"A HUGE VARIETY OF MINI GAMES...IDEAL FOR MULTI-PLAYER!" (Mario Party 4 (GC))

Member Name: ps2update

Product:	Mario Party 4 (GC)
Date:	20/05/03 (345 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See text

Disadvantages: See text

Nintendo GameCube has typically been labelled as the "kids" console despite horror spectacles such as Resident Evil and Eternal Darkness. It is also known for having a great deal of platform games such as Mario, and party games such as Super Monkey Ball. It is not surprising that Nintendo have decided to produce Mario Party 4 for the GameCube what with the likes of Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee already available. The Mario brand is Nintendo's trademark and has been ever since the original Mario Party. With that in mind what could be better than producing another Mario related game in the form of Mario Party 4?

Graphics

As with every other GameCube game featuring everyone's favourite plumber Mario Party 4 boasts high quality graphics. Everything takes place in brightly coloured 3D scenery. Every character looks impressive as ever from Mario himself to his arch enemy Wario. The action takes place primarily on a board that could be giving a vision into the board games of the future. Just think they'll be no need to get out monopoly because you will roll the dice and experience the fun for yourself as you move from space to space!

The scenery varies from the different boards, whether it's a casino themed board, a haunted house themed board, or one of the other three themed boards available. Luckily the boards are only just one part of the game for gamers to view for there are also various battles that display snow coated mountains, mazes, fishing, shooting, basketball, and many other visually superb events. When actually moving each space illuminates as the player passes so gamers can be sure of exactly where they are. Various other things illuminate and sparkle such as the rollercoaster as it glides down the tracks. Brightly coloured visuals complete with various illuminations give a rather surreal magical effect to the game, something that no doubt Walt himself may have been a lit
tle envious of!
Unlike the recently released Zelda Mario Party 4 has not gone for an all new look but has rather opted for the traditional Mario formula. There is little reason why Mario should go to cell shaded graphics or anything else in the near future because simply put bright, bold and colourful visuals is exactly what is needed for a game such as Mario Party. Mario Party 4 is about having fun and the graphics reiterate this.
19/20

Sound

Accompanying Mario Party 4 is the harmless kid like music that compliments so many Mario games. There is of course a change in style when the almighty Bowser makes an appearance but it is something that gamers have came to expect with games such as this. When rolling the dice gamers hear a swinging motion, then when moving spaces they will hear a jingle as they land on each space. In game there is the usual; splashes of water, rumble of engines, and explosions as characters face the wrath of an angry Bowser having failed the Bowser mini game. When each mini game comes to an end the piercing yell of "Finish" will blare out of the speakers, a "finish" that sounds almost identical to the "finish" heard in Bust A Move.
There is not a lot that one can say to fault the sound effects of Mario Party 4. Like all Mario games the sound is adequate and appropriate to the game. All trademark sounds are there such as the cackle of the Boo ghosts and the satisfied voice of Peach upon winning. That said every character has their own true to character phrase of celebration upon winning each mini game so those who enjoy the voice of Luigi or Donkey Kong you are in for a treat.
19/20

Gameplay

The action takes place on a board similar to any traditional board game. Gamers simply roll the dice and move the amount of spaces that the dice tells them to. There are four players participating in the game, this can range from one gamer and three computer players to four
gamers battling amongst each other. After each player has rolled the dice once players then take part in a mini game. The winner of the mini game is awarded coins that will assist gamers throughout the duration of the game. As one would expect Mario Party 4 is far more than a board game where the winner gets to the end of the board. For a start the board does not end but it is in fact a continuous circle with various routes to take, and secondly the winner is the player with the most stars. There are various ways to earn stars, the first is to go to a star space and purchase a star for 25 coins, the second is to find a star in a hidden box, thirdly one can employ a boo to steal a star from another player, other options include exchanging stars through a game known as reverse of fortune or by summoning a genie to take the player directly to the star, and most importantly there are three stars awarded at the end of the game for gamers who;1.Win the most number of mini games 2. Collect the most coins in mini games 3. Land on the most happening spaces.

There are various types of spaces dotted around the board. A blue space is the most common of spaces and will simply reward the player with three coins. A red space will subtract three coins, although if the player has less than three they will only subtract that amount so players need not worry about finishing in negative figures. A fortune space will transport gamers to a game called reverse of fortune, this simply selects two players and then reverses the amount of coins they have, stars they have or enacts some other sort of fortune reversing action. The Bowser space will either result in gamers taking part in a Bowser mini game resulting in the losing gamer forfeiting coins, items, or stars or alternatively a mini Bowser will appear and steal items/coins/stars off the player who landed on the space or off all of the players. The mushroom space is another fairly common space, this simply presents the gamer
will two mushroom boxes, one large one small, gamers then open the box and are presented with a mini mushroom or mega mushroom. Despite the boxes being different sizes it does not necessarily mean that the mega mushroom is in the large box and the mini mushroom in the small box. Mini mushroom allow players to decrease in size, this is advantageous as gamers can crawl under small obstacles such as pipes and tunnels, but the disadvantage is the numbers on the die decrease from 10 to 5. When gamers land on a battle space each player must pay between 5 and 50 coins. Once the coins have been paid a battle game takes place. The winner of the battle then gets the majority of the coins put into the battle with the second place gamer banking the remainder of the coins. The warp space allows gamers to change places with other gamers on the board, in addition to this there is also a similar space that rather than exchanging places just allows a gamer to be transported to the same place as any other gamer. Finally the happening space will show the gamer some sort of event, although it is not one of the most enjoyable spaces to land on it is important to land of many of these as the gamer who lands on the most is rewarded with a star at the end of the game. On top of all these spaces that result in different things happening there are also various shop spaces. The item shop allows players to exchange coins for items, these items range from the basic mini mushroom to the magic lamp which allows gamers to summon a genie who will take them directly to the star. Obviously the better the item the more coins it will cost the gamer. The lottery shop allows gamers to purchase a lottery ticket for 5 coins. Gamers can walk away from anything ranging from nothing to the top prize of 100 coins. Lastly there is the Boo House. For a certain amount of coins Boo's will steal coins or stars for the gamer from other players on the board. Gamers can play tactically and steal from their biggest
threat in the game to help them win.

