Latest news with #SuperMarioPartyJamboree
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has got wings. Real ones. The cursed heroine of this Soulslike game wakes up with a bad case of amnesia, and then starts sprouting feathers...
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £44.99) Verdict: A Soulslike with soul Meet Wuchang. Or, as she might be wondering, who-chang? She's woken up in Ming dynasty China with a bad case of amnesia and an even worse case of feathers sprouting from her arm. It's something to do with a curse that's spreading around the land, turning people into monsters, the usual. Only Wuchang has the power to fix things. If Wuchang had played any games in the past decade, she'd know immediately who she is and what's going on. For Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is yet another Soulslike release, inspired by the gameplay established by the Dark Souls series. It's got the same try-try-and-try-again combat, with each enemy encounter turning into a whirl of dodges, parries and slashes. It's got the same challenging bosses, godlike creatures who will test your skills to their limits and beyond. It's got the same system of bonfires — sorry, here they're shrines — at which you revive yourself after inevitably coming a cropper. Which would all be too familiar were it not for Wuchang's (the game's) more singular qualities. The first and most noticeable of these is its setting. Imperial China looks stunning here, a place of hills, cliffs, foliage and — crucially — colour. It's much nicer than the grim greyness of most other games in this genre. Another is how you can make Wuchang (the person) your own — and not just with the increasingly skimpy costumes you can collect for her, poor girl. There are so many options around weaponry, abilities and upgrades that it's often overwhelming, but — once you understand what's what — you can approach this game's fights in a hundred different ways, even switching between them on the fly. It's an exhilarating experience and one that passes the major test for Soulslikes: is there enough here to keep you pressing on, to keep you wanting to master the punishing combat? Yes. The arm feathers may be a bit gross, but this game has wings. Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (Nintendo Switch 2, £66.99 or a £16.99 upgrade for those who own the original) Verdict: It's party time Rating: Hang on. Didn't I already review this game? Back in October last year? Well, yes and no. This is indeed the same Super Mario Party Jamboree that first came out nine months ago, featuring the same mix of boardgame mechanics and minigame madness. You move your Mario or Luigi or Peach or whoever around a board before competing in quick, frenetic games that have you doing things like slicing vegetables in time with the beat. Except, this time, it's been upgraded and expanded for the Nintendo Switch 2. This means additional minigames that make use of the new console's features, such as its mouse-style controls. Can you drag files into the right folders like you would on a computer desktop? But quickly?! It's fun, I promise. The best additions, though, are for those who have the separately available camera for the Switch 2. In fact, this might be the first game that really shows off what the camera can do. Take the new mode called Bowser Live, in which the eponymous lizard has you and your friends performing for his amusement. With the camera, you and your friends are actually there on the screen. Up to four of you. Your whole bodies. And your gyrations and gesticulations are registered in the game, as you collectively try to punch question mark blocks or balance falling Goombas on your heads. It may sound like the sort of thing Xbox was doing years ago with its Kinect accessories. But this Nintendo version is so straightforward and so technologically sophisticated that it's hard not to be won over.
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Nintendo Download: Party and Friendship
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week's Nintendo Download includes the following content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV – Become the Superstar of the show in Jamboree TV, a game show hosted by Toad that is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the Super Mario Party Jamboree game. Throw an even bigger bash with minigames that use the Joy-Con 2 controller like a mouse 1 and the Nintendo Switch 2 system's built-in microphone to respond to your sounds. There are new festivities to join as well: Put yourself right into the action with CameraPlay 2, enjoy two new rulesets in Mario Party Mode, get loud and excited in Bowser Live, and lock-in for the co-op Carnival Coaster. Party on with the Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV game – available now! Pokémon Friends – Unwind with puzzles in the Pokémon Friends game! Solve sets of three random puzzles to help untangle your mind. Then, place the yarn you obtain into the Plush-O-Matic: a special machine that creates in-game Pokémon plush. As you try to make them all, you can track your crafted plush in the catalog. You can also mark your calendar with a stamp each day you play, and then go back and practice the puzzles you played on those days. Complete friend quests for folks around town to earn rewards, including furniture which you can use to decorate your in-game plush rooms. You can also expand your catalog of plush with DLC 3 