Graphics: There’s not much here to be judged in terms of graphics, since no one is expected to be blown away by an electronic board game. The graphics do what they’re supposed to do.

Interface: I found it tiresome and annoying to have to continually mash the “A” button to get through instructions and map descriptions. Once for my profile was enough. I eventually grew weary of MC Ballyhoo appearing on the screen, too, and simply began to ignore whatever he was saying just to get back to the game.

Gameplay: While the mini-games are at the core of Mario Party 8, they’re still housed in a bigger game, which can be a bit of a yawn. Those bits of yawn can pile up, and before long, you’ll grow tired of waiting to play another mini-game.

That said, many of the mini-games are very enjoyable. Even if you aren’t playing, watching your friends furiously shake their Wiimotes like soda cans ready to explode is funny and enjoyable. It’s also fun seeing which games pop up next.

The developers of the Mario Party series should try incorporating more variables into its formula, or else it’s going to find itself on the brink of extinction as gamers look more to titles like Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for their parties. Mario Party 8 has its moments, but not enough to sustain it for repeat playing.

Multiplayer: Mario Party 8 was meant to be a multiplayer game, and when it actually is, it’s a lot of fun. The Wii was in part designed to bring people together in a social setting, and it’s doing a good job of that on the whole. A few of the one-versus-three games feel lopsided, but in all, Mario Party 8 offers new and experienced gamers a fun time.

Sound FX: While some of the very familiar Mario sound effects for actions are employed throughout the game, the sound bytes of the characters were so repetitive they eventually become grating.

Music: The music in Mario Party 8 lacks the distinguishable qualities of many other Mario character games, including Mario Kart and Smash Bros.. There was an opportunity to be creative, but there’s nothing memorable about the score.

Intelligence: If you try the single-player mode or add a computer player to the mix with your friends, you’ll find the AI can be quite formidable. The computer makes good decisions about when to use candy and make route changes on the map, and puts up a good fight during the mini-games. There’s also something gleefully irritating when the computer gets a good roll of the dice, as if the Wii and the software package are secretly on the same team.

Overall: In the end, Mario Party 8 is an average game. The problem is that it shouldn’t be. In order to ensure the success of a Mario Party 9 and beyond, Nintendo needs to find new ways to lift this series above the norm. It’s good as a rental for a party, but it’s doubtful it’ll continually see playing time.