Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV - Partying On
You may have seen my review of Super Mario Party Jamboree, from October last year. I was quite positive about the experience, highlighting the immense quality of the mini-games, and was adamant that the game was the best franchise entry on the Switch. Now, a mere nine months later, and Super Mario Jamboree returns, now on the Switch 2, and with some additions, in the form of Super Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV. Absurdly long title aside, the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game utilises a number of the Switch 2’s systemic features to create new partying additions; the only question is, have we all partied too hard already, and left nothing for this second wind?
I highly recommend you read my initial review of Super Super Mario Party Jamboree to get the fullest reaction to the base game content. In short though, the core game was quite exhaustive in what it brought to the family room. A tonne of mini-games, a range of modes, and some quirky, new, modes achievable due to the Switch (at the time), made Super Mario Jamboree one of the best entries in the franchise yet. Not every mini-game was a winner, but it is also unreasonable to expect that of a game that is trying so many different things at once, the fact that so many hit the mark is what made Super Mario Party Jamboree the success that it was. The Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game, and specifically the Jamboree TV additions, bring even more to the table, and new methods to partake in various new mini-games, making Super Mario Party Jamboree more expansive than ever.
Jamboree TV is the new component of Mario Party Jamboree, and with the game now becoming a native Switch 2 game, there are a number of Switch 2 hardware features that can now be utilised by the experience. Jamboree TV utlises the Switch 2’s camera, microphone, and mouse functionality to provide players with a range of new mini-games. The mouse functionality, in particular, has unlocked several new concepts, through 14 new mini-games which will require the player to place nets to catch fish, door knock to find matching residents, scoop goombas into chutes, scoop ice-cream to make the perfect combination, and even play a variant of air hockey, called Shell Hockey. Microphone mini-games have also been added, though the number is quite small, and are all tied to a mode called ‘Bowser Live’, a 1v1 gameshow. These mini-games devolve quite quickly into the player just shouting ‘Go’ loudly or repeatedly to complete a few simple objectives; it’s not overly impressive use of the microtphone. Finally, if the player has a Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, then they can also use it for a range of silly actions like punching ? blocks in ‘Hitting It Rich’.
The ideas for both the camera and the microphone are quite limited, but demonstrate the potential of a more committed effort with the next Mario Party game in the franchise, assuming they choose to pursue the use of the tech further. Right now, both mechanics are used quite sparingly, and not to the greatest effect.
Beyond ‘Bowser Live’ players can also jump on Jamboree TV’s ‘Carnival Coaster’ where you work with a partner to survive the rollercoaster experience, completing a small number of mini-games, and accumulating as many points as you can. There are five different ‘Carnival Coaster’ tracks to ride on, but they’re all fairly similar to one another, and see the player using the mouse between mini-games to shoot targets to add time to the rollercoaster ride. Players can also play a standard Mario Party board, which blends the new mini-games into the experience, or you can enter ‘Free Play’ and play any mini-game at any time.
While the Jamboree TV additions aren’t enormous, and the mouse mini-games far exceed the number and quality of the mini-games that the microphone and camera unlock, there is still now another 20 great mini-games being added to a pool of 112 that already existed in the base game. For those without a Switch 2, and currently enjoying Super Mario Party Jamboree, the additions won’t be giving you enough FOMO to rush out and pick up, but for those who own the game already, and a Switch 2, the upgrade is worth the price of entry. One of the best Mario Party games of all time, has gotten better again.
Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV was reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 with a code kindly provided by Nintendo Australia.
