I know, another Mario Party. For me, this is a renter. As for the party mode, it is the worst in the series. Rather than being able to strategize and buy items and collect the most stars through coins and treachery, everybody takes turns to move the same vehicle down the map where the mini-games are few and far between. For the most part, the game plays itself. Toad is there to tell you everything that happens, is going to happen, and just happened, and then he repeats it! Thankfully, there is a way to turn him “off.” He speaks less but still too much for my taste. The way you win is by getting mini stars which just sit on the board, so whoever is rolling the dice when the group goes through the stars gets ‘em. It’s not all garbage and hand-holding, though. The mini-game mode is all mini-games, all the time. They ditched the lame carnival theme from Mario Party 8, and this game feels more traditional in almost every way. Also, the games are fun and less motion-oriented than last time. If you are looking for a Mario Party, and the far superior Gamecube versions aren’t an option, this one will do nicely. Just stay away from party mode.