There is a huge variety of mini games to participate in. Mini games can range from all four players competing against each other, to 2 against 2 to 3 on 1. This can prove interesting and can have a great effect on the final results. If the winning player has to take part in a 3 on 1 game then chances are they will lose, this can then take the player in second place above them. Similarly if the winning player is cooperating with the last place player then the last place player can affect the winning player's record much to the annoyance of the winning player!
Gamers cannot fault the enjoyment in Mario Party 4 as there is so much variation that there is simply something for everybody. For football fans there is the mini game goal where one player stands in goal and the other 3 take penalty shots simultaneously. If 8 goals can be scored in a set time then the team of 3 wins but if the keeper can stop less than 8 then the sole player wins. There are games that contain balloon popping, mazes, archery, basketball, swimming, staying underwater for long amounts of time, fishing, butterfly catching, mountaineering, racing, Tetris style puzzle games, preparing meals, the list goes on…
Despite there being a huge amount of activities to indulge in the action does not seem to flow together as quickly as one would hope. Even if playing on single player mode gamers are forced to watch the other 3 player's turns in full. Admittedly the turns can affect the single player but when it does not it just seems to be a waste of time watching computer controlled players take a turn. True, for the first three board games it seems ok but when gamers are trying to unlock everything with all characters and are on their 20th board game the novelty has worn off!
The AI must be questioned at times. Despite an easy, normal, and hard mode there is not one called "stupid computer controller characters." Perhaps Ni
ntendo failed to label this section because at times the competition lacks a great deal of intelligence. Take for example this scenario, a player has the option of using a lamp which will transport them to the star and put them in the lead. Rather than doing this the computer character opts to use a mini mushroom. Although gamers may argue they may have been planning to use the lamp later take this into account…it is the last turn of the game! Even the most unintelligent of human controlled players would not make that sort of error so it is amazing why the computer controlled players do.
Essentially this game is an entertaining experience marred by the length of time gamers spend watching other player's take their turn rather than being in the thick of the action themselves. This is certainly a party game to experience with friends and one that all ages can take part in whether it's a four year old child or a group of thirty something men crowding round the GameCube with a few beers for a night in. Mario Party 4 is suited for multiplayer much more than single player mode. It is worth playing through single player but it will get tedious if gamers insist on playing the game fully. The game does not have the depth of Super Smash Bros. Melee the other Nintendo based party game but it does provide gamers with a short lived fun experience.
20/25

Lifespan

With 5 board games and a handful of characters there is a lot to be done. There is a wealth of mini games available to experience; 16 where it is everyone against everyone, 9 one player VS three, 9 two VS two, 6 battle games, 3 Bowser games, 5 games where the winner must fight a boss to win a prize after completing the board game and 3 extra games. In addition to this there is also another section of the game where gamers can play any mini game they want rather than playing it through the board game system, and there is the option to play extra mini games not available through the
board game. A rather amusing extra game is the doors of doom that sees gamers choose left or right door, you choose the wrong one and Bowser kills you - it really is pot luck but it is addictive as gamers vow to get further than the last time!

The game has a lot of replay value for gamers who insist on unlocking absolutely everything as there is an item for each character after they have won each board game. Gamers who lose the board game have to play it all over again which although frustrating adds to the lifespan. There are three difficulty levels and an endless amount of time on multiplayer mode. If gamers are willing to stick with Mario Party 4 it can last well over a month but those who will not sit through many minutes of computer turns will see themselves completing the game on all 5 board games with just one of the characters.
20/25

Originality

There are not a lot of games available that require gamers to go around a board and then compete in games as unusual as preparing a meal or shooting each other out of cannons. Despite this there are numerous alternatives for the GameCube if gamers wish to play party games such as the fantastic Super Smash Bros. Melee, Bomberman, and Super Monkey Ball. For gamers unfamiliar with the Mario Party series this will prove to be an experience like no other. Gamers will certainly see the Japanese influence with bizarre party games and the system of different spaces functioning differently is also rather welcome. This is similar to Bishi Bashi special in terms of having random games but there is no game quite like this…
8/10

Overall

Mario Party 4 is ideal for multiplayer and is primarily concerned with fun and partying. It is not as in depth as Mario's platform games but is well worthy of a rental. Mario Party 4 will be appreciated by all ages and providing children can master the controls who each mini game it will prove a favourite with kids. This is by no me
ans the best game on the GameCube but is certainly a unique venture.











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