Get in the Game With ‘Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV'

Geek Dad

6 days ago

When it launched last October, Super Mario Party Jamboree quickly became my family's go-to for competitive multiplayer, not to mention a series favorite for Mario Party 's special brand of digital boardgame tomfoolery. Fast forward nine months, and Jamboree is back with fresh features, new mini-game types, and a much longer name.
Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV launches this Thursday, both as an exclusive Nintendo Switch 2 release (MSRP $79.99) and as a Switch 2 upgrade pack (priced $19.99) for those who already own the original game.
While the Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel, it does nicely leverage the Switch 2 hardware capabilities to further enhance an already stellar title. This includes improved visuals (1440p resolution in TV mode and Full HD in handheld/tabletop), sound-based gameplay using the Switch 2's integrated microphone, and a suite of new Joy-Con 2 mini-games that really showcase the precision of its mouse controls. A decent chunk of the Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree experience also relies on the presence of a compatible USB-C camera. New rulesets and camera support in classic Mario Party mode offer a nice little upgrade. image: NOA
This is especially true in the new Bowser Live mode, a wonderfully ridiculous send-up of the traditional television game show where the new CameraPlay feature tracks player movement, enabling full-body motion controls. This finally gave me a proper chance to put my Nintendo Switch 2 Camera through its paces, and I was impressed with how well it performed.
Even in low light—we prefer to keep the overhead lighting off when we're gaming in the living room—the camera did a solid job of tracking both me and my daughter (who's a good six inches shorter than me) as we hopped and flailed around at the direction of King Koopa. All the jumping aside, though, Bowser Live isn't exactly the kind of activity you should undertake with, say, someone sleeping in the next room, as the game also requires regular hollering to hype up the various Yoshis and Shy Guys in the crowd. Bowser Live is a fun, fast, physical affair. image: NOA
As noisy and frenetic as it is, it's an enjoyable experience and something that nicely ties the Switch 2 of today back to Nintendo's proud Wii Remote-waggling legacy. Without a camera, though, you're limited to the new microphone-controlled content, so keep that in mind.
That being said, Bowser Live isn't the only new bell and/or whistle available in this updated offering.
In fact, as much as we enjoyed punching question blocks, jumping out of green pipes, and screaming at the top of our lungs, that mode actually represents a fairly small slice of our overall playtime. We are much more enamored with Carnival Coaster. Safety first! image: NOA
In this mode, players hop aboard one of five themed roller coasters for some co-op carnage as they shoot down flying enemies and participate in Joy-Con 2 mouse-based minigames to put valuable seconds on the clock, doing their best to make it to the end of the line before time runs out.
The variety of new mini-games we encountered was impressive—we spray painted Bob-ombs, scooped ice cream, stacked toys, and arranged dominoes, just to name a few—and even the ones we weren't particularly good at (like navigating pull-back racers across dangerous terrain) were still entertaining enough to keep us coming back.
Carnival Coaster, too, employs CameraPlay functionality, though to a lesser degree than Bowser Live. Camera tracking puts the players into the game so you can watch everyone's reactions as the coaster weaves and bobs, and you can also bank a few extra seconds by raising your hands above your head when the coaster goes downhill.
In addition to some new rulesets (Tag-Team and Frenzy Rules), the updated Mario Party experience can use the USB-C camera to put your mug in the game, which is a fun new addition to an already beloved family pastime. I will admit, though, that readjusting our camera so that we could sit comfortably on the sofa while we made our way around the game board did reveal a little quirk.
Specifically, Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV kept confusing me, a tattooed middle-aged man, with a tatty rack of coats about eight or so feet behind me. Which is, y'know, a little hurtful, though it didn't really detract from the actual gameplay.
I do wish there were an easier way to fine-tune my Switch 2 Camera for individual participants, but overall, I have nothing but praise for the way in which the camera, microphone, and Joy-Con 2 controllers perform in tandem to make Mario Party an even weirder, wilder, and more wonderful ride. As cool as the other content is, my heart belongs to Carnival Coaster. image: NOA
Admittedly, I've spent a lot of time with my Switch 2 in solo pursuits, smashing rocks as Donkey Kong or cruising through the mean streets of Night City in handheld mode. For me, this is where the hardware excels; I'm able to explore beautiful, fully realized game worlds even on the go.
But Nintendo's motto—All Together, Anytime, Anywhere—reminds me that there's more to the Switch 2 than just that. Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV , with its classic couch co-op and robust online and GameShare support, further serves to make this a perfect example of how my shiny new gaming system can also serve as a family entertainment hub, just like the consoles of old. Albeit with a host of interesting new features that further redefine the modern gameplay experience.
Review materials provided by Nintendo of America. This post contains affiliate links. If professional Carnival Coaster ever becomes a thing, I think my youngest kid and I could be real power players in the regional scene. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!