Editing Mario Party 4

{{Short description|2002 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Mario Party 4
| image = Mario Party 4.jpg
| caption = North American box art
| platforms = [[GameCube]]
| developer = [[Hudson Soft]]
| publisher = [[Nintendo]]
| director = Kenji Kikuchi
| producer = Shinji Hatano<br>Shinichi Nakamoto
| designer = Fumihisa Sato
| composer = Ichiro Shimakura
| series = ''[[Mario Party]]''
| released = {{Video game release|NA|October 21, 2002|JP|November 8, 2002|PAL|November 29, 2002}}
| genre = [[Party video game|Party]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}
'''''Mario Party 4'''''{{efn|{{nihongo|'''''Mario Party 4'''''|マリオパーティ4|Mario Pātī Fō|lead=yes}}}} is a 2002 [[party video game]] developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[GameCube]]. The game is the fourth installment in the ''[[Mario Party]]'' series and is the first game in the series to be released for the GameCube. Like the previous games in the series, it features eight [[Player character|playable character]]s: [[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Yoshi]], [[Wario]], [[Donkey Kong (character)|Donkey Kong]], [[Princess Daisy]], and [[Waluigi]] from the [[Mario (franchise)|''Mario'' franchise]], who can be directed as characters on six themed [[game board]]s. The objective is to earn as many stars as possible, which are obtained by purchase from a single predefined space on the game board. Each character's movement is determined by a roll of a die, with a roll from each player forming a single turn. Each turn is followed by a [[minigame]] in which characters compete for coins they can use to purchase [[Item (game terminology)|item]]s and stars.

''Mario Party 4'' was met with mixed reception, with some complaints regarding a lack of originality and slow pacing during games.<ref name="Gaming Age review"/> It won the [[D.I.C.E. Award for Family Game of the Year|Family Game of the Year]] award at the [[Interactive Achievement Awards]] of [[6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|2003]].<ref name="Awards"/> The game was followed by ''[[Mario Party 5]]'' for the same console in 2003.

==Gameplay==
{{see also|Mario Party#Gameplay}}
[[File:Mario Party 4 gameplay.jpg|thumb|left|Characters must hit a dice block to move forward on the board; the mushroom represents an Item Shop.]]

''Mario Party 4'' is based on an interactive [[board game]] played by four characters from the ''Mario'' franchise, which are controlled either by the player or the game's [[Artificial intelligence in video games|artificial intelligence]]. The game features eight [[Player character|playable character]]s, although they do not have any different gameplay attributes from each other (save for favoring certain [[Item (game terminology)|item]]s when controlled by the AI<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.6-9</ref>). Players can arrange their characters into opposing pairs, or play independently in a [[battle royal]]e.<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> As with most board games, each participant takes turns in rolling a [[dice]] block (1 to 10) to determine the number of spaces moved on the board. There are 60 [[minigame]]s, one of which follows each round of four turns,<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.14</ref> which yields a coin prize for the winner. Twenty coins are required to purchase a star, with the victor being the character with the most stars at the end of the game.<ref name="IGN review"/> The length of a game can vary as the predetermined number of minigames is adjustable in multiples of 5 (min.10 max.50). Stars are usually attained by purchase at the specific space on the [[game board]] where it is set, with the star location changing to another space after every acquisition. Three extra stars can be obtained if "Bonus mode" is switched on, with a star each awarded to the player with the most minigames won, most coins collected, and most happening spaces visited.<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.32</ref>

''Mario Party 4'' features six boards, five of which take their name from a secondary ''Mario'' character, such as [[Goomba]].<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.33</ref> The boards are themed to correspond with their titular character, and contain specialized features to reflect this, such as the [[roulette]] wheel in the [[casino]]-based "Goomba's Greedy Gala". The on-board characters follow a set route, although this becomes optional when arriving at a junction.<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.19</ref> The boards also contain multiple "Events", which are generic stations placed on every board. These include "Lottery Shops", where money is gambled on item prizes, and "Boo Houses", where [[List of Mario franchise characters#Enemy_characters|Boo]] is paid to steal either coins or a star from an opponent. The majority of spaces on the boards are denoted by either blue or red circles, with blue granting coins and red deducting them.<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> Alternative spaces are also available, such as "happening spaces", which trigger an event exclusive to the current board. "Mushroom Spaces" grant the user either a "Mega" or "Mini" Mushroom—"Mega Mushrooms" extend the movement range while "Mini Mushrooms" curtail it. Additionally, giant characters will bypass "Events" and stars while reduced characters can access special areas on the board via pipes.<ref name="Gaming Age review"/>

