Mario Party 2

If you weren't fortunate enough to play Mario Party, the basic idea is as simple as playing a standard board game. Up to four players can take part and the computer will play the part of any remaining characters if you don't have either three buddies, or three spare controllers. Taking on the role of one of six of the usual suspects, including Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and friends, you take it in turns to roll the die and move around one of five different playing boards, based around varied locations. Your key aim is to collect more coins and stars than your opponents. Of course, the action is spiced up by over 60 different wacky sub-games for players to either steal or win even more coins from each other.

Staying true to the characteristics in Mario-related games, your progress around the board will be both helped and hampered by some familiar faces. Boo, Bowser and mini-Bowser generally spell trouble; although if you can master their mini-games, you may actually be able to steal coins off other players. Toad on the other hand is the fellow to find if you want to exchange 20 of your coins for one of the magic stars, which are vital to winning the game. Just like a game of snakes and ladders, there are plenty of short-cuts to get you around the map. Each ties in well with the environmental surroundings, too: the desert island-based level allows you to cross the stretch of water on a shark's back, while opting to use the bridge may see you fired at from a pirate ship.

As you pass over or land on different-coloured squares, this will determine whether you gain or lose coins, collect power-ups or have to take part in one of the many enjoyable mini-games. You need coins to pass through certain areas and to play some of the mini-games. Power-ups, such as the golden key, can be used to unlock gates to access new areas.

The mini-games are simple, but yet widely varied, so it'll take ages before you start to become bored with them. Each has a variable degree of wackiness: anything from racing as penguins, then throwing fish; to winding up toy flying machines (with the aim of making yours fly the furthest) on offer. Games are simple to pick up and are injected with enough humour to continually have you in a fit of giggles. With four humans at the controls, it can be especially amusing when three players have to team up against one in certain games.

Although some may moan that this version is too similar to the first outing, true fans will no doubt revel in the new surroundings and challenges offered here. For those who are yet to sample its delights, I would definitely recommend trying before buying, as some may find it slightly too childish. Multiplayer mode will offer more challenge than single-player as the computer's AI in the bonus games can be too predictable on the difficulty settings provided.

If I was to fault the game it would be to moan that playing each game can take a very long time, even when you opt for the shortest game setting (which lasts for 20 goes each). It's not possible to save mid-game either, which may annoy some. Just make sure you've got plenty of time to spare before starting each game because it's worth carrying over your winnings to enhance the game.

All in all, although some of the sub-games aren't as enjoyable as in titles like Pokémon Stadium or Bishi Bashi Special, Mario Party 2 is able to offer an equally, if not more enjoyable game outside of these sideshows.