GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - Wii Party U review

Please forgive me for reposting this review as the End of Day thought. Even though I originally stated that I'd do this, I still feel bad! I promise, tomorrow's feature will more than make up for it! See you in a few, short hours.

There was a time when mini-game collections were pouring out of game developers left and right. Everywhere you looked, you couldn't help but see a collection of new/licensed characters that were bringing you tons of bite-sized content that was best shared with friends/family. Too bad most of that content ended up being tolerable at best. The mini-game cash in following the Wii boom really put a damper on the entire genre.

Nintendo decided to try and buck that trend with Wii Party, a mini-game collection somewhat in the style of Mario Party, but with a more open feel and a focus on Miis. I originally wasn't too interested in the title, but my opinion quickly changed when I went hands-on with the release. It turned out to be an absolute blast, with many a night spent with family/friends playing various experiences in the collection. In my opinion, Wii Party is the absolute best mini-game party collection out there.

With that kind of impression from the original, you can bet I was excited for Wii Party U. I don't think many people are really all that hyped for the game, considering themselves done with the genre for a long time. I am not one of those people. I was eagerly awaiting Wii Party U and have put in a lot of time with it. I have not been let down by its content, which offers up a collection of activities that matches and rivals the experience of the first title. This is indeed a party in a box, so long as you have the right crowd.



Wii Party U is an absolute STEAL for the price its offered at. Seriously, the game, Wii U GamePad stand and Wiimote Plus all in one package MORE than justifies the $50 price. I cannot believe we're getting all this content on-top of another Wiimote and accessory. If you're on the market for another Wiimote Plus, why not shell out another $10 ($15 if you get your WRP from Amazon) and get a new, fully-fleshed out game as well? This package is certainly one of the best values Nintendo has ever released, especially when you consider how we thought Wii Play was a great deal!

The amount of content in Wii Party U is staggering. There are over 80 minigames jam-packed into the title, which you can play as part of a bigger board game or on their own. If you want to jump right into the mini-game action, you can do that. If you want to play a board game sprinkled with mini-games, you can do that as well. You can even mix/match the mini-games you want to play for a tailored experience based on who you're with.

As is the key with any mini-game collection, the mini-games themselves have to be short and sweet with simple controls. That's exactly the case with Wii Party U. There might be a handful of games that require you to do a few control methods with a slight learning curve, but this is certainly a collection of games that anyone can play. Just as Wii Party before it, you also get the option to read the objective of a mini-game and its controls before you hop in. That way everyone can be on a level playing field as far as controls go.

Since Wii Party U uses the Wiimote for input options with multiple players, you can see how simple the control schemes are. A button, 1, button, 2 button and dpad, with the B trigger thrown in every once in a great while. Sometimes games have you simply pressing the correct button displayed on screen, while others are more akin to traditional games. Move your character through an obstacle course and jump/dodge hazards. Climb a rope to avoid a hungry fish below. You'll do a very wide range of things in Wii Party U, but you'll never find yourself fumbling over controls.

Where does the GamePad come into play, you ask? It all depends on what mode you play. There's one mini-game board that focuses completely on the GamePad. You'll have to use the GamePad to play dice rolling mini-games. This might sound bland at first, but you'll be surprised at the unique ways the GamePad is used to roll the dice. Sometimes you'll just shake the GamePad and get a number. Other times you'll have to use the GamePad screen as a virtual window to track numbered balloons, then you have to blow into the mic to fire a dart at the balloon you want.

There are even dice-rolling games that have you turn the GamePad screen away from you. Another player will start a game for you, then you have to tackle the activity using the motion controls or touch screen while looking at the TV. For example, one dice game has you emptying a beaker full of water. On the TV, you see what the beaker looks like and the lines that represent how far you'll move on the game board. Empty out enough water to get the water level down to the 6 line on the beaker and you'll move 6 spaces. Empty too much or too little and you might not move at all. You have to keep the shape of the beaker in mind while you tilt the GamePad, which lets out water pouring sounds to let you know how you're doing. Everyone else playing gets to watch your action on the GamePad while you struggle to find the right spot to stop pouring!


There are also tabletop games that use the GamePad only, some of which are really entertaining. As you can see in the video above, one such experience is tabletop baseball. This type of game has been played in arcades for years, but with marbles and launchers. Nintendo has taken the idea and made it virtual and two-player. The only control scheme you'll need is one joystick for player. Sure it seems simple, but that's what makes it truly addictive!

Other GamePad games include foosball, two-player co-op puzzles, obstacle courses for marbles and much more. Being stuck right next to another player while playing off the same tiny screen really makes for a unique mini-game experience. Even better, other people hanging out get to see the same GamePad action on-screen via the TV. No need for them to crowd around the GamePad. They can keep track of your puzzle victories or baseball losses on the big screen.

The GamePad is thrown into the more traditional Wiimote-based modes as well. When playing a traditional 4-player board game, you'll sometimes land on a 1 Vs. 3 spot. This almost always require the single player to hop onto the GamePad to best the three people playing on TV. The GamePad single screen experience really allows the 1 Vs. 3 games to shine, allowing them to take on a new direction and much varied experience compared to the 1 Vs. 3 games of Mario Party titles gone by.

There's also GamePad games that require Wiimotes and 4 players that work in conjunction with the TV. For example, one game gives one player a facial expression to try and convey. You snap a pic with the GamePad camera, then the other players get multiple choice options to try and guess what face you were making. Another mode has all 4 players draw pictures on the GamePad, but one player gets a different object to draw than the others. You then have to pick who got the different word to draw. It sounds easy, but when three people have to draw a typewriter and the odd man out has to draw a keyboard, things can get confusing in a good way!

If there's one negative thing to say about Wii Party U, it's that the game is certainly more fun with other players. There's still a lot to do and enjoy if you're flying solo, but you just can't beat the experience of other real-life players. You can play against the computer in just about everything, but that isn't exactly going to measure up to real people. With that said, I think people already expect that to be the case with any mini-game collection. No matter how good solo play is, multiplayer will always be where a game like this shines.

Other than that, there are a few dud mini-games in the bunch. By and large, the collection is absolutely fantastic and will have you coming back plenty of times. Again, it's expected that not every mini-game included is going to be a star, so there will be a few that make you groan when they come up. Luckily, I found those less-than-stellar mini-games tolerable at least, so you can pass them and move onto better things. For what it's worth, I'd certainly say there's less than 10 mini-games that may be a bit sub-par. Then again, who knows what you'll think of them!

As you can tell, I found Wii Party U to be a very worthy successor to Wii Party. The GamePad is used in smart and interesting ways. Most importantly, it shows why Nintendo felt the GamePad needed to exist. There are things done in this title that you simple cannot do on other platforms. Better yet, those GamePad uses are fun! Mix those in with traditional Wiimote mini-game action and you have one of the best collections out there. Plenty of modes and unique mini-games to go around. You'll most likely fall into a set of modes/games that work for you and your friends. You'll learn your favorites and keep coming back to them for weeks to come. If you have a Wii U and some family/friends that enjoy playing, this title is a must-have, especially when you factor in price.