The Wii is a solid console in and of itself, but it seems that a number of games on the market really do not take the Wii to its logical extensions. For my money, Game Party 2 is the first game that I have reviewed that does just that, and it provides players with a number of different games to keep them busy, whether 2 or 4 (or even 16) individuals are playing. The 11 games that are contained on Game Party (a list that includes a Quarterback Challenge, Beanbags, Trivia, and Hoop Shoot) are differentiated enough both in terms of graphics and game play that it does not feel merely as if Midway went and re-skinned the same type of game 11 different times. Perhaps the strongest part of the game would have to be the realistic physics that operate in each game.
When players are in a game of Shuffle Board, for example, the interplay of the different pucks operates in a way that is indistinguishable from reality. Gravity operates accurately when players enter into a game of Darts, rather than merely translation motion of the Wii controller into perfect-form dart throws. More than just playing the different games, the additional unlockables that are present in each of the games will ensure that players have to put in a solid effort before the game can fully be enjoyed.
However solid the first game in the Game Party line was, it feels that the selection of games, and in many cases, the controls themselves, have been refined and further finessed. So, get some friends together, spend a few minutes making a character that looks like yourself (or is as far from it as you can), and have a good night playing some memorable games. If Midway and FarSight can continue with the Game Party line incorporating the same level of advancements that marked the shift from Game Party 1 to Game Party 2, the resulting release will be the next “must have†game for the Wii. Game Party 2 is the perfect purchase for anyone that is increasingly being force to find things to do in their house/hall/frat house as the temperature begins to fall. It will keep players busy until that time when the first sprout breaks through the frozen ground.
Rating: 8.4/10
Game Party 2 (Wii) / 2008 Midway / http://www.midwaygameparty.com /