packs, including the Puzzle On! Pack #1 and Puzzle On! Pack #2. Pokémon Friends is available now on the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch systems, as well as mobile devices 4! WWE 2K25 – Rule beyond the ring anytime, anywhere! WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers spanning generations. Take control of your Superstar from the women's or men's divisions in a single multi-gender MyRISE storyline where Bayley, Kevin Owens and other Superstars infiltrate NXT to take control of the WWE universe. The game features new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters and more — plus new ally storylines involving Jey Uso, Bianca Belair and other WWE Superstars! WWE 2K25 is available now on Nintendo Switch 2. No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – As Kaname Date – a special agent with an AI partner embedded in his left eye – your mission is to track down Iris, an internet Idol trapped in a mysterious escape game. Conduct interviews to investigate her whereabouts, dive into a subject's dreams to reveal clues hidden in their psyche and solve mind-bending puzzles to learn the truth. No Sleep For Kaname Date - From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES launches on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch July 25. Pre-order is available on Nintendo eShop. WILD HEARTS S – As a hunter, face off against beasts that have endured the blazing lava, raging blizzards and rising miasma plaguing the harsh lands of Azuma. These beasts, known as Kemono, embody the very essence of nature in all its beauty and ferocity. The key to surviving the fight lies in joining forces with comrades and wielding Karakuri technology. Hunt giant beasts using a variety of Karakuri tech, now with up to three teammates 5! WILD HEARTS S launches on Nintendo Switch 2 July 25. Pre-order is available now on Nintendo eShop. Monument Valley 3 – Set sail for adventure in this brand-new story in the award-winning Monument Valley series. Monument Valley 3 takes you beyond the monuments and into the open sea. Play as Noor and navigate gorgeous, ever-changing environments, solve mind-bending puzzles, and uncover the secrets of the Sacred Light. When her village is threatened by rising tides, Noor must chart her own course and discover her strength in this stunning, emotional adventure. Monument Valley 3 is available now! Nintendo Music: Activities: My Nintendo – Donkey Kong Bananza Rally Towel – Cheer on Donkey Kong and Pauline during their adventure in the Donkey Kong Bananza game with the Donkey Kong Bananza Rally Towel, a physical reward available only from My Nintendo! My Nintendo members can redeem 650 My Nintendo Platinum Points 7 for this spirited towel while supplies last. My Nintendo x Donkey Kong Sweepstakes – Oh, Banana! Enter the My Nintendo x Donkey Kong Sweepstakes 8 for a chance to win a bunch of goodies featuring Donkey Kong and his buddy Diddy Kong! My Nintendo members can redeem 10 My Nintendo Platinum Points to enter up to 5 entries total. For more information, visit My Nintendo Gear Up With Nintendo Switch Online Sweepstakes – Time is running out to enter the Nintendo Gear Up With Nintendo Switch Online Sweepstakes 9 for a chance to win a collection of gaming goods inspired by classic games, the Nintendo Music app and more! Hurry – this sweepstakes ends July 31 at 11 p.m. PT. For more information, visit Nintendo eShop sales on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: Check out the full list of deals available this week at Also new this week on Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch: For news and updates on all things Nintendo, you can also check out the free Nintendo Today! smart-device app. Whether it's news about games, info about your favorite characters, or videos and comic strips — you'll get personalized fun every day. 1 Attach the Joy-Con 2 strap and hold the controller firmly when using mouse controls. 2 Additional games, systems and/or accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Internet, Nintendo Switch Online membership and Nintendo Account required for online features, including GameChat. Compatible USB camera (sold separately) required for video features. Not available in all countries. Terms and GameChat requirements apply. Games, systems, memberships, and some accessories sold separately. Until March 31, 2026, a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not needed to use GameChat. After the GameChat Open-Access Period has ended, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required. Games, systems, memberships and some accessories sold separately. 3 Basic Pack required to use DLC. Sold separately. 4 Mobile version is free to start; optional in-game purchases available. Persistent internet and compatible smart device required. Data charges may apply. 5 Additional games and systems may be required for multiplayer mode. Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. Games, systems, and Nintendo Switch Online memberships sold separately. 6 Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required. Not available in all countries. Internet and compatible smart-device required to use app. Data charges may apply. Terms apply. 