Mario Party Advance
Template:Infobox Mario Party Advance is the seventh game in the Mario Party series and the first handheld installment of the series, specifically for the Game Boy Advance. The game revolves around either Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Yoshi travelling across Shroom City to collect the minigames and Gaddgets that fell from Party World, an area dedicated to partying high above the sky. After Bowser and Koopa Kid attack Party World, Toad tasks them with collecting everything that fell down. This can only be accomplished by helping out the city's citizens and stopping Bowser from exerting his influence. Shroom City can only be accessed with a single player; barring a few minigames, Gaddgets, and a physical Bonus Board that is played alongside the video game, the game does not focus on multiplayer.
Mario Party Advance was released in Japan on January 13, 2005, in Singapore at March 23, 2005, in North America in March 28, 2005 and in Europe in June 10, 2005.[1] Mario Party Advance was re-released on the Wii U's Virtual Console in North America and Europe on December 25, 2014, and in Australia on December 26, 2014.
Story
It is a normal day in Party World when the player first arrives there. Toad is telling Mario about the game, when Bowser drops in and scatters all of the minigames and Gaddgets throughout Shroom City. Now, Mario must go and retrieve them all by traveling all over Shroom City and restore peace to Party World.
Characters
There a total of four playable characters in Mario Party Advance, the least amount of any Mario Party game to date. It does, however, boast many more non-playable characters that the player helps out during the story mode, as well as other supporting characters than most other Mario Party games.
Playable Characters
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Starting Position | Town Area | Starting Position | Seaside Area | Starting Position | Jungle Area | Starting Position | Horror Area |
Hosts
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Hosts | Shroom City | Hosts | Play Land and Party Land | Hosts | Play Land | Hosts | Party Land and Challenge Land |
Toads
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Shroom City's detective. Every time there is a case, Shroomlock arrives at the scene of the crime. | A mystery-loving guy. Every time the player finds something strange, Mr. E arrives to investigate. | A huge fan of the TV show, Toad Force V. He can provide the player with rare Toad Force V merchandise. | Shroomlock's wife. When the player visits the Shroomlock House, she'll tell them a tip about what to do next. |
Descriptions
Character | Icon | Title | Description |
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Akiki | File:Akiki Icon.png | "Ukiki's adorable little niece." | "She's a little bit of a tomboy. She looks up to her uncle Ukiki." |
Amp | "Lives in town and loves to play games." | "Loves to play games. Has a short fuse and gets mad easily." | |
Big Bob-omb | "Lives in a secret room somewhere in town." | "The head of the Bob-omb gang. Quite mellow in his old age." | |
Blooper | "A duelist at the Mushroom Beacon." | "He trains hard at the lighthouse. He trains to be a master." | |
Bob-omb | "Lives in town. Loves the word "Victory"!" | "Belongs to a shadowy gang of some sort. He's very nice." | |
Bob-omba | "Lives in town and just loves flowers." | "Belongs to a shadowy gang. She just loves flowers." | |
Boo | "'One of the mischievous Boos at Boo Cemetery." | "Boos love to play pranks, but they're fiercely loyal." | |
Bowser | "'Pops up all over. Has the hots for Peach." | "He's an awful person who makes mayhem for Mario and his friends." | |
Bullet Bill | "Trains at Mushroom Stadium." | "A brash and boisterous soul, but he IS the #1 sprinter." | |
Chain Chomp | "A duelist living in town." | "Mouser use to take care of it. It loves to duel any passerby." | |
Cheep Cheep | "Practices swimming at Mushroom Pool." | "A great swimmer, if only he could get over his insecurities." | |
Coach | "Trains Cheep Cheep to swim." | "Once, he was a champion, but now, he trains future champions." | |
Dorrie | "Lives in Loch Dorrie and looks lonely." | "Just a big, sad dinosaur looking for a soul mate." | |
Flutter | "Lives in Mushroom Condo." | "She's a hip girl who knows her trends. Looking for a boyfriend." | |
Fly Guy | "Lives on the rooftop of Mushroom Condo." | "The head of the Bob-omb gang. Quite mellow in his old age." | |
