Scoring Note: I have scored this game out of 8 points, because there are 8 playable characters in this game. Woohoo!

Graphics: 8

Hey, no problem here. A couple of things have been revamped since Mario Party 2, and nothing is polygonal or looks weird. The programmers may have tried to insert a paper theme into the storyline, but it didn't make much of a difference.

Music: 7

I almost gave a perfect score just because of the music in Creepy Cavern... I love it! Most of the tunes are well done, although I don't happen to like one or two of the mini-game themes, such as the one for Curtain Call... I don't know, just doesn't work for me.

Story: 6

First, let me praise this game just for having a story in the first place, because the predecessors didn't really have much of one. This game has a solid storyline, and it makes the game move better, I think. However, after a while the story gets real predictable, although there is a little twist at the end. You have to collect the seven Star Stamps before the Millenium Star will accept you as the Superstar, but of course the other seven players in the game (convenient that those numbers are the same) want them too. And if you get all seven, there is a trick. But, oh yeah, I also took off points because Bowser played a miserable role in the whole thing. It's funny, but... well, Bowser should have been more involved.

Items: 8!

Items get more than a perfect score, if that is possible. All of the old items, except the Bowser Bomb, are back, and they can all be bought in stores (two on each map), including the powerful Boo Bell. They're cheap too, and now players can hold three items, which means players can use an item more often, and they can't get stuck with an item, like a Key, that they can't use. Making good purchases and then using them well can severely alter the game's course, but players should be careful since the leader often isn't offered the best items, a nice equalizer. My three favorite items are the Magic Lamp, which takes you to the Millenium Star whenever you want, the Boo Repellant, which drives Boo away when he comes calling (good for me since I'm usually winning and the target for stealing from), and the best item of all, the Reverse Mushroom. Now, you could just use it to delay an opponent that is approaching a Star, but what I really like to do is use it on myself. Whenever you reach a junction while going backwards, you can take any route you like, even routes that normally are closed from one or the other direction. I have used Reverse Mushroom to get Stars that appear behind me, return to Boo for a second visit after passing him (and then a third visit when I go forward again), and to avoid being in dangerous places... just back away from it. And it only costs 5 coins at Bowser's Joint! Um... well, if I had to say something negative about items, I would say that, except for the Key, which you can throw out whenever you want, the only way to get rid of an item and clear up a slot is to use it, so if you don't want to (can't afford to use the Magic Lamp) or can't (Boo Repellant can only be used when you are being robbed), you may have a problem. Also, there are two shops, Bowser's Joint and Toad's Trading Post. They come up randomly and offer different items, so you may not be able to get what you want. But you could buy the Cellular Phone, and then you can call whichever shop you want when you want.

Terrain/Boards: 7

Hm, this game is getting good scores so far. The courses are spread out over very interesting areas, an ice zone, underwater, desert, forest, cavern (good music), and... um, nothing! Heh heh. There are the same number of boards as in Mario Party 2, including Bowser- um, I mean, they're just the same. The boards are all large and intricate, even the two with one-star ratings, and have odd traps and ? spaces. For example, in Chilly Waters, there is a spot with about 12 spaces in it where if two players land, they will be knocked to another area of the course because the ice those spaces are on will crack. Also in the icy area, you may get stuck because the edges of the ice are all slippery inclines, and when your character tries to go up them they may slip and end their turn still on the ice. ? spaces send a big snowball rolling at the characters. It knocks away players if it hits them, but because of one button action, a nifty new feature on each board, you can jump the snowball and not get bumped. Of course, if the bump would send you to a better place, you could miss the action on purpose. I took away one point because one of the courses is very similar to Luigi's Engine Room of the first game, in that on both boards the route you can follow changes each turn, the ? spaces also cause the route to change, and two creatures on the course will change the route for 5 coins. Also, that course is named Woody Woods, and Woody is in it.

Characters: 8

All the old characters are back, and they are joined by Daisy and someone pretending to be Waluigi. I wonder who it is, since Waluigi isn't real. Toad has been knocked down to size; he no longer gives out the Stars, although I still commonly say I am trying to get to Toad when I really should say I am trying to get to the Millenium Star. The partners in Duel Mode (more on that later) are well-picked. There are no Koopalings, but I guess there was no reason to expect them.

Spaces: 6

I was a little disappointed because there is only one new space, and I don't like it that much. The Game Guy space is rare, and when a player lands on it they must risk all their coins in a game of chance. Nasty! All the spaces in Mario Party 2 are back, but I think there must be more ? spaces and more Battle Spaces because the rounds seem to take longer.

