Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is a mouthful of a game title and is the first major Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game to launch that adds new modes after the day one releases of both Switch Zeldas.
The original game was already pretty fun, but Nintendo is intent on taking some of their previous generation games and creating new features and content specifically for Switch 2. But does the extra context warrant an upgrade or purchase, or not?
We already reviewed Super Mario Party Jamboree for Nintendo Switch, so we won’t be touching on a lot of the original sections of the game here. So if you want our full thoughts on everything included in the base game, please go check out that first before reading this, as it feels like an add-on to the original review.
Already read it? Then cool. Instead, we want to give more attention to what is new in the Nintendo Switch 2 version, and then give a score based on the full package deal. So while the review will focus on what’s new. The final score will reflect everything included.
The upgrades
From the get-go, you have everything you had in Super Mario Party Jamboree available from day one. If you want to play Mario Party or the various other modes, you can do so before you even touch any of the Switch 2 stuff, though the version does come with some nice bonuses that add onto the original base experience for those returning to the title.
The Switch 2 version offers a lot of incentives to get back into the main modes, with a bunch of new rulesets to mix things up. You can now do teamed Mario Party sessions where you have two-vs-two matches, where you use the dice at the same time. It’s a pretty fun mode and a good way to let a newbie learn the ropes with a veteran.
The other available mode is something called Frenzy Rules, where the game is only five turns long. Each player starts with 50 coins, a Star, and an item, and two Stars appear on the board, forcing you to try and initiate duels and win in a quicker version of the game that feels as frantic as it sounds.
Both these modes are something new to the base experience and are a welcome inclusion. Plus, thanks to the Switch 2, you can use your Switch 2 camera when playing with friends to watch their faces either crumble under pressure or have a sweet, smug look of satisfaction.
The new stuff
As for what is new, let’s focus our attention now on the Jamboree TV portion, which is where most of the stuff exclusive to Switch 2 comes into play. There are numerous modes, and it feels like they were designed to be a tech showcase of some of the Switch 2’s unique features.
As already mentioned, the Switch 2 camera is one of the most important peripherals needed to experience this version of the game in full. Most things are made with the camera in mind, and it rekindles a lot of Eyetoy PlayStation vibes when using it.
This becomes apparent in the Jamboree TV mode, Bowser Live, where you use a camera to appear on stage in-game and compete in a series of minigames controlled by sound and movement. Thankfully, if you don’t have the camera, you can still partake in most of the game’s offerings. You can still access this mode, but all the games will be sound-based instead. It’s nice to know that one of the new modes isn’t locked behind having a Switch 2 camera.
My only issue with the Bowser Live voice games is that most of them require you to scream ‘GO’ all the time, and it quickly loses its charm if you don’t have the camera to mix things up. You’ll be using your voice to move something and have it stop, which is cool the first time, but not something I can see myself repeating.
The other new mode of Jamboree TV is the Carnival Coaster, which takes advantage of the Switch 2 Joy-Con’s new mouse controls. It’s a pretty interesting mode as you take part in mouse-controlled mini-games across five different coaster-themed rides, all with their own level of difficulty. But like Bowser Live, it’s cool for the first few minutes, but you’ll find yourself mainly going back to the main Mario Party modes after giving it a try.
The new modes feel like a gimmick, but perhaps I only feel that way due to playing them solo. I imagine with friends, especially locally, that is where these modes really shine. So I can’t be too harsh on them.
Closing remarks
All in all, Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is a pretty gratifying experience. You have everything from arguably the best Mario Party game ever, with additional new modes that add onto an already packed experience.
If you don’t own the base game and want to pick up the definitive version, then it’s worth doing so here. While I would have preferred to see these extras be a free upgrade to the original game instead of having to pay to get Jamboree TV and everything else, it doesn’t devalue whichever version you want to pick up—either the Switch 1 or Switch 2 version.
In short, if you own a Nintendo Switch 2 and don’t own the original Super Mario Party Jamboree, definitely pick up this version. Especially if you are already kitted out with a Switch 2 camera and have friends to play with. But if you are a solo player who mainly plays online, or aren’t that interested in the Jamboree TV or camera functionality, pick up the Switch 1 version and have a blast.
Both are gems and the best Mario Party. So, pick which version you wish. After all, if you get the Switch 1 version, you can still always upgrade in the future for a small fee. So you have nothing to lose.
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