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Roll up, roll up! The carnival is in town and its time to party! Join Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, DK and more of your favourite Nintendo characters as they compete across five brand new game boards and more than 60 new minigames to win the coveted prize: a years supply of candy!

Yesterday morning IGN editor Audrey Drake and I met up with two Nintendo representatives for a demo of Mario Party 9. Its been nearly five years since Mario Party 8, and from what I played it seems the latest iteration of the franchise sticks to its trademark mix of skill and luck - neither of which I displayed during the ensuing game. Here is a play-by-play account of my first go with Mario Party 9.

The party is back and bigger than ever in the Mario Party 9 game for Wii, featuring all-new ways to play! For the first time in the franchise, boss battles crash the party and challenge players to compete to defeat a common enemy.

The party is back and bigger than ever in the Mario Party™ 9 game for Wii, featuring all-new ways to play! For the first time in the franchise, boss battles crash the party and challenge players to compete to defeat a common enemy. In addition, players now travel across stages together in a vehicle towards a common goal - overcoming obstacles, battling bosses, and collecting Mini Stars stolen by Bowser™ and his minions.

The longest running Major League Baseball franchise returns to the virtual diamond with MLB 2K12 from 2K Sports. Featuring advanced Wii Remote pitching and hitting controls, an all-new soundtrack, and immersive game modes -- including the Home Run Derby -- MLB 2K12 is the only game youll need to get your Wii sports party started this season.

Mario Party 9 is the best Mario Party since the series reached its heights in the early GameCube days (for the record, Mario Party 5 and Mario Party 6 are my favorites). But throughout its many generations, Mario Party has carried a fatal flaw, buried deep in its DNA: In spite of your proficiency at mini-games, or penchant for board game strategy, Mario Party is dictated by the dice roll. Randomness, which Mario Party 9 flaunts with a particularly annoying brand of euphoric abandon, ultimately ruins what could be a very good game.

The party is back and bigger than ever in the Mario Party 9 game for Wii, featuring all-new ways to play! players now travel across stages together in a vehicle towards a common goal - overcoming obstacles, battling bosses, and collecting Mini Stars stolen by Bowser and his minions. Featuring 80 new minigames, adventurous new stages, and all-new ways to play that blend cooperative and competitive action for up to four players, Mario Party 9 is the perfect way to get the party started.

Theparty is back and bigger than ever in the Mario Party 9 game for Wii,featuring all-new ways to play! players now travel across stagestogether in a vehicle towards a common goal - overcoming obstacles,battling bosses, and collecting Mini Stars stolen by Bowser and hisminions. Featuring 80 new minigames, adventurous new stages, and all-newways to play that blend cooperative and competitive action for up tofour players, Mario Party 9 is the perfect way to get the party started.

The party is back and bigger than ever in the Mario Party 9 game for Wii, featuring all-new ways to play!

Mario Party 9 is the best Mario Party since the series reached its heights in the early GameCube days (for the record, Mario Party 5 and Mario Party 6 are my favorites).

Dance the night away! Sing along with the best Big Time Rush Songs! Light up the Dance Floor with James, Logan, Kendall, and Carlos!
Big Time Rush: Dance Party allows players to dance to the beat of their favorite songs by Big Time Rush. Players will follow the boys from the recording studio to Big Time Concerts. The game has all their top hits, including the new song "Windows Down"! The more accuratley the players follow the moves of the boys on screen, the higher the score!

Dance the night away! Sing along with the best Big Time Rush Songs! Light up the Dance Floor with James, Logan, Kendall, and Carlos!
Big Time Rush: Dance Party allows players to dance to the beat of their favorite songs by Big Time Rush. Players will follow the boys from the recording studio to Big Time Concerts. The game has all their top hits, including the new song "Windows Down"! The more accuratley the players follow the moves of the boys on screen, the higher the score!

The Croods: Prehistoric Party combines the ultimate fun of a family party game with Croods-style action as you journey through 30 unique and addictive multi-player mini-games. Game boards bring the Croods world to life, complete with hazards, never-before-seen creatures from the film, hilarious surprises and rough and tumble competition that only the Croods family can bring.

Mario Super Sluggers blends richly interactive baseball action with eccentric characters and elements from across the popular Mario universe. Players can swing the wireless Wii Remote just like a real bat or wave it toward the plate to deliver a masterful pitch, enjoying the same intuitive, easy-to-learn controls that helped make Wii Sports a living room hit. With Mario and his unpredictable pals filling out the roster, imagination and active-play innovation are sure to dominate the diamond in this lively title.

The Croods: Prehistoric Party combines the ultimate fun of a family party game with Croods-style action as you journey through 30 unique and addictive multi-player mini-games. Game boards bring the Croods world to life, complete with hazards, never-before-seen creatures from the film, hilarious surprises and rough and tumble competition that only the Croods family can bring.