Mario Party 5 brings the zany minigame mayhem to the GameCube with new boards, characters, and a unique capsule system. While the expanded single-player Story Mode and creative minigames showcase effort for innovation, the core gameplay can still suffer from luck-based elements and frustrating item mechanics. Fans of the series will find some enjoyable chaos here, but those seeking a more balanced multiplayer experience might be left wishing for the simpler charms of earlier titles.