It seems like almost every major studio wants its ownSuper Smash Bros.game to showcase its IPs. In the last couple of years, both Nickelodeon and Warner Bros. have entered the ring with new crossover platform fighters. Beyond that there have been even more platform fighters filled with major IPs likeBrawlhalla,Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale, andBrawlout. Each game has brought together characters from across titles to answer who would win in a fight. While these games have been fun, the industry could use moreMario Partyclones instead.
Mario Partyis not a crossover game, but it provides its own unique form of competitive play. There was a time when manyMario Party-like games were on the market, but the industry has put more of a focus on online over local multiplayer. This has leftMario Partyas the last major party game on the market, and that should change.
RELATED:MultiVersus Could Do a Lot More With Adventure Time
Smash Bros. Clones
All eyes are on the upcomingMultiVersusto see if Warner Bros. can deliver a game on the same level asSmash. The game will bring together different IPs from across the Warner Bros. catalog. Characters from DC Comics, the Looney Tunes, Cartoon Network, and evenGame of Throneswill make an appearance. They will also be joined by real-life people like LeBron James and the animated hijinks ofRick and Morty. The game will be a crossover of epic proportions, and platform-fighter fans are hoping it has the gameplay to back it up.
MultiVersuscomes fresh off the heels of another big platform fighter.Nickelodeon All-Stars Brawlbrought together Nickelodeon’scatalog of animated shows in for an all-out brawl. Characters like SpongeBob, Aang, Danny Phantom, and Garfield are able to duke it out across maps inspired by various shows. While the gameplay and features left much to be desired, the game offered huge crossover potential.
These are just two of the crossover platform-fighting games that have come out in the last couple of years, and there are bound to be even more. There have also been smaller platform fighters bringing togethervarious IPs likeFraymakersandBrawlhalla. Platform fighting fans have a boatload of titles to choose from, butMario Partyfans have been left with almost nothing.
A Resurgence of Mario Party Clones Would be Great for Local Multiplayer
There was a time when studios wanted to capture thatMario Partyfeel using various IPs. Games likeSpongeBob Squarepants: Lights, Camera, Pants!, Shrek Super Party, Rayman Raving Rabbids,andMySims Partyall wanted to capture that essence, bringing players together to battle it out in various mini-games. While many of these titles fell flat, some of them felt like worthy competitors to the popularMario Partyfranchise.
Now, it seems that the industry is no longer interested in chasing the success ofMario Party. While there is still a party game every once in a while, there is no mad dash to create the nextMario Partylike there is forSuper Smash Bros. Many studios want to create the next esport, andMario Partydoes not fit that framework. However, they offer an experience like no other as they bring groups of people together to compete for the gold, and they create just a few arguments along the way.
Mario Partyprovides its players with hours of wild gameplay that can ruin, or strengthen, friendships. It is a board game come to life, accompanied by an assortment of wild mini-games with endless replayability. These games are thecore of what made local multiplayerso much fun, and there needs to be a resurgence. There’s potential in the formula for studios to create some wild games, the industry just needs to take advantage of it
