It has to be option 5 for me - it all depends on execution! I think what is most important for a boss is for it to be in a format that helps it reach its full potential, and any of these have that potential.
Similar to what a couple of people have said: I do see these as being 3D Mario games, but I also see them as being a separate entity from the likes of 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, etc.
I'm definitely not as well-versed in Mario Party games as I'd like to be, but Mario Party DS will always have a special spot in my heart. The memories :')
Super Mario Land [400]
Super Mario Land 2 [400]
Wario Land [400]
Wario Land 2 [400]
Donkey Kong [400]
Donkey Kong Land [400]
Donkey Kong Land 2 [400]
Donkey Kong Land 3 [400]
Game and Watch Gallery [400]
Game and Watch Gallery 2 [180]
Game and Watch Gallery 3 [400]
Game and Watch...
Ayy cool
I like it the most because the minigames just feel so fun compared to the more recent games, and it just feels more like a "Mario Party" game which I don't really know how to explain.
I got this game yesterday, and I've played it for about 12 hours so far I believe, and it is so fun. I love how exploration-based it is (even if a few moons are a bit hard to find). I love the references to other games, and it might be cool to see some DLC for the game, but I'm not sure about that.