7 A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply ( 8 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13 years old or older. Sweepstakes begins 12:00 p.m. PT on 7/16/2025 and ends at 11:00 p.m. PT on 10/1/2025. To enter, you must (1) have a Nintendo Account (if you do not have a Nintendo Account you can register for one at (2) visit (2) visit (3) sign in to your Nintendo Account, and (4) redeem 10 Platinum Points per entry at the My Nintendo x Donkey Kong Sweepstakes page ( as stated in Official Rules. There will be three (3) winners. Each winner will receive one (1) Donkey Kong Rematch ™ Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch ™ (ARV $59.99 USD), one (1) Donkey Kong Bananas Hawaiian Men's Shirt (adult sizes XS -3XL) (ARV $39.99 USD), one (1) Donkey Kong & Diddy Kong Pin Set (ARV $30.00) USD), and one (1) Donkey Kong Beach Towel (ARV $24.99 USD). Total ARV of all prizes: $464.91 USD. A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply ( Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052. 9 NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 years old or older. Sweepstakes begins 12:00 PM PT on 3/31/25 and ends at 11:00PM PT on 7/31/25. To enter, you must (1) have a Nintendo Account (if you do not have a Nintendo Account you can register for one at (2) have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership; (3) visit (4) sign in to your Nintendo Account, and (5) redeem 0 Platinum Points per entry at the My Nintendo Gear Up With Nintendo Switch Online Sweepstakes page ( as stated in Official Rules. Limit 1 entry per person. To enter via the alternate method of entry, you must (1) have a Nintendo Account (if you do not have a Nintendo Account, you can register for one at (2) include the required information on a 3' x 5' card or postcard and (3) mail in postcard as stated in Official Rules. There will be ten (10) winners. Each winner will receive one (1) metal panel featuring Nintendo Switch Online artwork (ARV $149.99 USD), one (1) personalized Nintendo Switch Online jacket with hood (sizes adult XS – 5XL) (ARV $79.99 USD), one (1) Nintendo Switch Online stainless-steel water bottle ($56.95 USD) and one (1) Nintendo Music branded gaming headset (ARV $33.81 USD). Total ARV of all prizes: $3,207.40 USD. A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply ( Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052. MORE ABOUT… NINTENDO SWITCH ONLINE Nintendo Switch Online is a paid membership service that allows members to team up or face off online in compatible Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Splatoon 3, and Nintendo Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World. Members also enjoy a curated library of classic NES, Super NES and Game Boy games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Metroid and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, among many others. Nintendo Switch 2 players can use the GameChat feature to connect with friends through voice, video or screen sharing (terms and requirements apply, visit Those without a Nintendo Switch Online membership can still join the fun during the Open-Access Period, ending March 31, 2026. Additionally, members can access the Nintendo Music smart-device app to stream or download Nintendo soundtracks, create playlists, browse music by different categories and more. To find out more about the benefits that come with Nintendo Switch Online, to view membership options and to learn about a free seven-day trial for new users, visit NINTENDO SWITCH ONLINE + EXPANSION PACK With a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, players get access to even more benefits, including a library of Nintendo 64 games with added online play for up to four players (additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode; sold separately), a library of select Game Boy Advance games, retro SEGA Genesis games, Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise DLC, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC and Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion DLC (full version of game required to use DLC for that game; sold separately). Nintendo Switch 2 players can also access a library of classic Nintendo GameCube games, enhanced features for compatible Nintendo 64 games and upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (full version of games required to use content for that game; sold separately). NINTENDO eSHOP Nintendo eShop is a digital store that features a wide variety of content, including new and classic games, applications and demos. Users can add money to their account balances by using a credit card or purchasing a Nintendo eShop Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card. All funds from one card must be loaded in Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch family of systems or Nintendo Switch 2. Customers in the U.S. and Canada ages 18 and older can also link a PayPal account to their Nintendo Account to purchase digital games and content for the Nintendo Switch family of systems or Nintendo Switch 2 both on-device and from the Nintendo website. PARENTAL CONTROLS AND MORE Remember that Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 both feature parental controls that let adults manage the content and features their children can access, including GameChat. Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 players who register a Nintendo Account gain access to free-to-start games and free game demos from Nintendo eShop, and also get the latest news and information direct from Nintendo. For more information about parental controls and other features, visit or Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.
