(...)

It still has a lot of the same obnoxious problems from the last 7 versions.
-You STILL cannot skip a lot of stuff, including the opening cinematic of ALL mini-games.  That gets old rather fast.  You also cannot skip viewing computer player traveling on the board, etc.  Also, the general pacing of the game is still in the range of 6-7, fast, but not quite fast enough.
-Some of the mini-games are the SAME mini-game from previous versions of Mario Party.  This isn't a crime, but there were more than I thought there would be.  They usually re-work them to use motion controls, or have a different theme though.
-Random luck games are still alive and well.  These types of games tend to drive "good" players up the wall.
-Not as much variety in the game as I had hoped for its Wii debut -- very similar to MP6 & 7.
-The motion controls are not as precise as I would have hoped.  If you have played Wii Sports, Wii Play, or Raving Rabbids, you know what I am talking about -- same deal here.

Now that the bad is out of the way, the rest is pretty good.  There are 5 main zones in the game to choose from, which is set in a carnival this time around.
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In the Party Tent: you do exactly what you have done in every other MP.  Pick characters, set options, choose a board, and play.  There are 3 main modes in the main party mode.  You can choose "Battle Royale" which is the traditional Mario Party 1-4 player game.  "Tag Battle" is the traditional teams setup, and a new mode is "Duel Battle" which is JUST for 1-2 players, and this is where the previous version's versus modes, and play types are all banished now.  The Duel Battle mode is a fast paced game, and is MOSTLY just the board game.  The only time you play mini-games is when one of you lands on a versus space.  If you like the board game more than the mini-games, you will LOVE this mode, if not, you will HATE this mode.

In the regular games, there is also a new type of space called a "Lucky" space, it causes you to generally go to a special area of the board to get a nice bonus (usually with a star) or something special to happen.  Also new are coin block spaces, and the fact that the DK spaces share the same space with the Bowser spaces (once a DK space has been landed on it switches to a Bowser space, and vice versa.

Finally "Candy" has replaced "orbs" as power ups.  Same basic idea, but now they are only for power ups, no placing them on the board (that I have seen so far anyway).  Similar to the power ups in MP4.

The Available boards at start are:
"DK's Treetop Temple" - classic MP board, plays like you would expect it to play.

"Goomba's Booty Boardwalk" - this is a weird board.  It is a single pathway to the end.  Coins are used to get to the end fast, because the star is free, lots of strategy on this one.  The Spring and Whirlwind powers are very useful here.

"King Boo's Haunted Hideaway" - This board is a maze that is always changing, you are looking for the hidden star room in it, this board can be frustrating.

"Shy Guy's Perplex Express" - The board is set on a train that randomizes itself.  The path goes through the train, and then back over the top of it.

"Koopa's Tycoon Town" - This board is similar to the Windmill board in MP7, you buy hotels on the board to get their stars.  You can steal a hotel from another player by putting more coins into one.  The combined coins in a hotel can upgrade it to a 2 or 3 star hotel.  Once it is a 3 star hotel an extra 100 coins from the owner can make it impossible to steal (coins are very important on this board!)

Also viewable, but not playable yet is "Bowser's Warped Orbit" which is locked at start
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In the Star Battle Arena: you play through the single player game, similar in theme and design to MP6 & 7.  There is the twist of progressive rankings and a ladder of achievement to climb though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Mini-Game Tent: you can play all of the mini-games you have unlocked, just like in previous versions of the game.  The 5 modes you can play in right at the start are:
"Freeplay Arcade" - which is exactly what it says it is (1-4 players).
"Crown Showdown" - locked at first, you need lots of mini-games unlocked to play.
"Flipout Frenzy" - you compete to win 'tiles' on the game board (every tile you own also claims unclaimed tiles to the 4 directions surrounding it) flip as many tiles as you can by winning games (1-4 players).
"Tic-Tac Drop" - basically a game of tic-tac-toe, with the right to move next given to whomever wins the next game.
"Test For The Best" - locked at first, buy from the 'Fun Bazaar.'
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In the Extras Zone: you can trade in "carnival cards" to unlock stuff, similar to the stars in MP6.  You get cards for winning games, and playing the various modes.  This is also where your Miis can play for you, instead of the MP8 characters.  You can use the Miis on the Wii itself, or Miis stored in a wii-mote.  Available when you first get the game are 4 games:
"Bowling" - basically like Wii Sports bowling, but with less finesse and control. (1-4 players)
"Trial By Tile" - is a matching game similar to Memory (1-2 players).
"Flagging Rights" - REQUIRES THE NUNCHUCK ATTACHMENT!  This is the only game I have seen (so far) that allows or requires it.  It is a matching game, you hold up your hands to mimic the prompts on screen. (1-2 players).
"Canyon Cruisers" - Is a motion controlled vehicle racing game.  You twist the remote left or right to steer, and use buttons to brake or accelerate.  This game requires some seriously cool hands to play, it is difficult (1-2 players).
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In the Fun Bazaar: you unlock stuff, just like in previous versions of MP.  The most interesting stuff to unlock is to the immediate right of the main cart you view, this is where you can unlock new modes, new games, and new difficulty levels.  This is where you trade in your 'Carnival Cards.'
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Over all, it is a fun game.  As with ANY party game with mini-games, it tends to be only as fun as those you are playing with.  We have a good group to play with, and we like it.  Some of the games are addictingly fun, and we really enjoy, some of them are very cheap, and annoy the heck out of you (as has been the case in every MP.)

