Mario Party 6

GamePro

On their own they pose no real threat to players of average skill, but pit four such players against one another and watch the tension grow.

Pelit (Finland)

A nice multiplayer game for newbies and veterans alike. It is simple yet suitably challenging. The microphone-based minigames are hilarious. But where is marioke? [Apr. 05]

Cinescape

Do not play this game alone or with one other person. It just isn’t that fun when you don’t have a minimum of three or the ideal four players for the game. This is a party game, and no one likes someone who likes to party alone.

GameSpy

There's not really all that much new content in Mario Party 6 save for the microphone novelty, but in the end the final product feels more polished and enjoyable than both previous efforts released on the GameCube.

GMR Magazine

Just as polished as the rest of the series, striking just the right balance between familiar and fresh material. [Feb 2005, p.99]

G4 TV

But compared to the last few games in the series, Mario Party 6 is definitely an improvement and hopefully is an indication of where this series will go in the future.

Armchair Empire

Like I wrote when reviewing "Mario Party 4," "As a single-player experience MP4 lacks in excitement and any kind of addictive fun factor."

Nintendo Power

Six boards and four gameplay modes give players plenty of options and hours of non-stop partying. [Feb 2005, p.113]

TotalGames.net

Whether you're frantically picking up letters to give to the Shy Guy postman, or mowing as much grass as you can, the games are inventive, manic and most importantly fun. [JPN Import]

NintendoWorldReport

Most of the new features in Mario Party 6 add little to the overall experience, so it’s hard to recommend the game to owners of either previous GameCube entry to the series. However, if you’re a hardcore fan of the series, the sixth game may be enticing as an expansion pack of new mini-games, which are abundant.

1UP

The microphone mini-game selection is too small to make Mario Party 6's appeal that much wider. But for those who appreciate sitting down for a long night of Star collecting and raucous behavior, Mario Party 6 is a polished upgrade with solid improvements.

Detroit Free Press

It can be cool but sometimes is overdone.

WHAM! Gaming

While a bit of a novelty, the mic works well, even if the games could have just as easily been played with a regular joystick.

eToychest

The implementation of the microphone peripheral is a huge misstep, but a limited number of players may still manage to eke some enjoyment out of its inclusion.

Kombo

The mini-games are repetitious and require little skill, the CPU-controlled characters are easy to beat even on higher difficulty levels (unlock the Brutal difficulty mode for a fairly decent challenge), and the microphone is a neat peripheral that adds nothing amazing to the game.

IGN

But if you've played the previous two games already and you and your friends are hungry for more, don't think twice. Four-player games are still a blast. You just have to keep your expectations in check and expect more of less.

Yahoo! Games

If you've never been a fan of the series, or if you are deprived of living, breathing friends, this latest version won't win you over. On the other hand, if you're a Mario Party devotee surrounded with human companionship, Mario Party 6 will offer hours of entertainment and a satisfying way to spend a social evening.

Pelaaja (Finland)

If you are not familiar with the long-running series then Mario Party 6 is definitely the game to get. It does contain plenty of new features for longtime fans as well. [May 2005, p 81]

Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Not the greatest party ever. This series is in desperate need of a fresh injection of originality. [NGC]

GameCube Europe

If you have 4 players then you would struggle to find a more entertaining game, but with fewer players it’s just slow and pointless.

PALGN

While the game offers one of the best mixes of gameplay out of the entire series, I still can't deny that the outdated visuals and audio is really starting to hurt the series.

N-Insanity

Multiplayer mode is a blast, however single-player mode is useless when compared to the aforementioned.

GameShark

A step in the right direction. It makes the generally boring board portion of the game more interesting with the addition of the strategic Orbs and the day and night shifts. It does not completely solve the past games’ problems, but I’ll take what I can get.

GameSpot

On the surface, Mario Party 6 seems to offer some of the biggest fundamental changes the series has ever seen. But this is really just a fresh coat of paint on an old building. Luckily for us, though, the building's foundation is still pretty strong.

Electronic Gaming Monthly

The new microphone-based minigames are more gimmicky than fun, and I hate passing the mic back and forth. It's still a fun party game. [Feb 2005, p.114]

Da Gameboyz

Truly a multiplayer game that should be experienced by more than one person.

Game Informer

Playing against the AI is tedious and boring in the extreme. [Feb 2005, p.117]

games(TM)

Feeling somewhat bland against some of its predecessors, Mario Party 6’s games come off as lacking in skill, not to mention creativity; the coating may look different, but the core concepts are incredibly repetitive. [Feb 2005, p.106]

GamerFeed

The mini-games still remain a treat for four players, and the use of a microphone is a smart idea, and comes in handy at points. However, the game's single player mode remains a letdown, and the graphics and sound come across as a rerun.

Gaming Age

Those gamers that have enjoyed the series will no doubt find Mario Party 6 a worthy addition to their gaming libraries. Likewise, those that hate the series with a passion will want to steer clear.

Game Revolution

The inclusion of the microphone doesn’t have any notable impact on the quality of the game and the whole formula is starting to look its age.

Sydney Morning Herald

The biggest problem is the excessive waiting between contests. Watching characters roll dice and trudge around the board is also tedious.

Eurogamer

Offers too much tedium and not nearly enough fun, mic or no mic.