Metro
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV review
Nintendo has remastered Super Mario Party Jamboree for the Switch 2 and added a bunch of new game modes but is the new content worth it? The Switch 2 isn't even two months old yet, but it's already become the fastest-selling console of all-time in the US and Japan, which means that Nintendo is going to have to put in a lot of effort to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. They've got it in them to do that but hopefully that won't prove to be the Switch 2's destiny. The long-term future for its games line-up remains largely a mystery at the moment and now that Donkey Kong Bananza is out it's going to be October before Pokémon Legends: Z-A becomes the next major first party release, and even that's only a cross-gen title. In the meantime, Nintendo is going to be relying on smaller titles like Drag X Drive and more Switch 2 Edition games. Nintendo Switch 2 Edition titles have taken the role of Wii U ports on the Switch 1, which is to say they're ready-made filler content that's nevertheless perfectly welcome if you've never played them before. Super Mario Party Jamboree is an excellent game and you can read our review of the original Switch 1 version here. Literally nothing has changed about it on the Switch 2, so the question here is whether the new content adds anything of value. In their simplest forms, Switch 2 Editions are essentially remasters. Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom added no extra content, beyond a shared mobile app, but upped the resolution and frame rate to create the definitive version of the games. If you own the originals you can upgrade to the Switch 2 Editions for a surprisingly reasonable £8. But if you want to upgrade your Switch 1 copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree it'll cost you £17. That's because Mario Party (and the upcoming Kirby And The Forgotten Land) includes substantial new content, that also isn't available via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The new content is called Jamboree TV and also includes improved visuals. Mario Party is not a game that relies on complex graphics but somewhat shamefully these improvements are not carried through to the existing content. Sort of… it's all very complicated, with some bits left out but not others, to the point where it surely would've been less trouble to just up the frame rate and resolution on everything, all at the same time. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Jamboree TV is an entirely separate menu option, when you start the game up, where the original game has a little Switch 1 icon next to it, to denote it's unchanged Switch 1 content. Nintendo isn't trying to hide what they've done but it's a peculiar approach given you can still play the original six boards from within Jamboree TV and enjoy the improved visuals that way. However, ancillary modes like Bowser Kaboom Squad and Paratroopa Flight School are stuck in the original game, with no visual upgrades. Equally, options like Pro Rules, and other customisation features and all the unlockables, are not available in Jamboree TV. Nothing is shared between the two games at all, including the minigame records, to the point where they might as well be two separate cartridges or downloads. The conceit for Jamboree TV is that Bower is hosting a TV show, in which you and up to three other friends or family can compete. If you have a camera plugged in then your face and body appears onscreen, but if not you play as one of the standard Mushroom Kingdom characters. There are a range of new minigames and these are all orientated towards showing off either mouse controls or the camera – so if you don't have a compatible webcam (it doesn't have to be the official Nintendo one) you're already missing out on some of the new content. The 14 new mouse games are all 2v2 but there's some very clever ones, including one where you're aiming wind-up cars, that you have to pull back with the mouse; another where you're spray-painting different bob-ombs; and another that involves climbing a wall in tandem with the other player, while you're both sat in a weird looking sci-fi machine. Bowser Live is a separate mode used to play camera games, involving minigames where you have to move your head or make a noise. One is literally just screaming and moving around as much as possible but others are more nuanced and include things like balancing Goombas on your head or moving a remote control vehicle with the power of your voice. As well as the new mouse and camera based minigames you can also play the standard board game mode with new rules: the self-explanatory Tag-Team, where you share your pool of coins and stars with a teammate, and Frenzy Rules . The latter is a welcome new option, to play a more fast-paced game that only lasts around 30 minutes, rather than the usual 90 minutes or so, although that does mean there isn't much time for many minigames. More Trending Finally, there's a new co-op mode called Carnival Coaster, which is a very literal on-rails shooter. You're co-operating with other players though, rather than competing, and while it's fairly well orchestrated it's not something you'll want to return to often. Although we gave the Switch 1 version of the game a 9/10 we're not going to for the Switch 2 Edition, for the simple reason that it's £20 more expensive, which makes no sense given the upgrade is only £17. We're long term defenders of the Mario Party concept and Jamboree is the best modern interpretation of the formula, but this somehow manages to make it worse, not better. Some of the mouse and camera minigames are fun but they're not really worth the upgrade price and if you don't own the base game already you're better off just buying that on Switch 1 and playing it via backwards compatibility. Jamboree TV is a competent tech demo, for some of the Switch 2's new features, but as Mario Parties go it's one you'll want to leave early. In Short: The original game remains the best entry in the series but Jamboree TV on its own adds little of value and isn't worth the upgrade. Pros: Super Mario Party Jamboree is great and still the best entry in the series. The mouse minigames are all very good and so are most of the camera games. Cons: The graphical improvements only apply to Jamboree TV, not the main game. Party mode in Jamboree TV is missing a lot of options and there's not really that many new minigames. Score: 8/10 Formats: Nintendo Switch 2Price: £66.99 or £16.99 upgrade packPublisher: NintendoDeveloper: Nintendo CubeRelease Date: 24th June 2025 Age Rating: 3 Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Weirdly Mario Kart World is only the third best selling Switch 2 digital game MORE: Fan plays video game for 35,000 hours and then demands a refund MORE: Lego Game Boy is so accurate even the advert is the same
Geek Dad
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Dad
Get in the Game With ‘Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV'
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!