Goomba | "Lives in Goomba House. Digs dancing." | "He's considerate and caring. He likes to share with friends." | |
Goombetty | File:MPA Goombetty Icon.png | "Goes to school with Goombob." | "The best student at her school. Plays violin beautifully." |
Goombob | File:MPA Goombob Icon.png | "A rich kid who lives at Goombob Manor." | "He's got a big crush on a girl in town. His folks are away." |
Hammer Bro | "'A world-champion hammer thrower." | "A champion, through and through. Loves a good challenge." | |
Hoot | "Lives in the jungle and loves to play games." | "Loves to play games, but his bad attitude makes him lose." | |
Hulu | "Teaches at the Dance Stage." | "A sensitive dance instructor who cries at the drop of a hat." | |
Kamek | "The Game Mage out in the desert." | "He has never lost a game. Once, he was Bowser's mentor." | |
Klepto | "Lives in the Klepto Ruins." | "Protector of treasures. Holds the key to the ancient lock." | |
Koopa | "Works at Koopa Bank." | "An all-business chap who just can't stop cleaning." | |
Koopa Kid | "Pops up everywhere. Idolizes Bowser." | "He adores Bowser and obeys his every whim. He's not too bright." | |
Lakitu | "Lives in Lakitu House." | "A huge fan of Toad Force V. Loves to quote the series." | |
Lantern Ghost | "Lives in Horror Condo." | "A huge fan of Toad Force V. Runs the TFV Fan Club." | |
Mechakoopa | "Works at Mushroom Library." | "Discovered Mechakoopa's theorem. Often lost in thought." | |
Monty Mole | "Lives in town and loves to play games." | "Loves playing games, but hates losing his money in the process." | |
Mouser | "The most challenging duelist in Duel Tower." | "This perfect duelist has even battled it out with Bowser!" | |
Mr. Blizzard | "Plays baseball at the Ice Stadium." | "An ace pitcher with the Snowtown Ice Stars." | |
Mr. E | "Loves to unravel any unsolved mysteries." | "Shows up when mystery rears its mysterious head. Cowardly." | |
Mr. I | "A reclusive gent in the horror area." | "A gentleman at heart, but a bit gruff from time to time." | |
Mrs. S | "Lives in Shroomlock House." | "She loves gossip as much as she loves her dear Shroomlock." | |
Mushbert | "Lives in Mushroom Condo." | "A huge fan of Toad Force V. Knows all about the show." | |
Ninji | "Lives in Horror Condo." | "A huge fan of Toad Force V. Wants a special DVD of the show." | |
Paratroopa | "Runs Junk, the item superstore." | "A big-brother type, who looks after everyone in town." | |
Penguin | "Plays games in the icy regions of Shroom City." | "Loves to play games. He wants to buy a ring for Pengwen." | |
Petal Guy | "A forlorn poet living in the jungle." | "He's a lovesick artist. Writes poetry to the woman he loves." | |
Piranha Plant | "Grows in the desert. Loves water." | "It's pretty and healthy, but also quite dangerous..." | |
Pokey | "'A "skill" duelist lurking in Duel Tower" | "He challenges strangers to answer 3 riddles before leaving." | |
Salvo | "Trains at Mushroom Stadium." | "He seems lazy, but his skills are top notch." | |
Shroomlock | "Detective of Toadland Yard. Loves ice cream." | "A brilliant detective, but a bit on the lazy side." | |
Shy Guy | "Works at the train station." | "He works without complaint and without rest. He's diligent!" | |
Snifit | "Lives in Horror Condo." | "Loves to be scared. Wants to see a ghost more than anything!" | |
Spear Guy | "A duelist living in the jungle." | "He hides in the jungle, waiting for a duelist with a mustache." | |
Sushi | "Always near Sushi Cliff (in the water)." | "Has a sharp tongue and even sharper teeth. Hates crooks." | |
Thwomp | "Lives alone in the Thwomp House." | "He looks mean, but he's really just lonely. He wants friends!" | |
Toady | "Lives in Mushroom Condo." | "Heads up the popular rap act "Kamek Crew." | |
Ukiki | "Lives in Ukiki House with his niece." | "A kind soul who loves kids and all kinds of baked goods." | |
Whomp | "A "power" duelist lurking in Duel Tower." | "Based on power alone, he's even stronger than Mouser himself!" |
Antagonists
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The main antagonist who roams in Shroom City stealing Minigames and Gaddgets. |
Game Modes
Shroom City
The main mode in the game, as well as the only one that is playable once the game is started. The player can take control of Mario, Luigi, Peach, or Yoshi and travel around Shroom City, beating the quests and collecting minigames and Gaddgets to play in the other modes.
