Mario Party DS is a game that is well worth it for the multiplayer alone
The usual Mario Party AI is present in the DS version as well. If you're not sure what I mean by that it's basically if you set the computer AI to easy, or normal, chances are good you'll win the round. However if you set the difficulty to hard, the game can get pretty unforgiving. There isn't too much of a middle ground where everything balances out. The computer always seems to have luck on its side.
There is a story added in for the single player mode about Bowser shrinking Mario and his friends down in size. And then the group travels from location to location to engage in Mario Parties, should you win that you would play a mini-game against that level's boss. Winning unlocks the next level or board basically, to play on. Overall there are 4 different levels to play, then the fifth and final is the showdown on Bowser's level.
There are a ton of party games to play, ranging from 4 player winner-take-all, to 1 against 3, 2 on 2, and even a duel between 2 players with stars, or coins on the line. The games all range in control using the DS's features. Some games use the d-pad and face buttons, while others require styles control. You'll even find some games that require you to blow into the microphone located on your DS. Before you play each game you can read a set of rules that outline what to do and how to play. If you're still not clear on what to do you can play a practice round that helps you understand, but wins, losses, or high scores don't count. The majority of the party games are fun, but there are a few exceptions that can cause a groan when finding out you have to play it. But for the most part Mario Party DS has a solid collection of party games.
Now the multiplayer in this game is where it's at. There is no Wi-Fi online mode, so you can't find a room and play with other people worldwide, which may sound disappointing. But if you have 3 friends all with their own DS, you have yourself the best kind of Mario Party. You only need 1 game cartridge to play with 3 others. And it's a ton of fun to gather some friends and have a different way to play a Mario Party. Highly recommended for someone looking for some offline multiplayer.