Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
By Mark Raby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Compilation of family mini-games is mostly a bust.
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Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade
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What’s It About?
Family Party: 30 Great Games Obstacle Arcade contains, as is evident by the title, a total of 30 mini-games. Players can compete in these mini-games in a freestyle mode or they can take part in a structured competition that tallies up everyone's score from a series of back-to-back mini-games. Most of these exercises involve solving puzzles or completing simple tasks as quickly as possible. Others are more cutthroat player-versus-player games. Almost all of them require the Wii Remote controllers instead of the Wii U GamePad. During competitions, players are able to customize their own avatar. New customization options are unlocked as players play more mini-games.
Is It Any Good?
FAMILY PARTY: 30 GREAT GAMES OBSTACLE ARCADE boasts a substantial number of mini-games. It is unfortunate, however, that almost all of them are just not fun. There are a handful that provide a modicum of enjoyment, like a kayak racing mini-game and cardboard cutout target shooting. The majority of the experience, though, is made up of tedious load times, mini-games that have an unnecessarily slow pace, and frustration over poorly executed or incomprehensible controls. This is all compounded by the fact that the game makes very little use of the innovative GamePad controller. In fact, for the vast majority of the game, the GamePad is literally useless and cannot be used to control the game. It is not a train wreck, but it should not be a recommended title.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how video games can be used to help with social interaction. Is this game more fun alone or with friends?
Which mini-games are your favorites? Which are your least favorites? Why?
Do any of the mini-games require skills that you have learned in school?
Game Details
- Platform: Nintendo Wii U
- Subjects: Language & Reading: following directions
- Skills: Self-Direction: effort, time management, working efficiently, Collaboration: meeting challenges together
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: D3Publisher of America
- Release date: December 4, 2012
- Genre: Mini-games
- ESRB rating: E for Mild Cartoon Violence
- Last updated: August 26, 2016
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