Play Land
Play Land, hosted by Toad and E. Gadd, is a free play mode, in which the player can either play the minigames they have earned, give minigames to others, play with Gaddgets, or give away Gaddgets.
Party Land
Party Land, hosted by Toad and Toadette, is a mode in which multiple players can play duel minigames, a secret battle, a Koopa Kid battle, a 100-player battle, or a 100-player attack.
Challenge Land
Challenge Land, hosted by Toadette, is a mode in which players can play minigames to earn coins. In Challenge Land, there is a Mini-Game Attack, the Game Room, a Duel Dash, Bowser Land, and an option to trade coins for Gaddgets.
Mini-Game Attack
The player selects one of the four characters, and meets the host, Toad. Here, the player will play through fifteen mini-games in order to win coins. After Toad explains everything, a list of three minigames will appear, and the player can pick which one they think they can win. The minigames also appear as they would in Free Play, but with winning conditions. If a player loses a minigame, they will lose everything they accumulated up to this point. If they win five games, they can win 1,000 coins, ten games results in 10,000 coins, and 100,000 coins for all fifteen games. During the attack, they can either keep their total, or use their special items to help. There are three special items, Switch, Replay, and Practice. Replay allows the player to play the games that they completed again, Switch changes three current games with three new ones, and Practice allows the player to try a game before playing it for real.
Game Room
Here, the player selects a character and enters a casino-style room and play gamble mini-games as much as they want to earn coins. If the player has no coins, Toad will give them ten coins.
Duel Dash
In Duel Dash, which is hosted by Toadette, the player will compete against a computer to win coins. There are three modes: easy to win 1,000 coins; normal to win 10,000 coins, and hard to win 100,000 coins. In easy, the players play three mini-games, in normal, five, and in hard, eight. The mini-games are decided at random.
Bowser Land
In Bowser Land, the player is trying to reach co-hosts Bowser and Koopa Kid to earn coins, while also playing Bowser mini-games. The game and number of Koopa Kids are chosen at random. To reach Bowser, the player rides on a roller coaster, the number of areas being picked randomly. Each stop at a checkpoint counts as one space, and stopping at one results in playing a Bowser mini-game. During the game, however, if Bowser feels the player is taking too long in reaching him, he will end the game himself. If the player arrives at the end of the track at a time Bowser considers too late or early, the amount of coins won will be low.
Quests
The following is a list of all 49 quests in Mario Party Advance. Once the player successfully completes a quest, he or she will earn a Gaddget or a minigame.
