View source for Mario Party 6

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Mario Party 6
|image = Mario Party 6 Coverart.png
|caption = North American box art
|developer = [[Hudson Soft]]
|publisher = [[Nintendo]]
|director = Shuichiro Nishiya
|producer = {{ubl|Atsushi Ikeda|Hiroshi Sato}}
|composer = {{ubl|Hironobu Yahata|Shinya Outouge}}
|series = ''[[Mario Party]]''
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|November 18, 2004<ref name="NWR"/>|NA|December 6, 2004<ref name="NWR"/>|EU|March 18, 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/gamecube/mario_party_6|title=Mario Party 6|website=[[Gamer Network#Partnered|Nintendo Life]]|access-date=October 2, 2024}}</ref>|AUS|September 15, 2005}}
|genre = [[Party game#Party video games|Party]]
|modes = [[Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
|platforms = [[GameCube]]
}}
{{Nihongo foot|'''''Mario Party 6'''''|マリオパーティ6|Mario Pāti Shikkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2004 [[party video game]] developed by [[Hudson Soft]] and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[GameCube]]. It is the sixth installment in the ''[[Mario Party]]'' series, the third title in the series for the GameCube, and the first GameCube game to make use of a [[microphone]] add-on. The game was released in Japan on November 18, 2004, in North America on December 6, 2004, in Europe on March 18, 2005, and in Australia on September 15, 2005.

''Mario Party 6'' received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for the day-and-night system, [[game board]]s, and [[minigame]]s, but criticism for the microphone feature and its perceived lack of originality.

''Mario Party 6'' was succeeded by ''[[Mario Party Advance]]'' for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2005. The next [[Home video game console|home console]] game in the series, ''[[Mario Party 7]]'', was released for the GameCube the same year.

==Gameplay==
{{see also|Mario Party#Gameplay}}
{{unsourced section|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Mario Party 6.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Mario]] battling [[Luigi (character)|Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], and [[Yoshi]] in the "Verbal Assault" [[minigame]]]]
[[File:GameCube-Microphone.jpg|thumb|right|''Mario Party 6'' was the first game to make use of the [[GameCube accessories#Microphone|GameCube Microphone]].<ref name="Mic">{{cite web |last1=Kohler |first1=Chris |title=Mario Party 6 to use microphone controller |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-party-6-to-use-microphone-controller/1100-6105825/ |website=Gamespot |access-date=May 27, 2022 |date=August 26, 2004 |archive-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527190126/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-party-6-to-use-microphone-controller/1100-6105825/ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
In ''Mario Party 6'', up to four players take turns moving on [[board game]]-style stages, often playing multiplayer [[minigame]]s to earn coins and stars. The object of the game is to amass the most coins and stars before completing a set number of turns. This is the first game to take out the coin bonus star, replacing it with the Orb star, which is awarded to the player that used the most Orbs. On [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] [[game board]]s, the sun will periodically set or rise (every three turns), producing different effects. Changes include spaces moving, different characters appearing, and changes to minigames. This is reflected in two new characters, Brighton and Twila, representing the sun and moon, respectively.<ref name="eurogamer"/>

All 10 [[Player character|playable character]]s from ''[[Mario Party 5]]'' return in this game: [[Mario]], [[Luigi (character)|Luigi]], [[Princess Peach]], [[Princess Daisy]], [[Wario]], [[Waluigi]], [[Toad (Nintendo)|Toad]], [[Yoshi]], Koopa Kid, and [[Boo (Mario)|Boo]]. [[Toadette]] is also playable as a newcomer. There are 82 minigames in total.

In the game's [[frame story]], Brighton and Twila, the sun and the moon who watch over the ''Mario Party'' world, argue over who is more popular. Mario suggests they collect as many Stars as possible to end this.<ref name="eurogamer"/>

''Mario Party 5'' features orbs, special [[Item (game terminology)|item]]s players can either collect on the board or buy with coins at the Orb Hut. They can be used in many ways to give a player an advantage, such as stealing coins from rivals, hampering a rival's progress, or quickly obtaining stars. In ''Mario Party 5'', these were called capsules. Unlike in ''Mario Party 5'', the player does not have to pay to use Orbs on his or herself and may find coins in Orbs. How Orbs are used is determined by the Orb's type. These are: Self, Space, Roadblock and Special. Roadblock type Orbs are one-use only and trigger when passed. Space type Orbs transform a space into a character space and only work if a rival lands on the space. If a player stops on their own character space, they gain five coins. Self type Orbs add buffs to the player that used them such as additional Dice Blocks. Special Orbs are used automatically to protect players' coins or stars from being stolen from Pink Boo and Chain Chomp, occurrences exclusive to certain boards.

