Mario Party depends on mini games. If they were stripped away from the game then we’d be left with something embarrassingly poor. Naturally this hasn’t happened and probably never would, but the dependence on these short, random bursts of gameplay is startlingly evident from the word go. Initial impressions of the game are poor when you have to waste ten minutes on a boring board watching the computer players take their go, when you just know that there are loads of insane minigames waiting to break up the tedium. This kind of annoyance would be acceptable if it was the developer’s first go at getting things right, or even their second. But the fact that this is the series’ fifth attempt at getting things right makes it worrying that Hudson still haven’t managed to get the core part of the game right. Again.

It is a virtual board game. Just like Monopoly and Cluedo and Scrabble that sit in everybody’s cupboard at home, Mario Party simply involves characters from the Mario universe moving around a themed board in the hope of coming out on top with the most points. In Mario Party 5, the levels range from typical pink and fluffy style, in this case the adequately named ‘Rainbow Dream’, to more appealing and enjoyable piratey and space themed levels. The aim on all of these boards is to collect the most coins, and exchange them for stars by passing the appropriate spaces. Along the way all manner of obstacles present themselves, ranging from Donkey Kong, whose violent mood swings prove to be a pain if you’re on the receiving end of an angry ape, to square-specific mini games, teleports and events. Returning from the last instalment (albeit in slightly different form), and improving this tedious side of the game to a minor degree, are the capsule machines. These guys are dotted around every map, and dispense items which can then be kept for later or dispatched at the start of your turn for a small fee. Effects range radically from simple Warp pipe items that, as the name suggests, swaps your position with another player, to the absolutely evil, costless ‘Miracle’ capsule which steals all the stars from the person in first place. Not a nice surprise if you thought you had a comfortable lead.

But of course, Mario Party is not Mario Party without the minigames. With more than 70, the game features a diverse range of minigames from simple shape puzzles, to the usual multiplayer button bashing affairs, and even a few games of simple chance. Some of these present themselves as simple and not much fun, with little imagination, then others excel and are hilarious fun. The likes of ‘Penguin Push’, which involves waves of penguins trying to push you off an iceberg into the sea, is hilarious fun with a bunch of friends, and the 2 vs 2 co-op games always involve much frantic shouting and cheering. In actual fact this proves very little has changed from previous instalments, as you’ll find this is exactly the way the game has been since the first N64 title. However, since the series has always prided itself on this simplicity, it isn’t something that lets the game down.

Something that has been blatantly obvious since the series first saw light, is that the game really isn’t intended to be played alone. The single player mode is bland and boring, stripped of the fun and laughter of the multiplayer aspect, and tires quickly. Tied into this update is a Story Mode, but all it involves is a slightly different objective (get all the coins from your enemies) rather than the standard quest for stars. You still have three opponents to beat, you still collect coins and capsules, and you still get to play minigames. Only you’ve got to do it on your own. Where the fun in this is meant to be is not quite evident, and naturally most people who’d want the game would want it for the multiplayer.

Playing with friends is, of course, the best thing about Mario Party. Unlike most genres, even if you’ve played the game for tens of hours, a newbie friend is likely to be just as capable as you are, after a short while getting to grips with the game. It’s down to the more random, luck based nature of the game, and is refreshing to find a title whereby the player doesn’t have an unfair advantage over others due to being its owner. Nevertheless, the result is that the game is completely random, at times having the player picking up stars at a rate of knots, and at others going round and round in circles without so much as a single success. It's undeniably frustrating, but does mean multiplayer shenanigans can be experienced on a more level playing field. Getting it right in this area is crucial for a game of Mario Party's nature, and kind of overshadows any gripes you might have. Naturally, it also makes for a great deal more laughs. The game even allows you to do away with the board game section and simply play round after round of mini games. They only want what’s best for you, after all.

And so Mario Party 5 continues the series’ yearly update without breaking the mould. A few extras here, a lick of paint there, a fresh repertoire of minigames and that’s about it. When it comes to the crunch though, if you’re looking for something new and novel then the game isn’t going to be your best bet. Even if your only experience of the title was way back on the N64, the game is still remarkably familiar. And it’s a shame, because back then Mario Party was the daddy of gaming with a bunch of mates. But now, with budget titles such as Wario Ware doing the rounds with eccentric style and flair, and Mario Kart moving more into the post-pub entertainment region, Mario Party seems so much less significant. If you’re looking for a game that’ll give you and your mates a laugh or two, go for something that isn’t half bad when you play on your own either. Mario Party is a game that relies too much on a ‘winning’ formula, a formula that did the rounds with great success back in the day, but is now becoming increasingly tiresome. Maybe next year will see a significant improvement to the series. Well, maybe not. But we can always hope.