Developer: Nintendo of America
Publisher: Nintendo of America
Genre: Action, Puzzle
Rating: E (For Everyone)
Number of Players: 4
Expected Release: March 5, 2007
Gallery: Mario Party 8 Gallery

Mario Party 8 is heading to the Wii, to spread its mini-game goodness. Using the Wii-mote, players will once again get to party and have a viable excuse to act crazy with your friends. 

For those unfamiliar with the Mario Party series, the game pits players against one another on a board game styled map. Players roll a dice on screen, and move up that many spaces. Spaces can contain mini-games, where players compete (or team up) to get coins, which will eventually be used to buy stars that are needed to win the game. What’s new in this version? Around 75 mini games, new characters, and a whole slew of maps. Also, diverting from the usual "Mario" type theme on the maps, Mario Party 8 will focus mainly on a carnival styled theme.  The main addition to this seasonal game will be the Wii-mote. We've already seen how fun it is to play the Wii with our friends (Wii bowling!), could the seminal party game benefit from the frantic fun that is using the Wii-mote?

The game is based off its multiplayer ambitions, so it's best to be playing with other people. To utilize the Wii's new Wi-Fi capabilities, it has been rumored that there will be Wi-Fi multiplayer functions; though it’s not as fun as watching your friends flail around with the Wii-mote.

The new boards are: DK's Treetop Temple, Goomba's Booty Boardwalk, King Boo's Haunted Hideaway, Koopa's Typhoon Town, Paragoomba's Dreamy Island, Shy Guy's Underground Treasure, and Bowser’s Warped Vortex. Each map, just like in the other games, has its own specific quirks. Bowser's Warped Vortex, for example, will have a chain chomp, or Koopa's Typhoon Town which is like a Monopoly simulator. (Each player will be controlling hotels and houses, trying to beat their opponent.)

 
Two new characters have been added to the already long list. Hammer Bro’s and Blooper will join Mario and company, and perhaps your Mii as well. Screens have shown your Mii’s in the background on the boards and it’s possible for them to take place in the mini games.  Bowser and Shy Guy are also back, Bowser having his normal trouble spot on the board and Shy Guy running a “Candy Shop” of buyable items. Just like in 6 and 7, these candy orbs will give your characters power ups. The power ups are mainly for specific situations: airplanes to fly over traps or vampires to leech coins.