CNET
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Nintendo's Mario Party Upgrades for Switch 2 Feel Like Unnecessary Gimmicks
Maybe, some day, Nintendo will make games that are just focused on using the new camera and mouse-control features on the Switch 2. In the meantime, there's the update to Super Mario Party Jamboree that hits this week. Nintendo's already delivered a killer one-two punch with Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza for Switch 2 but the upgrade for Jamboree, while charming at times, doesn't exactly live up to expectations. The $20 upgrade, with the unwieldy title Super Mario Party Jamboree Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, hints at how the new modes are glommed onto the already full-featured Jamboree game. While I generally appreciate the upgrades, it makes the game harder to navigate -- it's almost like a subworld in an already-crowded-with-stuff game. I was originally super-excited about the potential of the plug-in camera support on Switch 2 but the camera features here impressed me less at home than in my April demos. While a lot of the new mini-games seem to aim for the whimsy and weirdness of older Nintendo games like 1-2 Switch, this bonus pack feels like not enough of the new and too much of a half-measure. It's a taste of some ideas but also shows the limits of some of Nintendo's latest Switch 2 features like camera and mouse mode. Buying the upgrade for Switch 2 does get you better-looking higher-res graphics, and the Jamboree TV mode has several new ways to play. An upgraded Mario Party game board and minigame browser have new games that use the Joy-Con 2 mouse mode in some fun ways. Still, it feels like a slim set of extras with a bunch of awkward aspects, too. Mouse mode mods Mouse mode can be rewarding with air hockey where you slam your puck around, or as a way to slide fast and click on parts of the screen. In another new mode, a sort of roller coaster where you use the mouse to aim and shoot at targets like a theme park ride, it almost reminds me of some VR experiences minus a headset. Mouse mode works on tables, sofas, even your own leg -- pretty much any surface you can glide the Joy-Con 2 over. The only thing is, a lot of these new modes in mouse mode feel like they could also have been done with motion controls, which the Joy-Cons are also capable of. An ice cream scooping minigame, as cute as it is, feels like a prime example of something that motion controls could have handled, too. But there are only 14 new mouse-mode games added here. The mouse mode games can be fun but finding the space to play them isn't always. Scott Stein/CNET Camera games (and camera) optional Camera connectivity is optional because, for Switch 2 owners, having a camera is optional, too. Should you have one, there are some fun motion-based games that have you moving your body with camera-based tracking, similar to older camera-connected games from the Xbox Kinect/PlayStation Eye era. The camera makes your face and body seem like they're sometimes beamed right into the Mario Party universe. You pop up from pipes, appearing on stage as Toad MCs guide you through each challenge. It's fun, silly and doesn't actually require you to use yourself. My 12-year-old son, for example, just had the camera focus on a painting on the wall instead of his face … so that was weird. A Bowser showdown mode gives you a couple of camera-based mini-games that you use your body to play. One involves jumping to hit a coin block, something I did for real in Epic Universe at Super Nintendo World. The effect is cute but also can be "cheated" by using your hand instead of your head. Another mini-game makes it look like you're wearing a Mario or Luigi hat as you play Simon Says to stand or crouch. The game lost tracking for my son and me, and our hats vanished midway. You can play Mario Party's new modes without a camera, too. Scott Stein/CNET The camera mode doesn't automatically track your body wherever you go. Instead, you're asked to stand in a particular place to play. The same's true for how the Switch 2 camera focuses on your face. While you can frame your face and then mirror it on your TV, if you move to the left or right (or stand or sit), you'll end up falling out of frame. Adjusting the wide-angle camera can fix the problem but it became a fiddly process in our living room. My son preferred playing regular Mario Party modes where we weren't trying to fit ourselves onscreen. And so, for $20, Mario Party Jamboree's Switch 2 mode doesn't feel like anything essential. Jamboree is a great Mario Party game already, and the improvements -- including being able to Game Share to other local Switches for multi-screen multiplayer -- might be fun to try. Then again, much like the $10 Welcome Tour game released with the Switch 2 in June, this feels like Nintendo forcing old gameplay onto the mouse mode and camera rather than making the most out of the new hardware. I'm looking forward to the truly new ideas for mouse and camera that could come next but I'm also a bit worried that the camera might be more of a gimmick than I first thought.
