Mario Party 2

If the first Mario Party started the war around a single screen, its sequel polished it to perfection. Mario Party 2 took the proven foundation, ironed out its weaknesses and added so much new content that many fans still consider it one of the high points of the whole series.

The most visible novelty was the costume theme. Each board had its own setting, whether pirate seas, the Wild West or outer space, and the heroes dressed up accordingly. This idea gave the individual maps personality and humor that elevated the entire presentation. Underneath, the principle stayed the same: moving around the board, collecting stars and coins, and battling in mini-games after every round.

It was the mini-games that saw the biggest improvement. They were more varied, better balanced and offered a superior mix of free-for-all duels and team clashes. The game also handled chance and strategy more delicately, so the outcome depended less on pure luck and more on the player's decisions about where to go and when to strike a rival with a trap.

Development was once again handled by Hudson Soft, which learned from the feedback on the first installment and fixed its flaws. There is broad agreement among players that the second entry is smoother and more entertaining than its predecessor, and it is often recommended as the ideal entry point into the series on this console.

Mario Party 2 proved that a sequel does not just have to add numbers but can genuinely perfect the recipe. For a group of friends looking for an evening full of laughter, twists and friendly betrayals, it was one of the best choices the console offered.

Why play: A refined sequel that many consider the best entry in the series on the console, with themed maps and more delicately balanced mini-games.