"If there were ever a killer app for the GBA e-Reader, this would have to be it. Gather your friends and family for this 4 player card game from Nintendo."
Mario Party-e may not be quite what you’d think it is by the name. Rather than making another Mario Party video game, this time it’s an actual card game. The game comes with 64 cards, the game board, and instructions. You won’t need to buy additional card packs as the game isn’t a “collectible” card game, but more akin to a traditional card game. However, you will want a Gameboy Advance and an e-Reader.
In similar style to quite a few other card games, the players are to always have 5 cards in their “hand”. Each player takes turns drawing a card, and playing/discarding one. Although not all cards require them, coin cards are used to play other cards. It’s a little bit like currency for the more useful cards. In addition to coin cards, there are Item cards, Superstar cards, Blocker cards, Search cards, Chaos cards, and Duel cards. The point of the game is to play all three Item cards, then discard a Super Star. It sounds a little easier than it is, especially due to some of the things the other card types can do. Some cards steal other players’ coins or items, while others randomize everyone’s cards. The advantage can change hands quickly.
So where does the e-Reader come into play? Mario Party-e features e-Challenge cards. These cards have “dot code” strips that you scan into the e-Reader. Four challenge cards are “free challenge” cards. This means the challenge is optional. If you can’t or just don’t want to spend the coins to play the card, you have the option to play the e-Reader game. If you win, then you get to use the card for free. If you lose, nothing changes, and you have to place the card back into the deck. Not all challenges are one player though. Duel cards let the player who is using said card challenge one other player to a match of whatever game the card happens to be. Whoever wins gets whatever is written on the card.
These e-Reader mini-games are not the most complex games in the world. That’s partly because they are intended to be used in under a minute and be so simple that non-gamers can play them. The primary focus here is the card game aspect. As far as card games go, I actually had a lot of fun with it. This is a simple, easy to play card game. Unfortunately, after a while, the scanning of e-Reader cards during the game was a bit distracting, and took too long. While turning on the Gameboy Advance and scanning a card (possibly with two data strips on it), the rest of the players get to sit there and wait. This draws all attention off the actual card game. Aside from that, the mini-games are actually pretty cool. They are simplistic enough that this is perfect for families who have trouble finding things to do on lazy weekends and might actually want to spend time together (if families even do that anymore). It isn’t so video game oriented that parents or possibly some grandparents won’t be able to play, but kids will probably like it too. Mario Party-e is likely not the card game to end all card games. It’s a strong attempt by Nintendo to do something different and sell some e-Readers.
Graphics: 5 out of 10
The e-Reader games have simple graphics that probably won’t impress anyone. |
Gameplay: 7 out of 10
An excellent card game almost anyone can enjoy. About 10 or so mini-games for the e-Reader sweeten the deal. Sadly, some players may get annoyed when waiting for e-Reader mini-games to be scanned and played. |
Audio: 5 out of 10
The mini-games have very little sound to them, but what they do have sounds alright. |
Replay Value: 8 out of 10
It’s a card game, similar in style to Uno. If you like card games, you’ll likely want to play this one at least a few times. |
Final Rating: 7 out of 10
Mario Party-e is a good card game that will entertain. This is one of the only really compelling pieces of e-Reader software! I think it should have been packaged with the e-Reader itself. |
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