Now in its eight iteration of Mario Party games but its first time on Wii, Mario Party 8 doesn't stray too far from the fantastically frolicsome formula of its forbears. It involves a multitude of mini-games -- short-lived, less-than-a-minute challenges with or against 2 to 4 players (human or computer controlled) who must, for example, cross the finish-line first, collect the most baubles, stay alive longest, etc. -- encased in larger, sum-total contest played like a board game with rolled (actually punched) dice and where pitfall-, reward-, and mini-game face-off squares abound, may the most-rounded, multi-skilled and requisitely-lucky player win.

In 8, there are a batch of familiar mini-games revisited (or revamped) from earlier titles, plus a bunch of new ones that make use of the Wii's motion sensitive controller -- the Wii-mote -- each played with either the Wii-mote held in standard gamepad fashion, or by shaking, twirling, twisting, pumping, pointing and yarding on the thing to actuate game specific tasks. Wholly gimmicky, but fun considering the shortness of each application.

Sadly, with eight versions of basically the same thing, Mario Party 8 is not going to win any awards for innovation -- even with the "novel" Wii-mote interface, which now feels familiar thanks to numerous other Wii games that use it as well or better.

In fact, the game looks no better than its GameCube forbears -- no widescreen support, either, which smacks of last-generation gaming made for a new-generation system on the quick. The overly cute and cartoony graphics serve gameplay well enough, but it's all surprisingly low-rent. Also, oddly, you're forced to endure cheesy gibberish dialogue (with subtitles) of your host (and cutesy cut scenes throughout) -- helpful and humorous once, repetitively annoying thereafter --, no bypass allowed, though you can fast-forward through the freak's speech, annoyed all the while.

Still, in accordance with the not-broke-don't-fix adage, Mario Party 8 is certainly good enough for fans of the franchise, which has sold millions to date. Too, those "gray gamers," moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas eager to connect with their offspring, will surely get a kick out of the frivolous competitiveness of it all, and the seeming randomness of each mini-game delivered enough to keep it all feeling novel (so long as you don't play too often or if you have short-term memory issues), wistfully oblivious to the fact that it could have been much, much better.

TIP: Completing the Star Battle Arena in with any character in Mario Party 8 will to unlock a Blooper or a Hammer Bro as a playable character. Completing the Star Battle Arena again with either one will unlock the other.