22nd February 2003, 8:05 PM
The Mario Party series is getting a bit aged, as there isn't much new they can do with the series, however that doesn't keep <i>Mario Party 4</i> from being one hell of a fun game. Featuring over 50 Mini-games, 8 characters, 5 boards, a Party mode, and a Story mode, <i>Mario Party 4</i> is going to give your controller the biggest button-mashing bruising since Super Smash Bros. Melee.
It's a simple concept, one to four players can play in a board-game style game which end in a random mini-game after everyone takes their turn with the dice. Along the board, there are coin spaces, which I don't think I need to explain, Bowser spaces, which either calls one of the Koopa Kids to steal some of your coins, or the big bad Bowser himself, who then pulls some stunt, usually a Bowser game, wherein the loser usually either loses all his coins or all his items.
The Mini-games are a stroke of genius. Some of them are just so much fun to play, you'll be headed to Mini-game mode to play them over and over. Among a few of my favorites are Booksquirm, where the characters run around a huge book, avoiding falling pages by getting in holes in the pages. Domination is fun, you hit the A button as much as you can, racking up dominoes each time, then you knock them over after 10 seconds and find out who has the sorest thumb. Let's not forget the Battle Game Bowsers Bigger Blast, where there are switches to press. Each character takes their turn, one switch sets off a huge explosion. The process continues until only one remains. I could tell you more, but for the sake of continuity, I'll move on.
<i>Mario Party 4</i> is, obviously, at it's best with some friends to play with. If you're not a social gamer, fret not, there is plenty of fun to be had with this game by yourself. <i>Mario Party 4</i> will keep you coming back for more, and for that reason I rate this game an 8.5!
It's a simple concept, one to four players can play in a board-game style game which end in a random mini-game after everyone takes their turn with the dice. Along the board, there are coin spaces, which I don't think I need to explain, Bowser spaces, which either calls one of the Koopa Kids to steal some of your coins, or the big bad Bowser himself, who then pulls some stunt, usually a Bowser game, wherein the loser usually either loses all his coins or all his items.
The Mini-games are a stroke of genius. Some of them are just so much fun to play, you'll be headed to Mini-game mode to play them over and over. Among a few of my favorites are Booksquirm, where the characters run around a huge book, avoiding falling pages by getting in holes in the pages. Domination is fun, you hit the A button as much as you can, racking up dominoes each time, then you knock them over after 10 seconds and find out who has the sorest thumb. Let's not forget the Battle Game Bowsers Bigger Blast, where there are switches to press. Each character takes their turn, one switch sets off a huge explosion. The process continues until only one remains. I could tell you more, but for the sake of continuity, I'll move on.
<i>Mario Party 4</i> is, obviously, at it's best with some friends to play with. If you're not a social gamer, fret not, there is plenty of fun to be had with this game by yourself. <i>Mario Party 4</i> will keep you coming back for more, and for that reason I rate this game an 8.5!