News | Mario Party 5 European Launch.

The title will feature classic characters, Mario, Luigi, Wario, Toad, Yoshi, Peach and Waluigi shall be returning to the GameCube to try and restore peace to the narrative Dream World by conquering a collection of new game boards, modes and events and encounters with classic characters, and several new ones making their debut in the latest instalment.

The game contains several new game boards, each with distinct specific themes and layouts, more than 60 new mini-games, several new playable characters and new secrets to unlock. Nintendo also promises an expansion of the single player mode to inject addition replay value into the long running series and also a return of the familiar multiplayer modes that brought a name to the franchise. Players can try an array of new mini games to try and win certain competitions to collect coins and like the prequels before it, reach star locations placed at random places across each board. In turn, players obtaining the most stars and coins win the game, as well as the usual game awards.

The various games range from dodging penguins, balancing on ice blocks, racing to climb an enormous beanstalk or even trying to differentiate dancing plants, the mini games once again are original and unique to the title. Players can also choose to challenge others in new or traditional duels or even play various characters against Bowser based mini games. Also, a new addition to the series, competing against the "Koop Kid Brigade", three Koop Kids who take turns simultaneously to reduce waiting times significantly and to allow players to experience the hectic action quicker than previous versions. Even the locations of event spaces can change on the board to allow for an additional element of strategy. The game is guaranteed to be the must have family title for the festive season with a plethora of new features, modes and ways to play; Mario Party 5 is a worthy addition to the franchise.

The game shall launch across the continent on December 5th 2003, just in time for the festive celebrations, for the estimated retail price of