Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 26
  2. Negative: 1 out of 26
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  1. The best game in the series yet. But that isn’t saying a whole lot when you consider that the sequels have always felt more like continuations than they did actual sequels.
  2. While more accomplished gamers may find some of the minigames too simplistic, this accessibility ensures that Mario's party is one that just about anyone can enjoy.
  3. netjak
    71
    The designers didn’t make the modifications to make this more than an N64 game with a different controller, and the changes that were made hurt the game rather than help it, for the most part.
  4. There’s no doubt that this is an absolutely great game for multiplayer, but we’re upset that HAL didn’t really put their all in with the visuals or on making a more streamlined game.
  5. While some mistakes were made in the making of this game, not enough were made to make it bad.
  6. There are extra little features that make Mario Party 4 the best of the bunch, but nothing that makes it soar above the rest.
  7. 70
    It's worth noting if you've still got your N64 hooked up, there's not enough new and exciting here to make it worth the purchase.
  8. 69
    Outside of... basic upgrades, there's nothing new about Mario Party 4... An absolute must-rent if you have a few friends over for the weekend.
  9. Entertainment Weekly
    67
    The formula is getting just a little stale. [29 Nov 2002, p.114]
  10. 60
    Its strength is that it gives fans exactly what they expect. But the whole concept is getting a little long in the tooth.
  11. The GameCube version is, not surprisingly, the best looking of the four games, but it’s not the huge leap in visual quality it could have been given the dramatic improvement in technology.
  12. Really meant for four players and is simply a game you either love or hate.
  13. The franchise has become an exercise in monotony.
  14. The mini-games have different faces but they play ostensibly the same, and even with the visuals buffed to a sparkle the overall effect is very much ‘more of the same’.
  15. 50
    Mario Party though is not a particularly good game and it's up against much better titles like "Super Monkey Ball" that manages to bridge this age gap by having inspired game play and a quirky feel. Most Nintendo games have this quality but it is sadly missing here.
  16. Another flaw with the game is it's lack of A.I. I'm not talking about the computer controlled characters, but rather the unfairness that occurs throughout any standard 4 player match.

Awards & Rankings

70
9
#9 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2002
15
#15 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2002
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 133 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 133
  2. Negative: 9 out of 133
  1. Jul 29, 2012
    10
    Mario Party 4 is the king of the mini games with new creative spaces.It has an extra zone.Excellent soundtrack.My favorite mini game isMario Party 4 is the king of the mini games with new creative spaces.It has an extra zone.Excellent soundtrack.My favorite mini game is Dungeon Duos.The last boss battle in story mode it's incredible. Full Review »
  2. Aug 1, 2023
    8
    The final of the classic Mario party games. Truly a masterful conversion to the GameCube story graphics and gameplay. It’s surprisinglyThe final of the classic Mario party games. Truly a masterful conversion to the GameCube story graphics and gameplay. It’s surprisingly shocking just how well this game works and I feel it’s a bit underlooked compared to the original 3 games. Trust me though, you may be shocked at how good it really is. Full Review »
  3. May 30, 2023
    9
    This game is basically Mario Party perfected before they started messing with the core game mechanics in later entries