Mario Party (series)

The Mario Party series is a virtual board game in which the player may choose from a cast of prominent Mario characters, some of which have been Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Wario, and many more, created by Hudson Soft, with each game featuring variations on the cast and storyline. The series is intended for four players, but computer controlled players may be selected as well. All of the games share similar gameplay in which the primary objective requires the player to move his or her character across the selected stage to gather a Star. Usually, the player must then pay a fee of twenty coins to the host, a non-playable character such as Toad. After each player has completed his or her turn, a minigame then begins, in which the player may be awarded coins, based on their performance. At the end of the game, Stars and Bonus Stars will be tallied. The person with the most stars at the end of the game becomes the winner, or in this case, the Superstar. If Stars are tied between players, other statistics will be applied. These include the amount of coins collected, mini-game victories, and so on.

The Mario Party series amasses eleven games, across the Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, and Wii consoles, as well as the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. The series even sports a card game that works with the e-Reader peripheral. The cast of characters, character cameos, and minigames, are numerous. Thus far, the series has been very commercially successful, and looks to continue its success.

List of Games

 * Mario Party – Nintendo 64
 * Mario Party 2 – Nintendo 64
 * Mario Party 3 – Nintendo 64
 * Mario Party 4 – Nintendo GameCube
 * Mario Party 5 – Nintendo GameCube
 * Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party – Arcade
 * Mario Party 6 – Nintendo GameCube
 * Mario Party Advance – Game Boy Advance
 * Mario Party-e – e-Reader/GBA/TCG
 * Super Mario Fushigi no Korokoro Party 2 – Arcade
 * Mario Party 7 – Nintendo GameCube
 * Mario Party 8 – Wii
 * Mario Party DS – Nintendo DS
 * Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher – Arcade
 * Mario Party 9 – Wii

Playable Characters
Playable characters are introduced in the first Mario Party. During the first two Mario Party games, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Wario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong are the only playable characters in the series. Starting in Mario Party 3, the game introduces new playable characters in debut, the new playable characters are only playable in the Party Mode; the previous new characters that appear in the next game are now playable in the Story Mode. There are some exceptions in games like Mario Party Advance and Mario Party DS do not introduce new characters.

There are some exceptions of removing playable characters in later games; Donkey Kong is removed starting in Mario Party 5 because he now owns a space called a DK Space which he hosts, although Donkey Kong is playable in the Special Duel Mode in Mario Party 5. Another playable character named Koopa Kid (Mini Bowser in PAL regions) appeared in Mario Party 5 and Mario Party 6; he was removed after the last appearance because he now owns a space called the Koopa Kid Space.

In the game Beach Volley Folley that appeared in Mario Party 4 and then Mario Party 5, there are exceptionally playable characters that can not be played as on the normal boards but are able to participate in this game.

The Mario Party series included many characters in various installments. Below is a list of all of them and what games they appear in.
 * 1 — The character is playable only in Beach Volley Folley.
 * 2 — The character is playable only in the Special Duel Mode in the game.
 * 3 — The character is playable only in the Party Mode in the game.
 * 4 — The character is playable only in the Extra Mode.

Hosts
These characters lead each individual Mario Party game.
 * Mario Party: Toad and Koopa Troopa
 * Mario Party 2: Toad
 * Mario Party 3: Tumble
 * Mario Party 4: Toad, Shy Guy, Boo, Koopa Troopa, Goomba and Koopa Kid
 * Mario Party 5: Star Spirits
 * Mario Party 6: Brighton & Twila
 * Mario Party 7: Toadsworth
 * Mario Party 8: MC Ballyhoo & Big Top
 * Mario Party Advance: Toad, Toadette, Tumble, and E. Gadd
 * Mario Party DS is the first and currently only game in the series to not have any visual host.

Spaces
All the spaces in the Mario Party games.
 * Blue Space – ''Mario Party
 * Red Space – ''Mario Party
 * Mini-Game Space – ''Mario Party 3
 * Happening Space – ''Mario Party
 * Chance Time Space – ''Mario Party
 * Bowser Space – ''Mario Party
 * Mushroom Space – ''Mario Party
 * Star Space – ''Mario Party
 * Single-player Space – ''Mario Party
 * Bank Space – ''Mario Party 2
 * Item Space – ''Mario Party 2
 * Battle Space – ''Mario Party 2
 * Back Space – ''Mario Party 3
 * Basic Space – ''Mario Party 3
 * Duel Space – ''Mario Party 5
 * Game Guy Space – ''Mario Party 3
 * Power-up Space – ''Mario Party 3
 * Warp Space – ''Mario Party 4
 * DK Space – ''Mario Party 5
 * Miracle Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * 4-Player Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * 2-Vs-2 Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * 1-Vs-3 Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * Rare Mini-Game Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * Orb Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * Character Space – ''Mario Party 6
 * Koopa Kid Space / Mini Bowser Space – ''Mario Party 7
 * Mic Space – ''Mario Party 7
 * Lucky Space – ''Mario Party 8
 * Dice Space – ''Mario Party Advance
 * Friend Space – ''Mario Party DS

