’re the only time when there’s any direct competition between the players. There are various types of mini-games, such as 4-player free-for-alls, 2 vs. 2, and 1 vs. 3.
MP3’s mini-games are all new to the series, unlike its predecessor. This would be excellent if most of the new mini-games were fun...unfortunately, they are not. Most of the mini-games lack innovation or simply fail to be interesting. For example, in Frigid Bridges, you take a block across a curvy and slippery path. At the end, you place it in the water. You then go back to the beginning to cart another block across, until you’ve placed all three. This, of course, is neither innovative or even interesting.
For the mini-games, they retained one of the worst “features” from MP2: It is not possible to lose coins at the end-of-turn mini-games. It makes the mini-games more interesting to go into one with a chance of winning OR losing coins, rather than winning coins or remaining with the same amount.
The absolute worst two mini-games are those which rely entirely on luck, and unfortunately, they’re both Battle Mini-Games. In these, every player puts up either 10, 20, 30, or 50 coins, and it gets thrown into a “pot.” The winner of the game gets a majority of the coins, while second place gets a smaller margin. Third and fourth place get nothing. This is why it makes so little sense to include games revolving around luck. Unless you think it’s fun to arbitrarily lose a lot (and possibly all) of your coins, you’ll began to fear for your money when somebody hits a Battle space.
This sounds bad...yet it’s absolutely nothing compared to the Game Guy spaces. Once you hit one of these, all of your coins get taken from you. ALL OF THEM! You then play a game which (you guessed it) relies entirely on luck. If you win, you’ll get at least twice your coins back. If you lose...all of your coins are gone. I would really like to find out what “genius” came up with this “brilliant” idea, because it really makes no sense. Hell, even the people you’re playing against will view it as unfair, even though they profit from it!
Despite all these negatives, not all of the mini-games are bad. For example, Aces High is an entertaining game which straps you into a plane and gives you two lives and two different weapons. The last person to survive gets the coins. However, these interesting games are far too rare to save MP3 from the poor games.
The only innovative new feature in MP3 is the addition of Duel Maps. These are one-on-one maps where you and your opponent battle until one character loses all of his heart pieces. To deal the damage (and prevent it), you each get partners. Your opening partner depends on what character you choose, but every time you get back to your start point you’re forced to choose a new partner. Complicating things further is the fact that your partners demand a salary. If you don’t pay them a certain amount of coins every turn, they’ll leave you. This makes landing on a Game Guy space and losing all of your coins even harder to swallow. Inexplicably, Game Guy spaces are MORE prevelant on Duel Maps than on the Story Maps! As a whole, Duel Maps are very boring, and winning is largely based on luck. You could go a lot of turns without attacking your opponent or being attacked, and then you could suddenly defeat (or lose to) your opponent based on the roll of the die.
MP3 also includes a Story Mode which is best left unplayed. Supposedly, the Millenium Star falls down by the castle, and Mario and friends argue over who gets to keep it. Naturally, the Star suggests playing the board games to determine who gets it! You get a card with seven attributes on it (Strength, Kindness, etc.) and after every board in which you are victorious, you get a star corresponding to each attribute. Before you’re officially awarded that star, however, you’re forced to face a character claiming to be more strong (or kind, or whatever) than you in a Duel Map to earn the star. This, predictably, gets excruciatingly monotonous, and you may tire of it after earning only a couple of stars.
The graphics are the same as the previous Mario Parties, with the exception of cel-shaded graphics for the board backgrounds. 3D characters and 2D backgrounds are the norm for this series, and that doesn’t change with the third installment. As can be expected, the graphics are also quite cartoony. Overall, they aren’t spectacularly good or bad...the best word to describe them is “passable.”
The music is also typical Mario music. It is upbeat, uplifting, and loops fairly often. It doesn’t detract from the game experience, but it’s nothing you’ll be downloading either. The sound effects are a bit better, with voice acting for each character. Maybe it’s just me though, but the voices seem a bit off from what you expect for the characters. You can also “taunt” other characters during the game, but there’s only one taunt per character and they’re all incredibly lame.
How often you’ll replay it depends largely on how you feel about the mini-games and the Duel Maps. If you’re like me and feel the mini-games are uninspired and the Duel Maps are boring, you’ll probably forget about this game and stick to the earlier Mario Parties for a good multiplayer game. If you do like the mini-games and the Duel Maps, however, you’ll probably enjoy the game for a long time, especially if you don’t have many friends and dueling is your best option.
I’d definitely recommend renting MP3 before buying it, as a purchase hinges largely on what you think of the mini-games. You’ll be able to play enough of them within the rental period to get a feel of whether it’s a good purchase or not.
Overall, I would recommend purchasing either MP1 or MP2 if you want some great N64 multiplayer action. They both overshadow MP3 in different ways. If you prefer cutthroat action, get MP1. If you hate the thought of rapidly rotating the analog stick, get MP2. In no circumstance, however, should you get MP3 over either of those two.
PROS: Some new mini-games are fun, adds a new mode. CONS: Most of the mini-games aren’t fun, the new mode is boring, and story mode is no better.
Video: 3/5 Audio: 3/5 Control: 4.5/5 Gameplay: 1.5/5 Replay: Not much Challenge: Depends on the skill of your opponents. Buy/Rent: Rent Overall: 2/5
Summary: Well here we are...at the end of Nintendo64's wild ride, we are given Mario Party 3. Is Mario Party a rehash of past Mario Partys? Quite simply, no it isn't. The new games created by the staff at Nintendo are for the most part, new and imaginative. Playing with friends is still a hoot. Now Nintendo introduces a new single player mode that beats any attempts in the past Mario Party games. In the mini-games, thought and creativity exists. Boring mini-games are found in Pokemon Stadium 1. Mario Party 3's games have depth(as much as a 30second game can hold). Also different types of mini-games have been created. The only thing that is rehashed by Nintendo is the moments of enjoyment. For example: when you and a friend are pounding buttons like mad and you lose. Humiliation and of course you sock him. And when you win, redemption of your gaming skills. These moments are why games were made. FOR FUN! If a game, espcially a party game provides fun for you and your friends, then company has accomplished their mission. And finally...if you want to compare Mario Party 3, play sonic shuffle.
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