Last Friday, all of our writers joined together to share our favorite video games of all-time. I have to admit, the blog brought back a ton of great memories and made me want to plug back in my N64.

In the post, I mentioned that my favorite video game ever was Mario Party 2. The second installment of the Mario Party franchise got everything right. The game wasn’t too confusing and the mini-games were simple enough for everyone to play.

It got me thinking. There were 65 different mini-games, but what were the best ones? Well, I spent the whole weekend building my list and I have the ten best mini-games from Mario Party 2.

10. Handcar Havoc (2 vs. 2)

As you’ll see from my list, I love games where you have to press one button repeatedly. This is because I assume I have more thumb strength and stamina than anyone else who I’m playing with. Handcar Havoc is one of these games, you just have to hope you get a strong partner. A little secret to this mini-game is you can’t fall off the rail, no matter how out of sync you and your partner are, so press A as hard as you can. There’s nothing better than 30-seconds of Handcar Havoc, which usually turns into absolute chaos.

9. Hot Jump Rope (4-player)

I enjoy the simple mini-games. The ones where you only have to worry about pressing one button. Hot Jump Rope may be the “easiest” of the 65 games, but that’s why winning it is the sweetest victory. Everyone is familiar with jump rope, so there’s no excuses from first-time players. But timing is key for winning this mini-game, and watch out for the blue flames that could lead to your downfall.

*I always hated to be Peach while playing this mini-game because I was convinced her dress made it easier for her to lose.

8. Day At The Races (4-player, Battle)

Battle Games were like the lottery of Mario Party 2. They were high stake mini-games, where large amounts of coins could change hands. I liked Day at the Races because the player in last place gets first pick, which evens the playing field. Here are the scouting reports for each character.

Big Rock Guy – Walks fast but falls over and takes a long time to get up.

– Walks fast but falls over and takes a long time to get up. Square Rock Guy – Rises above the floor and jumps forward but then drops down and takes a long time to get up.

– Rises above the floor and jumps forward but then drops down and takes a long time to get up. Ghost – Disappears and then reappears a lot further than before, but gets his face stuck in the ground sometimes.

– Disappears and then reappears a lot further than before, but gets his face stuck in the ground sometimes. Bomb– Starts a spark running from its fuse and moves very fast but occasionally falls over.

I always went with the Ghost if I had the chance, but also thought the Big Rock Guy was underrated.

7. Speed Hockey (2 vs. 2)

Another two vs. two mini-game that has a simple premise. Everyone is familiar with the idea of Pong, so this just the Mario version of that classic game. As the game goes one the shell moves faster making it almost impossible to control, and creating a ton of own goals. The first team to three goals wins. I always wanted to be in the goalie position, because if you had a bad partner you could at least correct their mistakes.

6. Sky Pilots (2 vs. 2)

Another two vs. two game, where one of the teammates has a lot more responsibility than the other. Steering the plane is easy. All you have to avoid is the Bowser bombs that will halt the planes momentum. The team member who has to lift the plane’s wings up and down is most important position. The key is to do big wing flaps up and down, and not the short flaps which will slow down the plane. Either way, stay low in this mini-game and you’ll avoid most of the Bowser bombs.

5. Filet Relay (1 vs. 3)

This the only three vs. one mini-game on my list. That’s because I think a lot of the three on one mini-games are unfair for the single person. Again the premise is simple, press A repeatedly to go fast, but you can slide and fall over from going too fast. The team of three works as a relay team, while the single player goes it alone. You have to avoid snowballs and other obstacles in order to reach the finish line, which adds a little bit of difficulty. Lastly, I’ve never been in a Filet Relay that didn’t come down to the wire.

4. Platform Peril (4-player)

I enjoy mini-games like Platform Peril, because their MO is to win at all costs. Platform Peril was one of the mini-games that put fear into me. The goal is to run and jump onto platforms with different obstacles, but most of the time not all four competitors finish. The key to Platform Peril is to ignore the coins and try to stay int he middle of the track, but be weary of the pyramids (pictured above). Also, be careful jumping on your opponents because you can lose control and fall of the platforms.

3. Abandon Ship (4-player)

Abandon Ship is probably my favorite mini-game to play, but dropped to three for unforeseen reasons. This chaotic, frenzy of a mini-game will spotlight any weakness in a player’s game. If you can’t press the A button fast enough you fall into the water. If you can’t press A while navigating using the joystick, you’ll also fall into the water. There’s no place for novices to hide in Abandon Ship, and no doubt you”l be out of breath by the end of the disorderly disaster.

2. Skateboard Scamper (4-player)

I’ve had nightmares of losing in Skateboard Scamper. If you have heart problems this isn’t the mini-game for you. My heart rate rises so quickly whenever the bell sounds to sound the scamper. Instead of the normal A button, Skateboard Scamper makes competitors press B repeatedly, while also using the A button to jump and avoid rising stars. This mini-game is nerve-racking to say the least, and don’t go slow or the Big Ghost will get ya.

1. Face Lift (4-player, Battle)

Most people who are familiar with Mario Party 2 will probably say, “Face Lift is your favorite mini-game? WTF.” And I totally understand where they’re coming from, but let me explain. This might be the only mini-game in Mario Party 2 where all bets are off. You could be playing with someone who’s never played N64 before and someone who is addicted, and they’ll have the same chance to win. The CPU will contort one of the character’s faces and you have to replicate the same changes on your canvas. I don’t know if this makes me soft, but this mini-game gives off artistic vibes, for a game that can be so cut and dry sometimes. It truly is a metaphor for the game itself, you hold your own destiny in your hands, and can take any path you see fit.