The minigames in ''Mario Party 4'' are short, unrelated events with a specified objective that the players must attempt to meet to earn coins as a reward. Minigames are unlocked during the main "Party Mode", although they can be played outside of the game board context in "Minigame Mode".<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.42</ref> This allows the player to either freely play minigames; select which minigames they want, and control conditions for victory in a match, such as the "3-win-match"; or play 2 vs. 2 minigames to claim a space on a [[tic-tac-toe]] board. Minigames are split into seven categories: "4-player", "1 vs 3", "2 vs 2",<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> "Battle", "Bowser", "Story", etc.. The first three occur randomly after each set of turns during a party, while "Battle" can only be triggered by landing on the corresponding space on the board. Unlike regular minigames, the players must contribute their money and then compete to reclaim it or earn more by winning the minigame. There are also rarer groups of minigames, such as the [[Bowser]] minigames requiring the loser to forfeit items or coins and the minigames,<ref name="Gaming Age review"/> which can only be accessed by characters reduced by the "Mini Mushroom". A set of minigames that cannot be played during normal conditions are located in the "Extra room", featuring Thwomp and Whomp.<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.51</ref>

The game features a loose plot in that the player must progress through Story Mode to earn presents from the eponymous characters of the pertaining boards. These are presents that had been brought to the player's birthday party in the game,<ref>''Mario Party 4'' Instruction Booklet, pg.5</ref> which must be completed by earning the most stars in a board game and subsequently defeating the present giver in a special one-on-one Story minigame. This is all contained within the "Party Cube", which grants the wishes of its users; the story's climax comes in the form of Bowser, who wishes to disrupt the party with his own board, hosted by Koopa Kid. Also, unlike its predecessor, [[Princess Daisy]] and [[Waluigi]] are now playable in Story Mode.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mirabella III|first=Fran|date=November 24, 2018|orig-date=October 14, 2002|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/14/mario-party-4|title=Mario Party 4|website=[[IGN]]|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=April 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413065938/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/14/mario-party-4|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Development==
''Mario Party 4'', like all the games in the ''Mario Party'' series through ''[[Mario Party 8]]'', was developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and published by [[Nintendo]]. The game was first announced in a 2002 Nintendo press conference in [[Tokyo]], with the announcements made by [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] and [[Satoru Iwata]].<ref>{{cite web |author=IGN staff |date=March 28, 2002 |title=Nintendo Promises Big in 2002 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/28/nintendo-promises-big-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628072634/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/28/nintendo-promises-big-2002 |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |website=IGN}}</ref> It was targeted as part of the 2002 roster of Nintendo games, which they rated as their "biggest year" for software at the time. Nintendo presented a playable demonstration of the game at [[E3 2002]], featuring a limited set of minigames.<ref>{{cite web |last=Frankle |first=Gavin |date=May 22, 2002 |title=E3 2002: Mario Party 4 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/22/e3-2002-mario-party-4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628124732/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/22/e3-2002-mario-party-4 |archive-date=June 28, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |website=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Villoria|first=Gerald|date=May 21, 2002|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2002mario-party-4-impressions/1100-2866844/|title=E3 2002Mario Party 4 impressions|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=October 8, 2024|archive-date=October 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009010521/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2002mario-party-4-impressions/1100-2866844/|url-status=live}}</ref> The game featured voice acting from [[Charles Martinet]] ([[Mario]], [[Luigi]], [[Wario]], and [[Waluigi]]), [[Jen Taylor]] ([[Princess Peach|Peach]], [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], and [[Toad (Nintendo)|Toad]]), and [[Kazumi Totaka]] ([[Yoshi]]), all three of whom worked on the previous games in the ''Mario'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charles Martinet |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553409/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101074551/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553409/ |archive-date=January 1, 2019 |access-date=July 15, 2008 |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 70/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-party-4/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=Mario Party 4 for GameCube Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202855/http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/mario-party-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Allgame = 3/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=38985&tab=review |title=Mario Party 4 - Review |publisher=[[AllGame]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114212911/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=38985&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| EGM = 8.33/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Mario Party 4 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=162 |date=January 2003 |page=187}}</ref>
| EuroG = 5/10<ref name="Eurogamer review">{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_marioparty4_gc |title=Mario Party 4 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=November 28, 2002 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616194042/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_marioparty4_gc |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Fam = 30/40<ref name="Famitsu score">{{cite magazine |title=ニンテンドーゲームキューブ - マリオパーティ4 |magazine=[[Famitsu]] |volume=915 |date=June 30, 2006 |page=102}}</ref>
| GI = 3/10<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200212/R03.0730.1629.22852.htm |title=Mario Party 4 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=116 |date=December 2002 |page=125 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411234955/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200212/R03.0730.1629.22852.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2008 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| GamePro = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Bad Hare |url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/27186.shtml |title=Mario Party 4 Review for GameCube |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=November 20, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404090926/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/27186.shtml |archive-date=April 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref>
| GameRev = C+<ref>{{cite web |last=Liu |first=Johnny |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mario-party-4 |title=Mario Party 4 Review |publisher=[[GameRevolution]] |date=November 2002 |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611085027/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mario-party-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.2/10<ref name="Gamespot review">{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Ryan |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-party-4-review/1900-2895138/ |title=Mario Party 4 Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=October 18, 2002 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=September 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914183749/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-party-4-review/1900-2895138/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| GSpy = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Bryn |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-party-4/570662p1.html |title=GameSpy: Mario Party 4 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=October 20, 2002 |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403075427/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-party-4/570662p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| IGN = 6.9/10<ref name="IGN review">{{cite web |last=Mirabella III |first=Fran |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/14/mario-party-4 |title=Mario Party 4 |website=IGN |date=October 14, 2002 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617052516/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/14/mario-party-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NLife = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Steddy |first=Ryan |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2006/06/mario_party_4_gamecube |title=Review: Mario Party 4 (GCN) |website=[[Nintendo Life]] |date=June 6, 2006 |access-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-date=June 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604162119/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2006/06/mario_party_4_gamecube |url-status=live }}</ref>
| NP = 4.2/5<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mario Party 4 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |volume=162 |date=November 2002 |page=218}}</ref>
| NWR = 7/10<ref>{{cite web|last=Cole|first=Michael|date=October 31, 2002|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3980/mario-party-4-gamecube|title=Mario Party 4|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=October 4, 2024}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[Common Sense Media]]
| rev1Score = 5/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Stockton |first=Sarah |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/mario-party-4 |title=Mario Party 4 Game Review |publisher=[[Common Sense Media]] |year=2002 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610013251/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/mario-party-4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev2Score = B−<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2002/11/29/mario-party-4 |title=Mario Party 4 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=684 |date=November 29, 2004 |page=114 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=November 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106232517/http://www.ew.com/article/2002/11/29/mario-party-4 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}
''Mario Party 4'' received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic"/>  In Japan, four critics from ''[[Famitsu]]'' gave the game a total score of 30 out of 40.<ref name="Famitsu score"/>