Items
Every item, capsule, orb, candy, and hex from the series.
 * Plus Block – ''Mario Party
 * Minus Block – ''Mario Party
 * Speed Block – ''Mario Party
 * Slow Block – ''Mario Party
 * Warp Block – ''Mario Party
 * Event Block – ''Mario Party
 * Mecha Fly Guy – ''Mario Party
 * Talking Parrot – ''Mario Party
 * Coin Box – ''Mario Party
 * Lucky Box – ''Mario Party
 * Casino Box – ''Mario Party
 * Gameballs – ''Mario Party
 * No Boo – ''Mario Party
 * No Koopa – ''Mario Party
 * Mushroom – ''Mario Party 2
 * Golden Mushroom – ''Mario Party 2
 * Plunder Chest – ''Mario Party 2
 * Skeleton Key – ''Mario Party 2
 * Duelling Glove – ''Mario Party 2
 * Magic Lamp – ''Mario Party 2
 * Boo Bell – ''Mario Party 2
 * Bowser Suit – ''Mario Party 2
 * Bowser Bomb – ''Mario Party 2
 * Poison Mushroom – ''Mario Party 3
 * Reverse Mushroom – ''Mario Party 3
 * Cellular Shopper – ''Mario Party 3
 * Bowser Phone – ''Mario Party 3
 * Lucky Lamp – ''Mario Party 3
 * Boo Repellent – ''Mario Party 3
 * Koopa Card – ''Mario Party 3
 * Barter Box – ''Mario Party 3
 * Lucky Charm – ''Mario Party 3
 * Wacky Watch – ''Mario Party 3
 * Item Bag – ''Mario Party 3
 * Mini Mushroom – ''Mario Party 4
 * Mega Mushroom – ''Mario Party 4
 * Super Mini Mushroom – ''Mario Party 4
 * Super Mega Mushroom – ''Mario Party 4
 * Mini-Mega Hammer – ''Mario Party 4
 * Warp Pipe – ''Mario Party 4
 * Swap Card – ''Mario Party 4
 * Sparky Sticker – ''Mario Party 4
 * Gaddlight – ''Mario Party 4
 * Chomp Call – ''Mario Party 4
 * Boo's Crystal Ball – ''Mario Party 4
 * Mushroom Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Super Mushroom Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Cursed Mushroom Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Warp Pipe Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Klepto Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Bubble Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Wiggler Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Hammer Bro. Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Coin Block Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Spiny Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Paratroopa Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Bullet Bill Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Goomba Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Piranha Plant Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Bob-omb Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Koopa Bank Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Kamek Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Mr. Blizzard Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Magikoopa Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Ukiki Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Lakitu Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Tweester Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Duel Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Chain Chomp Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Bone Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Bowser Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Chance Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Miracle Capsule – ''Mario Party 5
 * Mushroom Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Super Mushroom Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Sluggish 'Shroom Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Metal Mushroom Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Cursed Mushroom Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Bullet Bill Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Warp Pipe Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Flutter Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Spiny Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Goomba Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Piranha Plant Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Klepto Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Toady Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Kamek Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Mr. Blizzard Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Podoboo Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Zap Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Tweester Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Thwomp Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Bob-omb Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Paratroopa Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Snack Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Boo Away Orb – ''Mario Party 6
 * Cannon Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Spear Guy Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Bandit Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Pink Boo Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Bullet Bill Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Fireball Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Flower Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Egg Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Vacuum Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Magic Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Triple 'Shroom Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Koopa Kid Orb / Mini Bowser Orb – ''Mario Party 7
 * Twice Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Thrice Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Slowgo Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Springo Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Cashzap Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Vampire Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Bitsize Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Bloway Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Bowlo Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Weeglee Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Thwomp Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Bullet Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Bowser Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Duelo Candy – ''Mario Party 8
 * Double Dice Set – ''Mario Party DS
 * Triple Dice Set – ''Mario Party DS
 * Halfway Dice Block – ''Mario Party DS
 * Warp Dice Block – ''Mario Party DS
 * Snag Bag – ''Mario Party DS
 * Star Pipe – ''Mario Party DS
 * Block Sensor – ''Mario Party DS
 * Grab Bag – ''Mario Party DS
 * 10-Coin Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * 20-Coin Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * Coin Swap Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * 1-Star Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * 2-Star Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * Space Swap Hex – ''Mario Party DS
 * Star Block – ''Mario Party DS
 * Coin Block – ''Mario Party DS

List of All Minigames
The Mario Party series' popularity is due in no small part to its mini-games. Throughout its eight console titles, the list of Mario Party's mini-games has become tremendous. Below is a list of all the mini-games, separated by game. The mini-games' titles generally rhyme, use alliteration, or are puns of popular phrases.
 * ''Mario Party
 * ''Mario Party 2
 * ''Mario Party 3
 * ''Mario Party 4
 * ''Mario Party 5
 * ''Mario Party 6
 * ''Mario Party 7
 * ''Mario Party 8
 * ''Mario Party Advance
 * ''Mario Party DS

Future
The future of the Mario Party series, for quite a while, has been shown to be uncertain. Mario Party DS (released Nov. 19 2007) was the most recent installment, not a remake (an arcade remake of Mario Party 8, titled Mario Party Fushigi no Korokoro Catcher has been announced as a Japanese-exclusive). At E3 2011, Nintendo announced that Mario Party 9 is in development.

The game Wii Party appears to be very similar to the Mario Party series in many ways, such as the use of boards with colored spaces and minigames with creative titles, except with Miis instead of Mario characters. This could mean that Wii Party is going to replace the Mario Party series, or that Mario Party's format is simply being used in other games because of its success. The latter is most likely due to Nintendo's purchase of major developers of Mario Party from Hudson Soft.

Trivia

 * Luigi mentions the Mario Party series in his diary in the events of Paper Mario.
 * The Mario Party games are mentioned in one of the Coin Block/Brick Block cards in Nintendo Monopoly. Here, the player gets $50 from every player for organizing a Mario Party in the 2006 version, and $10 in the 2010 version.
 * Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Yoshi are the only characters to be playable in every Mario Party game.
 * Only the very first Mario Party had mini-games that involved Control Stick rotation. Because there were reports of people getting blisters on their hands from rotating the Control Stick too much, the later Mario Party titles removed those kinds of mini-games.
 * Koopa Kid has appeared in every Mario Party game except Mario Party 8, and Mario Party DS.