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Each of you takes turns to roll a virtual dice and move so many spaces, with the chance that you might land on a square that sends you backwards or forwards, or kicks off some other special event. The main game sees up to four players - human or virtual - tackling a range of boards, with the normal aim being to make it from start to finish before your rivals. It’s a fun game in specific circumstances, but a lot of the time you’re left wondering why it has been made this specific way, and for whom.
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At their worst, however, they’re a crushing bore, and Mario Party: Island Tour falls nearer the wrong end of the spectrum. The combination of Mario-style virtual board games and quickfire mini-games strikes a chord with Mario’s younger fans and their families, and at their best the games have been a decent laugh. With nine home console outings and two previous handheld efforts, it’s safe to say that someone out there likes a Mario Party.
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