''[[GameSpot]]''<nowiki/>'s Ryan Davis praised the game's minigame format, although he noted that "players who have already exhausted themselves on previous ''Mario Party'' titles may not find enough here to draw them back again".<ref name="Gamespot review" /> ''[[Eurogamer]]''<nowiki/>'s Tom Bramwell acknowledged the variety and thematic features of the boards, but thought they were too large, resulting in a "glacial pace" when coupled with the on-board animations.<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> Despite this, ''[[IGN]]'' praised the boards for the thematic features on each one, which helped to "ease the tediousness".<ref name="IGN review"/> The game's controls were lauded for their compatibility with the minigames and simplicity, with most minigames requiring simple actions and button presses.<ref name="Eurogamer review"/>

The game's multiplayer was praised by reviewers, especially in comparison to the single-player Story Mode.<ref name="IGN review"/> The multiplayer element was noted for appealing to a diverse demographic for its party game qualities and being an "'everybody' title".<ref name="IGN review"/> Conversely, Story Mode was criticised for exacerbating issues relating to pace, which was already remarked as having "snail's pace".<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> Additionally, the game's [[Artificial intelligence in video games|artificial intelligence]] was bemoaned for contributing an imbalance in the game, with the random availability of quality items giving players an unfair advantage.<ref name="Gaming Age review">{{cite web|url=http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=gamecube&game=marioparty4|archive-url=https://archive.today/20030201122722/http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=gamecube&game=marioparty4|url-status=dead|title=Mario Party 4 Review (GAMECUBE)|date=1 February 2003|archive-date=1 February 2003|website=archive.is|access-date=30 June 2019}}</ref> The "reversal of fortune" space, which initiates a minigame by which the victor would receive another player's stars or coins, was criticised for similar reasons, as it potentially penalises players who do well in the game.<ref name="Eurogamer review"/> The minigames were mainly met with a positive reaction, with critics praising their simplicity.<ref name="IGN review"/><ref name="Gamespot review"/> The grouping feature in the minigames were also welcomed for contributing a new dynamic of gameplay, although Bramwell commented that "it might seem a little odd to gang up with your competitors in some cases".<ref name="Eurogamer review"/>