Bowser: 6

Bowser is back on the board by way of the Bowser spaces, but I wasn't overly impressed because most of his tricks come straight from Mario Party 2. New in his list are some magic spells. Bowser's Curse forces all players to roll a 1, 2, or 3 on their next turn, and Bowser's Reverse Curse makes all players go backwards for a turn. Now, since when is Bowser magical? He will also hand out the Bowser Suit so a player can put it on for a turn and scare any player they pass into giving them 20 coins. I must not forget his Bowser Phone either. Players who have the Bowser Phone can give Bowser a call and tell him they are whoever they want. Then Bowser will come have some fun with that person. Oh, but I got ticked off one time when Mario had no money and was sent to Bowser. Bowser gave Mario 50 coins and, indirectly, a Star :< Oh, incidently, Bowser has something on his list called Bowser Shuffle. I am guessing it moves the players around, but I have never had this option picked...

Strategy vs Luck: 5

I get really mad when I play the game well, and better than my opponents, but am losing anyway because of luck, or rather the lack thereof. Of course any game in which you role a die before moving is bound to have luck as a factor, but a sizeable percentage of the mini-games, including two of the eight very important Battle Games, are either all are in large part chance. The Chance Space is even more dangerous because it is harder to time anything in particular, and the Game Guy space is really too much... basically, it's double or nothing with your coins, and you must play. However, in the end the winner is usually the one who played best, especially in longer games.

Battle Royale: 8

This is the mode from the other two parties, you know, the board where you collect Stars. This is the heart of the game and it is excellent. But there is something else too...

Duel Mode: 6

This is that something else. Two players go head to head and try to take out each other's heart pieces, or have the most when 20 turns are up. In this mode, you have one or two partners traveling along with you, and they attack your opponent when you meet up with them. But each partner requires a salary, between one and six coins, and if you can't pay at the beginning of your turn then they will leave and you'll be completely unprotected when your opponent comes calling. Each partner has different attack power, strength, and special stats, and every character (Mario, Luigi, etc.) start with a fixed partner, like Yoshi will always start the game with Boo. Mario starts with Goomba, Luigi gets Koopa, Peach uses Toad, Daisy relies on Snifit, Wario trusts Bob-omb, DK goes with Whomp, and Waluigi takes Piranha Plant. Thwomp, Baby Bowser, Chomp, and a snowman named Mr. Blizzard are also possible partners, but no one starts with them. You go around one of (mumbled) duel boards, claiming spaces that opponents must pay coins for if they land on them, and getting around back to your base. When you get to base you earn 10 coins and must take a new partner. I think Duel Mode is a clever addition, and it's a lot of fun, but it's also very chancey. When you reach base and have to choose a new partner, it's basically random what you get; I think it would be better and more strategic if you could choose your next partner, or choose to not change your partner. Characters should not start with fixed partners, and the Game Guy space has no business being on the duel boards, because if you lose his chance game you will have no money and your partners will leave. As far as the ? spaces, restore heart pieces has to be removed as a possibility. When your opponent has only one heart piece left and then they all get restored just because they landed on a ? space and got lucky, you just want to kill that opponent.

Mini-games: 7

There is an incredible variety of mini-games, and it's great to see. Many are comical, and all follow the tradition of being quick and easy to understand. I took off a point because there are a bunch of tricky mini-games that I haven't figured out how to beat the computer at yet, such as All Fired Up (I can't react fast enough!), Cosmic Coaster (What am I hitting?!), and Bounce 'n Trounce (I can't get my attack to work!). I also have a particular annoyance because Bounce 'n Trounce is the first mini-game I played on this pack, and Abandon Ship, the first game I played in Mario Party 2, is another game I can't beat (The computer always passes me at the end!). I wish I could remember what I played first in Mario Party 1, but anyway, mini-games like Ice Rink Risk, Eatsa Pizza, and Crazy Cogs are good fun. Look out for those luck games though. Ya gotta hate Stacked Deck.

Fun Factor!: 8

This game isn't perfect, because if it was then all categories would have received an 8. Regardless, it is still a pleasure to play. Every game is different, every game is funny, and every game is wild. In short, each game is a party, and Mario Party 3 has certainly earned the right to complement the Mario Party series. Well done!

Recommendation:

If you enjoyed Mario Party 1 or Mario Party 2, this game should be a lot of fun for you. A tourist asked me why I wanted to buy Mario Party 3 even though I knew it would be similar to the first two games. In other words, he felt that the first two games were enough, and that money shouldn't be spent on a game so similar. I agree that the games are similar, but I have a different view on the whole thing. Since the first two games were so much fun, I wanted to take the next step and play an additional 70 mini-games. I don't regret my decision, and you probably won't either. If you've never partied before, feel free to jump right in with this one... nothing wrong with being fashionably late! I have to admit it's a time killer, but you should enjoy every minute that you kill.

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