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| Mario Party 4 Reviewed by Pirate Yoshi Over-view: Mario Party first started on N64, where Mario and gang competed on a board game-like playing area in which dice were used to move spaces and stars were collected in order to win. What made the game special was its vast assortment of exciting minigames, which provided players with a chance to win coins in various ways, used to later buy stars and, ultimately, win the game. Mario Party caught on, and its sequel, Mario Party 2, took off even higher. By Mario Party's third installment, Mario Party mania had gone through the roof, and a party series to keep had been born! With the release of the GameCube, everyone knew what was coming, and waited its release eagerly: Mario Party 4 had come. Graphics: 8/10 Mario Party 4 is a HUGE jump ahead in graphics from the past Mario Parties, mainly because it is the first to utilize something beyond N64's chips. With impressive character models, better animation, and faster, more fluid-like movement (both on the board and in games), MP4 shows off where MP3 and backwards hid in the shadows to conceal its nakedness (eh-hem.....I'll wait until you all stop laughing to move on). It has been exciting to see Party 4 take a real leap into the graphics-side of things, even if there's still better out there. Sound: 9.6/10 One of Mario Party's strongest points (and Mario games in general) is always sound, and Mario Party 4 is no exception. The voice acting is generally flawless (although some dialogue is a bit over-used, and some fresh lines and noises would be nice..), and the sound effects are crisp, clean, and clear. My favorite part of sound, music, is perhaps best portrayed of the three for this game; the tunes to accompany the games are wild and unpredictable, yet very fitting to move with the action, at a pace that keeps you frantic to win, yet calm enough to think straight when you need to (or, if the goal is to keep you confused, jumbled enough to utterly baffle you). Mario Party 4 gains a new atmosphere by the music it plays, even on the boards, and if and when I find a soundtrack, I will have my wallet open. Controls: 10/10 Mario Party 4 has purely perfect controls, mainly because it's a party game! There's not a lot of constant controls, and everything has been put together well, so as to keep you on top of things even during the most frustrating challenges. Many games rely on tapping buttons; some aimed at forcing you to accurately keep rhythms or patterns; some have absolutely nothing to do with accuracy or rhythm, and some are purely based on chance! The controls, which constantly change, are always listed before games to keep you inform, and are always easy to adjust to. MP4 deserves a perfect score in this catagory. Challenge: 7.3/10 The frowning point of most of Mario's games, challenge is relatively low in this title. While some games are tough to beat, and the computer players can present some real difficulties (heck, the unpredictability of this game itself can keep you losing constantly!), most games seem to have a happy ending (it helps if you're good at all the games!), and a handicap setting is available, in case you really need a helping hand. Replay: 9.7/10 If this is a party game--and it is--shouldn't it be able to be played over and over and not grow old? Yes, it should, and it DOESN'T grow old, thank goodness! This is a game you can play for your entire life, and never really master--there's just too much to happen that can keep you from winning each time! Several different boards, a huge assortment of different games, and a wild set of items keep each game feeling fresh, and the experience grows even better when you play with a group (it should, it's a Party). Gameplay: 9/10 This is a great game to play, but you might not care to play through more than once. Some of the maps are set up in a very annoying fashion, and computer players often take advantage of cheap happenings and events, miraculously coming out on top in the last turn of the game. However, if you buy this game, I should hope you plan to play often with other players, and that's what makes this game so great. A multiplayer gem, but only a single player nickel. **Story: .2/1 Aaaaand following the example of past Mario Parties, MP4 provides the world's shortest, cheesiest story to annoy you with! Something about your birthday, but you have to WIN your presents....what kind of a lousy birthday party is this?! Who on earth invites people to a party just to have to beat them in some stupid game to get the goods? See if I ever invite THOSE guys back again......losers! **Multiplayer: 1/1 It's called Mario Party for a reason: invite friends over, turn on this game, and you have an INSTANT PARTY! (by the way, don't just add water, either, or you might have a group of angry people surrounding you, not a party) Graphics: 8/10 Sound: 9.6/10 Controls: 10/10 Challenge: 7.3/10 Replay: 9.7/10 Gameplay: 9/10 **Story: .2/1 **Multiplayer: 1/1 Total Score: 9.2 Score Explanation: What's to explain? You've read it, that's what it got! Not a bad mark, I think! |