Most reviewers noted the game's graphical improvement from its predecessors,<ref name="Gamespot review"/> with the minigames' visual style in particular receiving praise.<ref name="IGN review"/> Although ''IGN'' remarked that the game was graphically a "huge improvement since we last saw the franchise", they proceeded to comment that "It's a mixed bag of good and bad".<ref name="IGN review"/> ''GameSpot'' complained that the character animations appear "a bit lifeless" and that the boards were not aesthetically pleasing.<ref name="Gamespot review"/> The game's audio was met with an ambivalent reaction, with critics enjoying the music but complaining about the "annoying" character catchphrases.<ref name="Gamespot review"/> While not memorable, the music was lauded for fitting the game's whimsical nature.<ref name="IGN review"/>

Gaming websites ''The Game of Nerds'' and ''The Gamer'' ranked ''Mario Party 4'' the best entry in the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegameofnerds.com/2018/06/23/we-rank-every-mario-party-game-in-the-series/|title=We Rank Every Mario Party Game In The Series|date=23 June 2018|website=The Game of Nerds|access-date=30 June 2019|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630000927/https://thegameofnerds.com/2018/06/23/we-rank-every-mario-party-game-in-the-series/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/mario-party-ranking-worst-best/|title=Mario Party: Ranking Every Game From Worst To Best|date=14 June 2017|website=TheGamer|access-date=30 June 2019|archive-date=30 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630000933/https://www.thegamer.com/mario-party-ranking-worst-best/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Lifewire]]'' called it the best ''Mario Party'' game of the four released on the GameCube.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lifewire.com/best-mario-party-games-4171305|title=The 8 Best Mario Party Games of 2019|first=Alex|last=Williams|website=Lifewire|access-date=30 June 2019|archive-date=15 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515033509/https://www.lifewire.com/best-mario-party-games-4171305|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Den of Geek]]'' agreed, and also viewed it as the fourth best game in the Mario Party series, citing its minigames.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/mario-party-ranking-the-games/|title=Mario Party: Ranking the Games|website=Den of Geek|date=12 August 2014|access-date=8 June 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208071208/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/mario-party-ranking-the-games/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sales and accolades===
''Mario Party 4'' won "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Family Game of the Year|Family Game of the Year]]" during the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences|AIAS]]' [[6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]].<ref name="Awards">{{cite web |author=M. Wiley |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/28/aias-awards-announced |title=AIAS Awards Announced |website=[[IGN]] |date=February 28, 2003 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-date=December 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206130839/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/28/aias-awards-announced |url-status=live }}</ref>  It was nominated for ''GameSpot''{{'}}s annual "Best Party Game on GameCube" award, which went to ''[[Super Monkey Ball 2]]''.<ref name=bestworst2002>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207155400/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | url=http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ | title=''GameSpot''{{'}}s Best and Worst of 2002 | author=''GameSpot'' Staff | date=December 30, 2002 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=February 7, 2003 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The game sold 1,100,000 units from its release to December 27, 2007, in North America,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |title=US Platinum Videogame Chart |publisher=The Magic Box |access-date=July 13, 2008 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009200207/http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> and an additional 900,000 copies in Japan, bringing its overall sales to 2,000,000.<ref name="japanchartsgc">{{cite web|url=http://garaph.info/softwaregroup.php?grid=S111|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218072047/http://garaph.info/softwaregroup.php?grid=S111|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-02-18|title= Nintendo Gamecube Japanese Ranking|publisher=Garaph ([[Media Create]]|date=2007-05-06|access-date=2008-05-29}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Notes==
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==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{notelist}}

==External links==
*{{moby game|id=/gamecube/mario-party-4}}
*{{IMDb title|0354729}}

{{Mario Party series}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|2000s}}
{{good article}}

[[Category:2002 video games]]
[[Category:GameCube games]]
[[Category:GameCube-only games]]
[[Category:Mario Party]]
[[Category:Party video games]]
[[Category:Video games about birthdays]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set in amusement parks]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]

[[de:Mario Party#Mario Party 4]]