Recently, I had an extensive hands-on experience with Super Mario Party Jamboree. I immersed myself in a traditional Mario Party round, explored various minigames, excelled in the mass-multiplayer Koopathalon, and faced off against a kaiju in Bowser’s Kaboom Squad. I thought I had seen everything, but Nintendo surprised me by unveiling additional modes for Jamboree, including motion-controlled minigames like Paratrooper Flight School, Toad’s Item Factory, and Rhythm Kitchen.
As someone who still enjoys the nostalgia of Wii waggle controls, this latest revelation further intrigued me about a game that had already captured my attention. Last year’s WarioWare: Move It! proved that I’m willing to move my body if given a compelling reason. A quick session of Rhythm Kitchen during my second Jamboree hands-on demo showcased how Nintendo is likely to succeed in captivating players yet again, even if only for short bursts.
Rhythm Kitchen is a simple yet enjoyable side mode that pays homage to Nintendo’s Rhythm Heaven series. In this mode, my teammates and I find ourselves in an Iron Chef-like cooking competition where we must collaborate to prepare meals through a series of three minigames that challenge our timing skills in different ways.
Our first challenge involves decorating a giant parfait by hitting fruits onto it with a baseball swing, requiring precise timing. The following minigame has us whisking cake batter, and in the final challenge, sandwich ingredients rhythmically move between slices of bread, which we must lock in place with a Joy-con shove.
While experiencing this minigame, I encountered some typical motion-control challenges. Despite not always hitting the beat perfectly, resulting in a 55% accuracy rating by the end, the fun chaos added to the overall enjoyment. Rhythm Kitchen may not be overly complex, but it delivers the physical fun I seek in a quick demo.
The genuine enjoyment shared with my teammates, whether tapping out beats with my foot or laughing at our failed sandwich creations, highlights the appeal of Rhythm Kitchen in Jamboree. Despite being a smaller component compared to the main board game, it adds a delightful touch to the overall experience. Look out for me crafting questionable cakes in the kitchen next month!
Super Mario Party Jamboree will launch on October 17 for Nintendo Switch.
