Its-a VS Mode! Wah-Hoo!

Super Mario Logo - Wikipedia

***NOTE: I have not had the chance to play Super Mario Party nor read up on it. 

It was not considered in writing this article***

In this VS Mode, I'm taking on the best ways to kick butt in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Mario World vs Mario Kart vs Mario Party

   The same 3 criteria as before apply. Each will be considered on learning curve, enjoyment/time, and replay value. If you're ready, 'Lets-a go!!'

Super Mario World - Den of Geek

Learning Curve

   The Mario World series are classic platformers for the Nintendo consol. As classic as it gets, actually. One of the oldest and first. In fact, if you haven't played at least one entry in the series, you might actually be living under a rock!

   You are given a tutorial through the first level or so and whenever a new game mechanic is introduced. And it's all pretty simple and easy to learn. A jumps. The pressure on the D-Pad determines between walk and run. And your off.

   Mario Kart is pretty much the epitome of racers. Always loved for the opportunity to throw stuff at your opponents to stop them from winning... Or, where my siblings and I are concerned, just because you can! Seriously. Other racers WISH they were Mario Kart.

   Like the Mario World series, it's pretty much jump in and play. A is gas and B throws items. In newer games, you can drift and reverse as well. Because of the pick up and play nature, there is no tutorial. But you can select the help menu on the main screen for a controller diagram if needed.

   Mario Party is essentially Candy Land with mini games which is 1000x better, if we're being honest. You have to beat your opponents with the throw of the dice while being careful not to hit Bowser Spaces. Party 10 allowed players to let their inner baddie out and play as Bowser.

   Like the others, Party is pick up and play. Instead of a tutorial, onscreen button prompts are used to show you how to do things. And these are visible throughout game play. Mini game prompts appear before playing with a repeating video showing the objective of the game. You can do a practice round of any mini game to make sure you understand how to play.

  Verdict: 3 way tie. It's nearly impossible to  pick up ANY Mario title and not know what your doing. Except maybe tennis. That one still get me for some reason.

Mario Kart - Varity

Enjoyment/Time

.   The Mario World series is, for the most part, a lengthy game. It could take anywhere from days to months to complete depending on your skill level. There are also those who do competitive speed runs of the games. Finishing the story is the reward. Find all the hidden items or coins, and you can get a bonus world to complete. However, thats where it gets trick. Newer games now require a number of Star coins for level progression. And the game gets harder as you go. A tricky, hard to solve puzzle could cause you to run out of time and restart the level. A hard to beat middle or end boss could frustrate you to the point of not picking up the game again. But that's to be expected with a well developed franchise.

   Mario Kart offers multiple modes for fun in groups or alone. Gran Prix, Time Trial, Battle, and Vs Race. And there are custom settings for a unique round every time. Custom karts can give you the ultimate edge. And with access to the internet, you can take your road rage online and best the best karters from around the world. The downside? If your skill is not fully developed or you pick the wrong kart set up, you'll be the one eating dust. Not to mention that even the most dedicated racers can get tired of running in circles.

   Mario Party is board game style family fun. And, depending on your family, it can get as crazy as a Monoply game. Well... Maybe not. But it's still as fun. The mini games break up the possible monotony of dice rolling. And Bowser Spaces add an extra bit of 'terror.' Early games were very 'player vs player.' The newer you get the more you find a 'group win' mentality. That is until the special stars get awarded at the end. Which can make the last place player win depending on which stars they can trigger during the game. Which is all chance, to be honest. In fact, a lot of the game seems to be chance, with mini games being the only thing to require any skill. All of that aside, game play usually lasts around 30 minutes at most. Changing up the mini games you play adds some freshness to a round. But only to an extent. You could just play the mini games themselves. But this is usually a tournament style set up that plays shorter then the main game itself. And solo play doesn't feel as rewarding as group play.

   Verdict: Mario Kart takes the win here. Multiple race styles and well developed solo and group play means you won't get tired of it too soon. And who doesn't get a kick out of being responsible for a loosed blue shell or 2? 

Mario Party - Tech Crunch

Replay Value

   The Mario World series is pretty straight forward. There are not really many Easter eggs to find, usually just the star coins and hidden exits or world portals. There really isn't much in the way of replay value unless you manage to get to the bonus world at the end, if the game you're playing happens to have one. And getting to it is a bit difficult. You have to collect every star coin in each level, usually 3. And beating it is even harder. If you die in the last level, you have to start over from the first one. If you're not bothered about a 100%, then you needn't worry about playing further then then final boss.

   Mario Kart has plenty of replay, with some to spare. You can race against yourself, literally. A ghost option on the Time Trial lets you work to be your fastest. And if playing by yourself gets boring, your friends can always drop in. No local friends? No problem! On the Switch and DS versions, an internet connection will hook you up with various players from around the world, so your never wanting for competition. Add in the fact that you can collect coins to unlock various kart parts and you'll be coming back for a while to come.

   Mario Party has lots to offer as well. Each time you play a board, the mini games randomize. This makes for a fresh play every time. However, the short overall play time can become stale after a while. This causes the game to feel repetitive after a few play throughs. Party 10 does offer a Bowser mode, but even the novelty of that wears off. And while you can set computer opponents for solo play, a Party is always better with friends. 

   Verdict: Mario Kart takes this category as well. With various play options and the ability to go online, Kart gives plenty of reason to keep coming back for more.

   Overall Verdict: Mario Kart is the clear winner. Taking two criteria and a tie in the third is what makes the series a major favorite over and over again. WARNING: Mario Kart can bring out the competitive side in ANYONE!!