How Many Characters Are Playable in Mario Party Superstars?

The answer is straightforward: There are 10 playable characters in Mario Party Superstars. While this might seem like a smaller roster compared to some other entries in the Mario Party franchise, particularly Super Mario Party on the Nintendo Switch, the selection offers a solid mix of fan favorites, each bringing their own unique charm to the party. Importantly, in Mario Party Superstars, character choice is purely cosmetic, meaning no characters possess any inherent stat advantages over others. It’s all about choosing your preferred avatar as you navigate the board and compete in the mini-games! This emphasis on equality levels the playing field and ensures that victory comes down to skill and a little bit of luck.

Understanding the Character Selection Philosophy in Superstars

Mario Party Superstars made a conscious decision to hark back to the classic Mario Party games from the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii eras. This nostalgic approach also extends to the character roster. Instead of packing in a large number of characters, some of whom might feel less essential, the developers opted for a smaller, more iconic selection. This ensures that the available characters are readily recognizable and contribute to the overall feeling of playing a classic Mario Party title with modern enhancements.

Why Fewer Characters Than Super Mario Party?

Many have wondered why Super Mario Party featured a roster of 20 characters, while Superstars only offers 10. The main reason is that Super Mario Party was designed as a brand-new entry in the series, introducing novel board designs and gameplay mechanics. With it, the developers experimented with a larger cast. Mario Party Superstars, conversely, deliberately aimed to recapture the spirit of the older games, focusing on remaking beloved boards and mini-games. Keeping a streamlined, classic roster was a key element of this design philosophy.

The Playable Character Roster in Detail

While there aren’t unlockable characters in the traditional sense within Mario Party Superstars, the 10 playable characters themselves are all available from the outset. This allows players to jump right into the action with their favorite personalities. The roster includes:

• Mario: The iconic face of the franchise, Mario is a reliable choice for any Mario Party adventure.

• Luigi: Mario’s slightly less confident brother, Luigi, brings his own brand of quirky charm to the game.

• Peach: The princess of the Mushroom Kingdom, Peach, is a strategic player with a regal flair.

• Yoshi: This colorful dinosaur is known for its speed and eagerness to eat anything in its path.

• Wario: Mario’s greedy and mischievous rival, Wario, is always looking for an opportunity to cheat his way to victory.

• Waluigi: Wario’s equally sneaky partner, Waluigi, is a master of trickery and questionable tactics.

• Donkey Kong: The powerful ape from Donkey Kong Island brings his brute strength to the mini-games.

• Daisy: Peach’s energetic and athletic friend, Daisy, is always up for a challenge.

• Rosalina: The enigmatic guardian of the cosmos, Rosalina, adds a touch of elegance and mystery to the party.

• Birdo: Known for its unique egg-laying abilities, Birdo is an unpredictable and entertaining addition to the roster.

This selection allows for varied team combinations and rivalries, ensuring that each Mario Party session feels fresh and engaging. Remember, skill and luck are the ultimate factors, so pick your favorite character based on personal preference!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are there unlockable characters in Mario Party Superstars?

No, there are no unlockable characters in Mario Party Superstars. The 10 playable characters listed above are all available from the start of the game. The focus is on playing with these core characters on the reimagined classic boards.

2. Do characters have different abilities or stats in Mario Party Superstars?

No, characters in Mario Party Superstars are purely cosmetic. They do not have different abilities, stats, or advantages over each other. Every character is on equal footing, ensuring a fair playing field. This design choice harkens back to the older Mario Party titles, where skill and luck determined the victor.

3. Why are there only 10 characters in Mario Party Superstars?

The developers chose to include a smaller roster of characters to align with the game’s focus on recreating the classic Mario Party experience. The selected characters are iconic and recognizable, contributing to the game’s nostalgic feel. Also, Super Mario Party had more characters because it was a new mainline game and had a new style of gameplay.

4. Can you play as Bowser in Mario Party Superstars?

While Bowser is a prominent figure in Mario Party Superstars, he is not a standard playable character. However, Bowser appears as the main character in Bowser Party, but requires one player to exclusively play as Bowser, while the remaining players can play with their own selected playable characters. In Bowser Party, Bowser chases down and attempts to defeat players controlling standard characters using a car-based mechanic.

5. Is Boo playable in Mario Party Superstars?

No, Boo is not a playable character in Mario Party Superstars. Boo plays a role on certain boards, like Horror Land, where they can steal coins or stars for a fee.

6. Will Mario Party Superstars get DLC with more characters or boards?

While there’s always a possibility, there has been no official announcement regarding DLC for Mario Party Superstars. Many fans have expressed a desire for additional boards and characters. The game may have been too old by the time DLC became a necessity for the game.

7. What is the difference between Mario Party Superstars and Super Mario Party regarding characters?

• Super Mario Party featured 20 playable characters and introduced character-specific dice blocks, which added a layer of strategy based on character selection. Mario Party Superstars has 10 playable characters, with no character-specific abilities.

8. How many boards (maps) are there in Mario Party Superstars?

There are 5 boards in Mario Party Superstars: Yoshi’s Tropical Island, Space Land, Peach’s Birthday Cake, Woody Woods, and Horror Land.

9. Is Mario Party Superstars worth getting?

Yes, Mario Party Superstars is generally considered a worthwhile purchase, particularly for fans of the classic Mario Party games. It combines the best mini-games and boards from previous entries with enhanced online and multiplayer functionality. The GamesLearningSociety.org would agree that playing the game with others will lead to enhanced learning.

10. Can you play Mario Party Superstars with 2 players on one Switch?

Yes, Mario Party Superstars supports up to 4 players on a single Nintendo Switch system in offline mode. Each player will need either a Joy-Con or a Pro Controller.

11. How many hours does it take to complete Mario Party Superstars?

The length of a session varies depending on the number of games that you play, with 10 being the shortest and 30 being the longest. On average, Mario Party Superstars is about 8½ hours in length.

12. Do both switches need Mario Party Superstars for local play?

For local play, where each player has their own Switch, each system will need its own copy of Mario Party Superstars. For single-system play, only one copy is required.

13. What happens when you get 100 stars in Mario Party Superstars?

Mario Party Superstars does not have a mechanic where accumulating 100 Stars triggers a special event or unlocks a specific reward within the main gameplay modes.

14. Is Mario Party Superstars just a remake?

Yes, Mario Party Superstars is primarily a remake/remaster that revisits classic boards and mini-games from Mario Party titles on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Wii. It enhances these elements with updated graphics, improved controls, and online multiplayer support.

15. Which Mario Party on Switch is better: Super Mario Party or Mario Party Superstars?

This often comes down to personal preference. Super Mario Party features new boards and relies more heavily on motion controls. However, Mario Party Superstars offers a curated selection of the best boards and mini-games from the classic era.

Final Thoughts

While the character roster in Mario Party Superstars might be smaller than some entries, the focus on iconic characters, balanced gameplay, and a nostalgic experience makes it a standout title in the Mario Party series. The Games Learning Society would argue that playing the game with others will lead to enhanced learning, therefore Mario Party Superstars would be an excellent option for players of all kinds. Choose your favorite character, gather your friends, and get ready for a superstar party!