Wii Party U

Wii Party U is a sizable and varied collection of minigames. It’s not much fun unless you have at least four people, but as it stands it’s a pretty good deal: a Wii remote and a big party game, for less than the price of a triple-A title.

Attempts to be all games to all parties, but never decides what it wants to be. [Christmas 2013, p.86]

Wii Party U still fails to live up to the Mario Party series, and this game feels more like a demonstration of what you can do with a Wii U rather than an actual game.

It isn't without its flaws in some of the duff games, but is a well-rounded package to consider for Wii U.

Patience is a virtue with Wii Party U. The game is a lot fun, especially with your friends or family on the couch. However, some games simply depend on luck, which aren’t quite fair. If you’ll be playing solo you’ll encounter some rather slow computer, which you can’t even skip. It takes the speed out of a good game.

We wanted a better implementation of the GamePad, but it still manages to be fun, and it’s definitely one of those games you will love when have some friends or family around.

Wii Party U is far from a masterpiece, but you can be sure you'll have fun with it. It's not perfect, some games are boring, there is several problems with balance and with motion recognition, but it should help you to wait till the release of an all-new Mario Party.

Mario Party fans will likely find themselves wishing for something more.

Wii Party U is a surprisingly rich party game and a perfect fit for the forthcoming holiday season. Not everything works perfectly, but it stands as an honest and funny game for your evening with friends, sons and/or parents.

With over 80 minigames you get a lot of content. Unfortunately most of the games are short and simple.

Though there is some fun to be had, the game lacks the refinement Nintendo is typically known for and the result of such is a game that can vary from enjoyable to mediocre at varying times.

It's a decent enough collection of minigames, though most of its value comes in the fact that it's bundled with a Wii Remote Plus. Still, casual as it is, it's a great way for groups of friends or family to play together.

If you’ve got a group of three additional players to enjoy Wii Party U with, I definitely think it’s worth checking out. As a single-player game there’s not nearly enough to do that would warrant a purchase, and even as a two-player experience it falls a little short.

Wii Party U reveals that there are still many spaces to fill with originality, even in the most simple and minimalist gameplay.

With friends or family, Wii Party U can be a lot of fun. Not all of the minigames are great, some aren't necessarily worth a second look, but for a casual, laugh-filled gathering, Wii Party U has enough quality content and variety to provide an entertaining time.

Wii Party U is a surprisingly good party game that shows how quality and quantity can coexist in this genre.

Meaningless microgames water down the package considerably. Instead of 80 plus games, many of which don't use the GamePad at all, Wii Party U would have been better served focused on what makes Nintendo's new home console unique. Of course, that kind of creative decision would have gone against what the real goal of Wii Party U is: to sell more Wii Remotes.

In a world in which everything has to be faster, more fluent and easier, Wii Party U seems to adhere to blueprints from a long lost past. Its decent appearance and care that’s been put in the mini games, aren’t enough to keep this dance going. Instead of that, it generates awkward silences in between decent moments of fun. That’s extra painful for it being a party game and all.

Wii Party U is meant to be played in a group of four, if only to have more people to talk to while you grind through an hour-plus board game session. Still, that means you need two Wii remotes in addition to the one in the box and your GamePad - another $60 to $80 dollars down the drain if you don't already have them.

Wii Party U features a generous amount of simple and varied minigames, just - if not exactly - like its predecessor. The GamePad introduces some clever ideas through the tabletop and asymmetrical house games, but those possibilities are not implemented as well into the board games, where the Wiimote remain the main tool to interact with the TV. Therefore, this Wii U version is more an addition than a real evolution.

Outside of the sheer amount of minigames and modes on offer, there isn't a whole lot to unlock in Wii Party U -- what you see is basically what you get. In terms of replay value you'd be hard pressed to be entertained for more than a week by yourself, and with two players, you may get another week or two out of it.

Wii Party U is a fun and clever party game with tons of options and a great variety of game styles. Nintendo has created a game which can change itself adapting to any kind of atmosphere. The Table Games are a great addiction too!

Still, despite lacking depth, visual flair, or the characters of a Mario Party game, Wii Party U is a strong enough party game for Nintendo to offer families on the Wii U thanks to one thing: the mini-games provide hours of fun.

Like most party games, Wii Party U is a hit-and-miss affair. It features a wide selection of fun, albeit overly familiar mini-games, which are complemented by a decent number of unique and innovative multiplayer experiences. It's hampered by a few frustrating design choices, and the thrills are largely short-lived, but it's still a worthy addition to any party over the festive period.

Wii Party U isn't terrible, it's just uninspired. If you're looking for something that can be replayed for months and months, like Wii Sports, you won't find it here.

The game’s bland look and feel only serves to further highlight the abject shallowness of the entire experience.

Unfortunately the core game underneath the gloss and stacks of features is no better than the first Wii Party – and in many ways is actually worse. 80 minigames had better have a good strike-rate or they become a procession of annoying interludes; there are only so many ways you can throw a dice and move around a track.

Many of the mini-games on offer really push the unique features of the system to create novel yet highly entertaining experiences that can't be found elsewhere.

Wii Party U is a very fun party game, but the mini-game options aren't as attractive as in the original and Mario Party 9.

Wii Party U definitely has the diversity to be enjoyed by anyone, and racing a zebra, a rhino, and a giraffe while inebriated could turn out to be the stuff of legend.

It's impossible to hold that shallowness against it. This isn't meant to be a game you plug away at for hours on end, trying to beat your high scores or to unlock additional stages. It's supposed to be a daft bit of throwaway entertainment for a gathering of family or friends, a game that anyone can pick up and play and have a good time with.

Wii Party U’s lackluster presentation and occasionally boring game modes are but hiccups in an otherwise decent party booster. Its impressive GamePad minigames are sure to keep your guests entertained, and will extend the life of the game even after all your friends have gone home.

It’s still not a patch on the better Mario Party games but its still one of the few video games where literally everyone can join in and have some sort of fun – from non-gamers to the ultra hardcore.

Despite not being able to revamp itself, Wii Party U remains a decent party game for a great evenings among friends and relatives. Its aggressive pricing makes it even more attractive.

The sterile presentation and lack of options certainly don't help matters, either. While it has its highlights, the party is over before it can really get started.

There’s a familiar, welcoming charm to Wii Party U, which offers an evening spent in the company of nice-but-quiet friends. We wouldn’t blame you, however, if you snuck out to visit the more vibrant party hosted by Wario or Bumpie next door.