Super Mario Party Jamboree

- Reviewed on Switch -

Super Mario Party Jamboree released on October 17th, 2024. 

With dozens, upon dozens of Mario Party games, across all generations of Nintendo systems, this latest installment in the illustrious Mario Party series, is an award nominated party game, well worth the time of any and all Mario fans.

It's no secret that Mario titles, especially on Nintendo Switch, have mouthwatering graphics.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is no different!

This game is incredibly polished, the music is incredible as usual, however, I do have a problem with the Mario Party mode, minigames.

Nonetheless, Super Mario Party Jamboree combines all the great aspects of Mario Party, into this one title. Making this installment in the series, the biggest and most enjoyable one yet (in my opinion)!

This review WILL have Major Spoilers so keep that in mind before continuing...

Mario Party is one of my highlights of the Nintendo gaming calendar. 

Whenever a new Mario Party releases, I know that I will undoubtedly be spending hours, playing all the boards, minigames, and extra game modes.

Super Mario Party Jamboree took all those things and amplified the longevity and enjoyment by a thousand!

Starting with the brief, overall theme of Super Mario Party Jamboree. The game introduces, in the pregame cutscene, Magikoopa, giving island tours of everything Super Mario Party Jamboree has to offer. 

The main antagonist is a new form of Bowser. 

Since Bowser himself is a playable character in modern Mario Parties now, Magikoopa decided it was a brilliant idea to summon an Imposter Bowser.

Was this the best Nintendo could do with this topic? I don't think so. 

The opportunity was right there to introduce a new antagonist, never before seen. But just a clone of Bowser?! I guess, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Now, my history with previous Mario Parties, and their extra game modes, besides Party Mode, is pretty lacking.

Previously, I played the extra modes to just unlock the locked characters, but in Super Mario Party Jamboree, this isn't the case.

The entire roster for Super Mario Party Jamboree is...

    - Mario

    - Luigi

    - Peach

    - Daisy

    - Wario

    - Waluigi

    - Yoshi

    - Toadette

    - Toad

    - Rosalina

    - Donkey Kong

    - Birdo

    - Bowser

    - Goomba

    - Shy Guy

    - Koopa Troopa

    - Monty Mole

    - Bowser Jr.

    - Boo

    - Spike

    - Pauline (Unlockable)

    - Ninji (Unlockable)

22 total characters is amazing for such an impressive title.

However, to unlock Pauline and Ninji, you could literally do it, in seconds, by just finding them in the various islands, when deciding which game mode to play. 

Not having that challenge for unlocking characters anymore just didn't sit well. Luckily, I loved the extra game modes in Super Mario Party Jamboree anyway!

These extra game modes include...

    - Minigame Bay

    - Paratroopa Flight School

    - Toad's Item Factory

    - Rhythm Kitchen

    - Koopathlon

    - Bowser Kaboom Squad

    - Party-Planner Trek

Starting with Minigame Bay, this game mode is simply your Minigame Freeplay. You can favorite games, play them endlessly, and with human and / or CPU opponents.

My least favorite game mode in Super Mario Party Jamboree, is Paratroopa Flight School. 

I adore all the brand-new premises for these modes, but this motion-controlled game mode was just too much, and not being able to play as any character was disappointing too. 

You use the joy cons to pretend you're flying around a Mario 3D World inspired map with wings, and complete objectives.

Toad's Item Factory uses motion controls too, but in a less involved way. 

Instead of flapping wings and soaring with your arms constantly, in this game mode you use both joy cons to maneuver a ball through different mazes. 

Timing, precision, and physics are a must to consider in this fun, yet gets boring quickly, game mode.

Rhythm Kitchen is a mode where you compete as a team to get the best Chef Rating you can (by three different color Yoshi's). 

This competition consists of various rhythm based minigames, similar to previous Mario Party rhythm modes of the past.

Koopathlon is a unique game mode that I actually really liked due to its fast-paced nature.

Koopathlon consists of singleplayer minigames, where the key goal is to collect as many coins as humanly possible!

The number of coins you collect per game, makes your character run further around the map. First to lap around the town three times wins.

Bowser Kaboom Squad is by far my favorite thing about Super Mario Party Jamboree.

This co-op mode contains eight players (human or CPU) fighting Imposter Bowser around an open map, by collecting bombs and retuning them to the cannon(s).

There is a wave limit each time, but you can collect coins to extend current wavelengths.

You have to destroy crates to gather bombs, and this can be easier by winning minigames with your allies and achieving a specific letter grade.

I was blown away at how big and expansive this game mode was, considering its an extra for a Mario Party game, and not its own game! I highly recommend this mode!

Party-Planner Trek is sort of Super Mario Party Jamboree's story mode. 

It's mainly a fetch quest type mode, where you freely roam the Party Mode maps, and collect Mini-Stars.

Once you get the required number of Mini-Stars, you then fight in a boss battle (with allies, if you help them out beforehand) to determine if you can go to the next map.

These extra game modes are incredibly detailed and feel very original / refreshing, for a Mario Party title.

Now, the Party Mode. 

This is the whole reason people buy this game in the first place (in my opinion). 

Everyone has surely played Mario Party, and for those who haven't, you simply compete to get the most Stars on a board, by rolling dice, using items, collecting coins, winning Minigames, and much, much more. 

The level of interaction seems to increase each Mario Party, and this installment is no different.

Firstly, I love the plethora of maps you can play. 

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, the Party Mode maps (boards) include...

    - Mega Wiggler's Tree Party

    - Roll'em Raceway

    - Rainbow Galleria

    - Goomba Lagoon

    - Western Land (Unlockable)

    - Mario's Rainbow Castle (Unlockable)

    - King Bowser's Keep (Unlockable)

The locked boards are unlocked by simply playing (and finishing) any and all game modes. 

Doing this, gives you Party Points, and sometimes you even get Achievements, for Super Mario Party Jamboree's game pass.

This isn't a pay to win game pass either, so don't freight. 

You can view locked and unlocked achievements anytime at the Plaza, and unlocking achievements is the best way to unlock more shop items, such as stickers, reactions, music, and more!

Going back to Party Mode, players will notice one key difference, regarding the buddy system.

In previous games, acquiring a buddy mid-game, meant just passing them on the board. 

In Super Mario Party Jamboree, the developers went above and beyond to make fully fleshed minigame spectaculars per character! 

Winning these game marathons, to acquire the buddy, is a ton of fun to experience, though if you do get the buddy, if anyone passes you on the board, they steal them right away.

Nintendo, I believe, have found a perfect Mario Party formula. 

Plenty of content, amazing music / graphics, and the longevity is out of this world. 

My only complaint is the Party Mode Minigames, as they feel so uninspiring, repetitive, and boring.

Other than that, this game is amongst the best Mario Party games ever!

Pros: 

    - Incredible Extra Game Modes

    - Beautiful Graphics

    - Plethora of Characters

    - Great Music

    - Endless Longevity

    - Unlockables

    - Great Board Selections to Play On

Cons:

    - Uninspiring, Repetitive, Bland Minigames (for Party Mode)

My Rating for Super Mario Party Jamboree (on Switch):

5 / 5

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Disclaimer

All Reviews, Ratings, Pros, Cons, and Opinions Shared on this Blog (Press A Reviews) are my (Connor Butler) own Thoughts and Feelings.