Mario Party 2

About Mario Party 2 (N64)

Mario Party 2 is a party game developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It launched in Japan on December 17, 1999, in North America on January 24, 2000 and in Europe later in 2000, as the sequel to the original Mario Party. It kept the first game’s board-game heart and fixed its rough edges, adding items, new minigame types and costumes that change with each board.

Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Wario and Donkey Kong compete to become the Superstar of Mario Land, rolling dice, collecting coins and buying Stars from Toad. Each board has its own theme, from a pirate island to a haunted mansion, and the cast dresses to match, as cowboys, pirates, astronauts and more. Bonus Stars at the end can overturn any lead, so the winner is rarely decided until the final turn.

Detailed Gameplay

Mario Party 2 is played in turns on a board, with a minigame after every round to hand out coins for the next Star.

Boards and Stars

• Six boards are available, including Pirate Land, Western Land, Space Land, Mystery Land and Horror Land, plus the unlockable Bowser Land.
• Landing on Toad’s space lets you buy a Star for 20 coins, and Stars, not coins, decide the winner.
• Blue spaces award coins, red spaces take them away, and special spaces trigger board events.

Sixty-five minigames

• The game holds 65 minigames across 4-player, 2-versus-2, 1-versus-3, Battle, Item and Duel types.
• After each round of turns, all players compete in a minigame, usually for 10 coins to the winner.
• Minigames range from button-mashing races and memory tests to platforming and coin-grabbing duels.

Items and strategy

• Item shops sell Mushrooms for extra dice rolls, Skeleton Keys for locked gates and other helpful gear.
• Unlike the first game, you can carry and use items, adding real planning to every route.
• Boo can steal coins or a Star from a rival for a fee, making late-game comebacks possible.

Game Highlights

• Costumes for every board: The same six heroes dress as pirates, cowboys, wizards and astronauts, a series first.
• Sixty-five minigames: Battle, Item and Duel games join the classic formats for far more variety.
• Items change the game: Shops, keys and Boo thefts turn dice luck into genuine board strategy.
• The fan-favorite sequel: Many players still call this the best classic Mario Party of all.

Controls

On the Nintendo 64 controller, Mario Party 2 is mostly about the stick, the A button and fast reactions. - Analog Stick: Move in minigames, steer vehicles and aim in action games. - A Button: Confirm choices, jump, grab items and perform the main action in most minigames. - B Button: Cancel choices and trigger secondary actions in some minigames. - C Buttons: Change camera angles in 3D minigames and select options in some games. - Z Button: Crouch, brake and perform special actions in racing and action minigames. - L and R Buttons: Shift camera views and trigger team actions in 2-versus-2 games. - D-Pad: Navigate menus and select options in most screens. - Start Button: Pause a minigame and view the rules, board map and current standings.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Mario Party 2 rewards minigame skill, coin discipline and board awareness in equal measure. - Win minigames consistently, because coins are the only way to buy Stars from Toad. - Save 20 coins for a Star instead of spending them on items you do not need right now. - Buy a Skeleton Key before routes that hide shortcuts or Star spaces behind locked gates. - Use Boo against the leader late in the game, when one stolen Star matters more than a few coins.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many players can play Mario Party 2? A: Up to four players can play together, with computer-controlled characters filling any empty slots, so you can also enjoy a full game solo against three CPU rivals.

Q: How do you win in Mario Party 2? A: The player with the most Stars at the end wins. Stars are bought from Toad for 20 coins each, and bonus Stars for coins, minigames and hazards are awarded after the final turn.

Q: Can I play Mario Party 2 online for free? A: Yes, you can play Mario Party 2 online for free in your browser here, with no download or installation needed.