Bashing the Mario Party series seems to be the favourite thing to do for the gaming community these days. Degrading every appearing Mario Party title is an easy thing to do. Just look at those childish graphics and baby-like music. But really, there are differences between every Mario Party title. Just take a good look and you'll see that every title has their ups and downs. Unfortunately I have to admit, Mario Party 7 really adds nothing to the series.

Hmm, what does Mario Party offer us this time? As ever; six new boards, new mini-games (the record amount of 88 this time), and a new eight-player mode. The structure of the game remains the same as in previous parts. Collect stars on the boards and earn coins in the mini-games that appear each round.

Let's take a closer look at the boards first. They continue the road turned in Mario Party 6 with each board having their own rules. This really is a healthy way to keep them fresh and not too repetitive. The Windmillville board is outstanding. Each windmill represents a couple of stars; the player who drops most coins in the windmill gets awarded with these stars. If someone else leaves more cash, the stars are his. Not only do these rules make this board one of Mario Party's bests, but the Holland theme warming my Dutch heart probably also has something to do with my love for it.

I'm shaking my head thinking about the mini-games, now. Man, are innovative ideas so hard to find? Look, we've seen the gather-item, the attack-fellow-players, evade-hostile-thingies and push-the-right-button mini-games by now. I'm dead serious when I have to say this Mario Party game has almost no smart mini-games. You've to look really hard to see fresh ideas in them. It's basically the same idea in a different setting.

On to that microphone. It's included in this title also, isn't it? Yep, but the couple of mic games that are in the game don't surpass 'regular' type. All of these could've been done with the controller, and surprise surprise, with the right settings you can. Playing with your voice still is an enjoyable experience, but with so few mini-games for it and the regular type of games, it quickly loses its attraction.

Talking about the comparison with Mario Party 6, that title had one special mode dedicated to the mic. The quiz 'Speak up' was one of the highlights. Too bad developer Hudson didn't bring an upgraded version to party seven, but even decided to drop this mode. A shame, really, and it makes this Mario Party again less fun that it's predecessor.

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And then we have the eight-player mode for the occasion that seven friends visit your house to play Mario Party (yeah, as if that's going to happen over and over again).Two players share one controller in this mode. Each one of them controls their own half. If you don't mind some close uncomfortable warmth from your gaming partner then this mode can work out just fine. The available mini-games provide some fun with players really needing to work together. You don't even need more than four people to play this mode. You can join a controller just with two. You know, on those temperamental moments you just feel like wanting to be close to him or her. Mario Party dating is so romantic.

When you've no friends around (let alone seven) there's still the single-player mode where you compete with the computer on different boards. Playing with only one player is certainly not ideal, nor suited to Mario Party and it is not advisable if you can help it. The computer isn't smart; it makes stupid mistakes or suddenly excels in a mini-game. The other huge problem is this game is still slow as hell. No, we don't want to read text again and again. No, we don't want to see how our competitor does in a single-player mini-game (Adjusting this setting is advisable). And no, showing the same sequences again isn't something we enjoy. No, no, no.

With no real competition except for some Disney party games, the developers of Mario Party can get away with doing the same thing every year. Every box with Mario Party on it sells, so what's the problem? Of course, Mario Party still makes a good laugh, of course with the right people you're going to have a good time and yes, this game still is one of the most accessible around, but innovations and fresh ideas are needed to keep it enjoyable.

So, is it a surprise that a Mario Party game gets awarded with a 6? Not really, Mario Party games have been stuck at the same point forever. What really is a shame is that in four Mario Party parts Nintendo released on the GameCube, no real progress has been made. Comparing this part to number four, the graphic level is just as good, the sounds are just as cheerful as ever, the game speed still lacks and new things are hard to find. Sure, the microphone is a good addition, the speed of the game increased a slightly, the boards are more inspired now, but the big problems of part 4 still exist. The mini-games repeat too often and, the single player mode is boring and gaming speed is still, yes still, too slow.

Mention one series that needs innovation, and you could argue very strongly it is Mario Party. But there is hope on the horizon; the next-gen console awaits. Let's hope Mario Party 7 is the last we'll see with this standard approach we've been treated with over the last few years and anticipate great things from a well needed Revolution addition.