This game is being criticized for it being similar to past Mario Party games. What do you expect?
Mario Party takes some sharp turns from the previous games, but some elements were added back in. The orb system we all know and love is gone, replaced by candy. Which is exactly the same, but you can't own game spaces and there is not much variety. When you actually play the game, it is a quite enjoyable experience. There are fewer references to casino type games and the boards are the best in all the games I've played. The Bowser board stinks, but what else is new? Wrestling to the front of a train, buying hotels, and of course the classic board all add to the fun.
The minigames are very enjoyable, with very few that make you groan when they show up in a game but the quantity of games is too few. It leaves you with a "That's it?" feeling.
The graphics, while not important in this series are about twice as good as the last party, and the sound and music is much less annoying.
Overall, while this game has its faults, it is definitely one to buy as soon as possible. What was lost is regained in other areas, which makes this the best party yet!