Solo Mode is where a [[Single-player video game|single player]] embarks on a special single-row board with a set number of spaces to collect minigames. The player may also choose a teammate (for 2 vs 2 minigames). Also the player plays minigames with the [[Artificial intelligence in video games|computer-controlled]] Red, Green, and Blue Koopa Kids. The dice block for Solo Mode only has the numbers 1–6 on it, unlike Party Mode where the dice blocks have numbers ranging from 1–10. At the end of the board, there is an exclusive rare minigame space, where the player receives a rare minigame without needing to play it. If the player goes past the rare minigame space, they fall off the board and lose all of the minigames they have acquired. To win, the player must land on the rare minigame space, or quit (without getting a rare minigame).

There are 82 minigames in ''Mario Party 6''. No minigames from the previous installments of this series return. New to this edition are mic and rare minigames. In mic minigames, players must say words into the GameCube microphone to perform different actions. The majority of rare games are usually obtained by stopping on the space at the end of Solo Mode, although one is purchased in the Star Bank. The minigames are divided into 4-player, 1-vs.-3, 2-vs.-2, Battle, Duel, DK, Bowser, Mic and Rare.

==Development==
''Mario Party 6'' was first announced at [[E3]] 2004, though no details were provided aside from the title of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/05/12/e3-2004-mario-party-6|title=E3 2004: Mario Party 6|website=[[IGN]]|date=June 30, 2016|orig-date=May 11, 2004|access-date=September 29, 2024}}</ref> Due to ''Mario Party 6'' and ''[[Mario Party Advance]]'' initially being scheduled for release on the same date, ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s Chris Kohler speculated that there could be interconnected gameplay between the titles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kohler|first=Chris|date=August 26, 2004|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-party-6-to-use-microphone-controller/1100-6105825/|title=Mario Party 6 to use microphone controller|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=October 1, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919014148/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mario-party-6-to-use-microphone-controller/1100-6105825/|archive-date=September 19, 2023}}</ref>

==Reception==
===Critical response===
{{Video game reviews
|MC = 71/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/mario-party-6/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube |title=Mario Party 6 for GameCube Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110095535/https://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/mario-party-6 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|1UP = B<ref>{{cite web|last=Kohler|first=Chris|date=December 8, 2004|url=https://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3137122|title=Mario Party 6 (GameCube)|website=[[1Up Network|1Up.com]]|access-date=October 6, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105152623/https://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3137122|archive-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>
|EGM = 6.83/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=EGM staff |title=Mario Party 6 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=188 |date=February 2005 |page=114}}</ref>
|EuroG = 4/10<ref name="eurogamer">{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |date=July 4, 2005 |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_marioparty6_gc |title=Mario Party 6 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806061319/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_marioparty6_gc |url-status=live }}</ref>
|GamePro = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Bro Buzz |date=December 3, 2004 |url=http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/39989.shtml |title=Mario Party 6 Review for GameCube on GamePro.com |magazine=[[GamePro]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050204154955/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/39989.shtml |archive-date=February 4, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 21, 2016}}</ref>
|GameRev = C<ref>{{cite web |last=Gee |first=Brian |date=December 22, 2004 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mario-party-6 |title=Mario Party 6 Review |publisher=[[GameRevolution]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=May 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160522114239/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mario-party-6 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|GSpot = 6.9/10<ref name=GSpot>{{cite web |last=Davis |first=Ryan |date=December 6, 2004 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-party-6-review/1900-6114506/ |title=Mario Party 6 Review |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512231048/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mario-party-6-review/1900-6114506/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|GSpy = 4/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Bryn |date=December 6, 2004 |url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-party-6/571168p1.html |title=GameSpy: Mario Party 6 |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625063226/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/mario-party-6/571168p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|GRadar = 70%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=35261&subsectionid=1607|title=Mario Party 6|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|date=July 4, 2005|access-date=October 5, 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050524030408/https://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=35261&subsectionid=1607|archive-date=May 24, 2005}}</ref>
|IGN = 7/10<ref name=IGN>{{cite web |last=Schneider |first=Peer |date=December 8, 2004 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/09/mario-party-6-review |title=Mario Party 6 Review |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617063521/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/09/mario-party-6-review |url-status=live }}</ref>
|NP = 3.8/5<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mario Party 6 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |volume=188 |date=February 2005 |page=113}}</ref>
|NWR = 7.5/10<ref name="NWR">{{cite web|last=Metts|first=Jonathan|date=December 8, 2004|url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4304/mario-party-6-gamecube|title=Mario Party 6|website=Nintendo World Report|access-date=September 30, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241007100407/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4304/mario-party-6-gamecube|archive-date=October 7, 2024}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[Detroit Free Press]]''
|rev1Score = 3/4<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/436546146 |title=RECENT RELEASES |newspaper=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=February 13, 2005 |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617164019/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/doc/436546146.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+13%2C+2005&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=J.8&desc=RECENT+RELEASES |id={{ProQuest|436546146}} |url-status=live }}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]''
|rev2Score = 2.5/5<ref>{{cite news |last=Hill |first=Jason |date=October 6, 2005 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/fresh-and-engaging/2005/10/04/1128191720746.html |title=Fresh and engaging |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=May 21, 2016 |archive-date=July 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718193918/http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/fresh-and-engaging/2005/10/04/1128191720746.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
The game received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MC/> ''[[GameSpot]]'' cited great family and multiplayer fun, but criticized the game for having the same ideas of older ''Mario Party'' games.<ref name=GSpot/> ''[[IGN]]'' criticized the game's lack of originality and the microphone.<ref name=IGN/>