Town Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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Find the Password | Bob-omb Avenue | Bob-omb | The player must find the password to join the Bob-omb gang in order to receive a Gaddget. | |
Flowers Are a Blast! | Bob-omba | Bob-omba | The player must find a flower in the desert to give to Bob-omba | |
Chomper Stomper | Chain Chomp | Chain Chomp | The player must play and win the duel mini-game, Chain Saw. | |
Kind Goomba | Goomba House | Goomba | The player must buy a train ticket and give it to the Goomba. | |
Accessorize! | Goombob Manor | Goombob | The player must find a seashell and give it to Goombob to give to his girlfriend, Goombetty. | |
Hey, UFO! | Mushroom Condo (Roof) | Mr. E | The player must help a Fly Guy summon a UFO for Mr. E's investigation. | |
Hearts A-Flutter | Mushroom Condo (3rd Floor) | Flutter | The player must go to somebody and share Flutter's feelings for him. | |
Kamek Krew Live! | Mushroom Condo (2nd Floor) | Kamek Krew | The player must find a stadium for the Kamek Crew to perform at. | |
Big Boss Bob-omb | Mushroom Condo (Basement) | Big Bob-omb | After finding Big Bob-omb's hidden basement hideout, the player must hit a higher number than Big Bob-omb on the dice blocks three times to win. | |
Weeping Thwomp | Thwomp House | Thwomp | The player must solve the mystery as to who robbed Thwomp. | |
Probably a Robbery? | Town Koopa Bank | Koopa | The player must solve the mystery as to who robbed the Town Bank. | |
Winners Keepers | Town Game Room A | Monty Mole | The player must win the mini-game in order to break Monty Mole's losing streak. | |
Losing Streak | Town Game Room B | Amp | The player must win the mini-game in order to break Amp's losing streak. | |
Locomotionless | Train Station | Shy Guy | The player must find coal in order to make Shy Guy's locomotive mobile once more. |
Desert Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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Treasure of Mystery! | Klepto Ruins | Klepto | The player must solve the code to Klepto's treasure chest. | |
Hammerama | Mushroom Field | Hammer Bro. | The player must beat the Hammer Bro's hammer-swinging record. | |
A Speeding Bill | Mushroom Stadium | Bullet Bill | The player must reach the finish line before the Bullet Bill. | |
Mysterious Riddles | Pokey | Pokey | The player must answer Pokey's riddles correctly. | |
Game Mage | The Hammer | Kamek | The player must win the gambling game Pair 'Em by earning at least 31 coins. |
Seaside Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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Duel Tower, 1F | Duel Tower | Whomp | The player must win the mini-game (Stair Scare) to advance to the second floor. | |
Duel Tower, 2F | Duel Tower | Salvo the Slime | The player must win the mini-game (Volleybomb) to advance to the third floor. | |
Duel Tower, 3F | Duel Tower | Mouser | The player must win the mini-game (Chicken!) to complete the Duel Tower. | |
What's That Line? | Lakitu House | Lakitu | The player must discover the quote from episode 28 that Lakitu has forgotten. | |
Blooper Battle | Mushroom Beacon | Blooper | The player must win the mini-game Hammergeddon. | |
Mathemagician! | Mushroom Library | Mechakoopa | The player must correctly answer Mechakoopa's math questions. | |
Swimmin' Wimp | Mushroom Pool | Coach | The player must convincingly let the Cheep Cheep win the swimming race, BUT MUST make the loss look natural. That means NO letting him win. Make it close! | |
Comedy Bomb | Mario Vaudeville | Dolphin | The player must laugh at the appropriate times to restore the Dolphin's comedic self-confidence. | |
Sploosh! | Sushi Cliff | Sushi | The player must figure out who pulled Shroomlock off of the cliff. |
Horror Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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True-Blue Boo | Boo Cemetery | Boo | The player must discover which Boo is an impostor in order to find out who stole the Golden Boo Statue. | |
Condo of Mystery! | Horror Condo (2F) | Snifit | The player must make the condo haunted by convincing the Boo Cemetery Boos to. | |
DVD for Me | Horror Condo (1F) | Ninji | The player must collect a Toad Force V DVD to give to Ninji. | |
Nerd Force V | Horror Condo (Basement) | Lantern Ghost | The player must collect a Toad Force V figurine to prove that he or she is a true fan of the show. | |
Love That Princess! | Mr. I | Mr. I | The player must play as Princess Peach and visit Mr. I. |
Snow Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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Engaging Game | Ice Game Room | Penguin | The player must win the mini-game so that Penguin can buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend, Pengwen. | |
Cool as Ice | Ice Stadium | Mr. Blizzard | The player must hit a home run. |
Forest Area
Title | Location | Type | Client | Description |
