Let’s start from the end. Super Mario Party Jamboree is one of the best Mario Party games released so far, and my full thoughts about it can be found in the complete review of the game.
Based on the enjoyment and love I had for the original title, my level of excitement and hype for the game’s dedicated content expansion for the Switch 2, Jamboree TV, was quite high.
After all, this is more content and more fun starring Mario and his friends, now also featuring elements designed specifically for Nintendo’s new console.
So why do I ultimately regret the time I invested in testing this expansion, even when it costs only 20 dollars? The answers are below.
A Full Celebration
Jamboree TV brings several nice additions to the original game, with the biggest one being the ability to use the new Switch 2 webcam across many of the new content offerings included in the expansion. Beyond that, there are several new content additions, led by a respectable batch of new minigames that make use of the mouse control mode of the new Joy Con 2 controllers, the external webcam, and the console’s built in microphone.
The new minigames are very charming, but there are not many of them.
There are 14 mouse based minigames and three microphone based minigames, and in my opinion they do not necessarily make Jamboree TV feel worthwhile when it comes to value for money.
As for the camera, players can broadcast their face next to the character they choose during gameplay.
While this is a cute addition that adds a new layer of interaction between players, in practice it feels like nothing more than a gimmick.
It can be a nice bonus, but not much beyond that.
Game Modes and New Rules
The content of Jamboree TV is divided into four different game modes.
The first is Free Play, which allows players to play any minigame they want, including those available in the original version of the game, creating a focused minigame only experience.
The second mode is Mario Party, which is the classic board game mode of the franchise, where the main goal is to collect as many stars as possible.
Jamboree TV adds two major features here.
The first is a new rule set called Frenzy Mode, which starts the game as if it is already in its final five turns, affecting various gameplay elements.
The second is a new rule set called Tag Team, a new mode that allows players to compete in teams of up to two players.
In this mode, both players collect stars together, which can lead to new strategic possibilities and positioning on the board.
The game also introduces a new item called Together Dice, which allows teams to perform special actions cooperatively.
This is overall a very solid game mode, but my biggest issue with it is the complete removal of the Pro Rules rule set that was introduced in the original version of Jamboree and was one of its strongest points.
There is no way to use Pro Rules in Jamboree TV, which is a real shame.
Bowser Live and Carnival Coaster
Another new mode included is Bowser Live, which makes dedicated use of the webcam and the built in microphone.
This mode features camera and microphone based minigames, such as balancing Goombas on your head, clapping in rhythm, or shouting “Go” at a car to make it move.
Similar to the other modes described so far, these are very fun additions for players who truly love Mario Party, but it is difficult to say they justify the price.
The final game mode in Jamboree TV is Carnival Coaster.
Like Bowser Live, it offers a more focused experience built around the new mouse based minigames. This time, players must complete them together with their team in order to add time to the clock and survive for longer.
A Party With a Bitter Taste
For those who are not familiar with Nintendo’s new marketing approach regarding “Nintendo Switch 2 versions” of existing games, Jamboree TV costs 20 dollars because it adds new content that was not available in the original version.
This is different from Switch 2 versions of games that received only technical upgrades without new content, which are priced lower.
Originally, Super Mario Party Jamboree ran at 1080p resolution in docked mode and 720p in handheld mode, which was expected for a game released on the original Switch.
In Jamboree TV, the game runs at 1440p in docked mode and 1080p in handheld mode, a great upgrade that takes advantage of the Switch 2’s new capabilities.
So where is the problem? The issue is that Nintendo made the strange decision to apply the performance upgrade only to the expansion specific content.
This means that the classic Jamboree content still runs at the original Switch resolutions even when played on Switch 2.
The result is a very noticeable drop in image resolution when switching between original content and the new Switch 2 exclusive content, especially in handheld mode where the resolution drops from 1080p to 720p.
It is hard to understand why this decision was made, but it ends up being such a negative point that it significantly hurts the overall experience, even though there is new content to enjoy.
Final Verdict
I am writing this conclusion with a very bitter taste and genuine frustration.
Super Mario Party Jamboree TV is one of the most disappointing content expansions I have encountered.
It adds a decent amount of content that does improve the overall experience, but not to a level that justifies its price, especially when factoring in Nintendo’s strange performance decisions for a version that is supposed to be dedicated to its new console.
If you have never played Jamboree before, my recommendation is to try the original game without the expansion first.
There is a good chance that the base content will be more than enough, and that you will not feel the absence of the new modes and minigames provided by Jamboree TV.