Have fun.
(... )

It still has a lot of the same obnoxious problems from the last 7 versions. -You STILL cannot skip a lot of stuff, including the opening cinematic of ALL mini-games. That gets old rather fast. You also cannot skip viewing computer player traveling on the board, etc. Also, the general pacing of the game is still in the range of 6-7, fast, but not quite fast enough. -Some of the mini-games are the SAME mini-game from previous versions of Mario Party. This isn't a crime, but there were more than I thought there would be. They usually re-work them to use motion controls, or have a different theme though. -Random luck games are still alive and well. These types of games tend to drive "good" players up the wall. -Not as much variety in the game as I had hoped for its Wii debut -- very similar to MP6 & 7. -The motion controls are not as precise as I would have hoped. If you have played Wii Sports, Wii Play, or Raving Rabbids, you know what I am talking about -- same deal here. Now that the bad is out of the way, the rest is pretty good. There are 5 main zones in the game to choose from, which is set in a carnival this time around. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Party Tent: you do exactly what you have done in every other MP. Pick characters, set options, choose a board, and play. There are 3 main modes in the main party mode. You can choose "Battle Royale" which is the traditional Mario Party 1-4 player game. "Tag Battle" is the traditional teams setup, and a new mode is "Duel Battle" which is JUST for 1-2 players, and this is where the previous version's versus modes, and play types are all banished now. The Duel Battle mode is a fast paced game, and is MOSTLY just the board game. The only time you play mini-games is when one of you lands on a versus space. If you like the board game more than the mini-games, you will LOVE this mode, if not, you will HATE this mode. In the regular games, there is also a new type of space called a "Lucky" space, it causes you to generally go to a special area of the board to get a nice bonus (usually with a star) or something special to happen. Also new are coin block spaces, and the fact that the DK spaces share the same space with the Bowser spaces (once a DK space has been landed on it switches to a Bowser space, and vice versa. Finally "Candy" has replaced "orbs" as power ups. Same basic idea, but now they are only for power ups, no placing them on the board (that I have seen so far anyway). Similar to the power ups in MP4. The Available boards at start are:
"DK's Treetop Temple" - classic MP board, plays like you would expect it to play. "Goomba's Booty Boardwalk" - this is a weird board. It is a single pathway to the end. Coins are used to get to the end fast, because the star is free, lots of strategy on this one. The Spring and Whirlwind powers are very useful here. "King Boo's Haunted Hideaway" - This board is a maze that is always changing, you are looking for the hidden star room in it, this board can be frustrating. "Shy Guy's Perplex Express" - The board is set on a train that randomizes itself. The path goes through the train, and then back over the top of it. "Koopa's Tycoon Town" - This board is similar to the Windmill board in MP7, you buy hotels on the board to get their stars. You can steal a hotel from another player by putting more coins into one. The combined coins in a hotel can upgrade it to a 2 or 3 star hotel. Once it is a 3 star hotel an extra 100 coins from the owner can make it impossible to steal (coins are very important on this board! )

Also viewable, but not playable yet is "Bowser's Warped Orbit" which is locked at start
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Star Battle Arena: you play through the single player game, similar in theme and design to MP6 & 7. There is the twist of progressive rankings and a ladder of achievement to climb though. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Mini-Game Tent: you can play all of the mini-games you have unlocked, just like in previous versions of the game. The 5 modes you can play in right at the start are:
"Freeplay Arcade" - which is exactly what it says it is (1-4 players). "Crown Showdown" - locked at first, you need lots of mini-games unlocked to play. "Flipout Frenzy" - you compete to win 'tiles' on the game board (every tile you own also claims unclaimed tiles to the 4 directions surrounding it) flip as many tiles as you can by winning games (1-4 players). "Tic-Tac Drop" - basically a game of tic-tac-toe, with the right to move next given to whomever wins the next game. "Test For The Best" - locked at first, buy from the 'Fun Bazaar. '
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Extras Zone: you can trade in "carnival cards" to unlock stuff, similar to the stars in MP6. You get cards for winning games, and playing the various modes. This is also where your Miis can play for you, instead of the MP8 characters. You can use the Miis on the Wii itself, or Miis stored in a wii-mote. Available when you first get the game are 4 games:
"Bowling" - basically like Wii Sports bowling, but with less finesse and control. (1-4 players)
"Trial By Tile" - is a matching game similar to Memory (1-2 players). "Flagging Rights" - REQUIRES THE NUNCHUCK ATTACHMENT! This is the only game I have seen (so far) that allows or requires it. It is a matching game, you hold up your hands to mimic the prompts on screen. (1-2 players). "Canyon Cruisers" - Is a motion controlled vehicle racing game. You twist the remote left or right to steer, and use buttons to brake or accelerate. This game requires some seriously cool hands to play, it is difficult (1-2 players). --------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the Fun Bazaar: you unlock stuff, just like in previous versions of MP. The most interesting stuff to unlock is to the immediate right of the main cart you view, this is where you can unlock new modes, new games, and new difficulty levels. This is where you trade in your 'Carnival Cards. '
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over all, it is a fun game. As with ANY party game with mini-games, it tends to be only as fun as those you are playing with. We have a good group to play with, and we like it. Some of the games are addictingly fun, and we really enjoy, some of them are very cheap, and annoy the heck out of you (as has been the case in every MP. )

Have fun.