[[Retrospective]]ly, the game has been cited by some critics as one of the best games in the series, citing the day-and-night system as an innovation that sets ''Mario Party 6'' apart from other games in the series.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=London |date=December 23, 2019 |title=The 7 Best Mario Party Games (& The 8 Worst) |url=https://gamerant.com/mario-party-nintendo-games-best-worst/ |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=Game Rant |language=en-US |archive-date=April 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407063849/https://gamerant.com/mario-party-nintendo-games-best-worst/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Alvarez |first=Daniel |date=June 14, 2017 |title=Mario Party: Ranking Every Game From Worst To Best |url=https://www.thegamer.com/best-mario-party-game/ |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=TheGamer |language=en-US |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323093930/https://www.thegamer.com/best-mario-party-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Koczwara |first=Michael |date=March 23, 2015 |title=The Best Mario Party Games |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/23/the-best-mario-party-games |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=April 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416201113/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/23/the-best-mario-party-games |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Lennox|first=Jesse|date=January 24, 2022|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/the-best-mario-party-games-ranked-from-best-to-worst/#dt-heading-7-mario-party-6|title=The best Mario Party games, ranked from best to worst|publisher=[[Digital Trends]]|access-date=October 27, 2024}}</ref>

During the [[8th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards]], the [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated ''Mario Party 6'' for "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Family Game of the Year|Console Children's Game of the Year]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2005&idGameAwardType=41 |title=2005 Awards Category Details Console Children's Game of the Year |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |website=interactive.org |access-date=27 October 2023 |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027183239/https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2005&idGameAwardType=41 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Sales===
''Mario Party 6'' sold 1.63 million copies, making it the worst-selling home console ''Mario Party'' game<ref name="nintendo2005annualreport">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/corp/report/NintendoAnnualReport2005.pdf#page=37|title=Nintendo 2005 Annual Report|pages=37|access-date=November 13, 2008|archive-date=May 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190521210023/https://www.nintendo.com/corp/report/NintendoAnnualReport2005.pdf#page=37|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="pok100m">{{cite magazine|author=Ben Parfitt|title=Pokémon hits 100m milestone|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/255/Pokmon-hits-100m-milestone|magazine=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070412053438/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/255/Pokmon-hits-100m-milestone|archive-date=April 12, 2007|access-date=January 12, 2008}}</ref> and the [[List of best-selling GameCube video games|15th best-selling game for the GameCube]].<ref>{{cite book|title=2020CESAゲーム白書 (2020 CESA Games White Papers)|publisher=[[Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association]]|year=2020|isbn=978-4-902346-42-8|page=241}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-GameCube/Mario-Party-6-268302.html}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Moby game|id=/gamecube/mario-party-6}}
*{{IMDb title|1278404}}

{{Mario Party}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|2000s}}

[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:GameCube games]]
[[Category:GameCube-only games]]
[[Category:GameCube microphone games]]
[[Category:Microphone-controlled video games]]
[[Category:Mario Party]]
[[Category:Party video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]

[[de:Mario Party#Mario Party 6]]