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Jungle Jive | Dance Stage | Hulu | The player must press the buttons displayed in sync with the music to dance correctly. | |
Debt's a Hoot | Jungle Game Hut | Hoot | The player must win the mini-game to break Hoot's losing streak. | |
Dino of Mystery! | Loch Dorrie | Dorrie | The player must visit Dorrie while playing as Yoshi. | |
Blossom of My Heart | Petal House | Petal Guy | The player must deliver Petal Guy's poem of love to his secret crush. | |
Mustached Hero! | Spear Thicket | Spear Guy | The player must win the duel mini-game while playing as either Mario or Luigi. | |
Monkeynapping!? | Ukiki House | Akiki | The player must find out where the mayoral Ukiki has disappeared to. |
Bowser Quests
Title | Location | Type | Completion Required to Enter | Description |
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Goal Tenderizer | Bowser Stadium | 3 | The player must successfully shoot 3 goals past Bowser at a game of soccer; the player must then win a mini-game (Splatterball). | |
Chillin' Villain | Mt. Frostbite | 10 | The player must answer Bowser's jokes correctly; the player must then win a mini-game (Crushed Ice). | |
Bowser: Accused! | Bowser Mansion | 15 | The player must solve the mystery as to whether or not Bowser stole the museum's paintings; the player must then win a mini-game (Mush Rush). | |
Bowser's Toys | Bowser Toy Shop | 20 | The player must answer all of Bowser's questions correctly; the player must then win a mini-game (Slammer). | |
Boss Bowser | Bowser Hideout | 25 | The player must win Bowser's game of luck; the player must then win a mini-game. | |
Bestest Buds | Bowser Pad | 30 | The player must buy Bowser a gift; the player must then win a mini-game (Peek-n-Sneak). | |
Game King | Bowser Game Hall | 35 | The player player must win Bowser's gambling game. | |
Bowserstein! | Bowser Lab | 40 | The player must duel the Naval Piranha by winning a mini-game (Koopa Kurl). | |
Final Showdown | Bowser Gate | 49 | The player must win the mini-game (Trap Floor). |
Minigames
- Main article: List of Mario Party Advance minigames
Bonus Board
- Main article: Bonus Board
The Bonus Board is an extra feature added to the main game. It is also the only way to play a multiplayer game without using a link cable. The Bonus Board is a board made of paper which comes packaged with the game. The Game Boy Advance acts as the dice and can be used to play multiplayer Gaddgets.
Staff
- Main article: List of Mario Party Advance staff
Reception
Mario Party Advance received mixed reviews. It was given a 6/10 rating from IGN[2]. The IGN review states that the game "features a whole slew of different things to do and play, but it all seems just a bit uncreative for the first outing on the handheld system." The review also states that "there's so much text in the game because each task features a character with the gift of gab, and if you fail the task by running out of dice rolls, you have to sit through all that text again and again until you get it right." The review also complains how no mini-games "ever really reach that "wow, that was fun!" level" and how the concept of the mini-games is unoriginal. The reviewer praises "the game's not all that bad, with a nice assortment of basic one-off challenges that can be played at any time".
The game received a 6.5/10 rating from GameSpot[3]. The review states that the game has "hundreds of minigames," "The story mode offers unique method of unlockables," and "[There are] hilarious integrations of Mario characters and settings". However, the game was criticized for having a lack of multiplayer modes and that multiplayer minigames required players to take turns. The reviewer also complains about how "graphics and audio are rather plain."
The game received a 1/10 rating from EuroGamer[4]. The reviewer lambasted the game for being bland and uncreative.
The game was listed in the Guinness World Records 2014 Gamer's Edition as the worst-selling Mario game of all time.
Gallery
Pre-release and unused content
Trivia
- Most of the minigame themes in this game were from Mario Party 3 and Mario Party 4.
- In addition, the passport theme from this game was a cover of the main menu theme from Mario Party 4.
- This is the only game in the entire Mario Party spin-off series not to feature Wario and the first Mario Party game not to feature Donkey Kong. It is also the only post-Mario Party 3 game not to feature Princess Daisy or Waluigi, as well as the only Mario Party game after Mario Party 4 not to feature Toad as a playable character.
- This game is rated as Teenage Restricted by Korea Media Rating Board[5] likely because of the gamble minigames.
References
- ^ http://mariopartylegacy.com/mariopartyadvance
- ^ http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/599/599175p1.html
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/mariopartyadvance/review.html
- ^ http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mariopartyadvance_gba
- ^ http://grac.or.kr/Statistics/Popup/Pop_StatisticsDetails.aspx?d043c5015360d550bae284d04165044ccecd98f227eaeaf17ed258610ac557e8