Mario Golf (video game)

Mario Golf
North American box art
Developer(s)	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Haruki Kodera (N64) Yasuhiro Taguchi (GBC)
Producer(s)	Shinji Hatano Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Hidetoshi Endo
Designer(s)	Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi
Composer(s)	Motoi Sakuraba
Series	Mario Golf
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color
Release	Nintendo 64 JP: June 11, 1999 NA: July 26, 1999 PAL: September 14, 1999 Game Boy Color JP: August 10, 1999 NA: October 5, 1999 PAL: October 26, 1999
Genre(s)	Sports
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Mario Golf is a sports game developed by Camelot Software Planning and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. In the game, Mario, his friends, and his enemies play golf on a variety of Mario-themed courses. Following NES Open Tournament Golf, it is the second game in the Mario Golf series.

A Game Boy Color version of this game was also developed by Camelot Software Planning. Unlike the console version, it includes role-playing video game elements.

Gameplay

Mario Golf is the first game in the series to use 3D computer graphics.

Players choose from a variety of characters including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and Wario. The game also introduces Plum, Sonny, Harry, Maple, and Charlie, new characters created by Camelot specifically for the game, who have not appeared since (except for Plum's appearance as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee and as a sticker in Super Smash Bros. Brawl). Players can then select from a number of courses which have features adapted to the Nintendo world. Mario Golf is very easy to play (also known as a "pick up and play" game) as it makes golf very simple, because it does away with many of the complicated real-life aspects of the sport that are found in games like Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2006. Although the game is easy to play and simple in appearance, the game's engine is very deep and there are a multitude of variables that can affect a shot, such as wind strength and direction (indicated by a Boo), rain, characters' individual attributes, spin on the ball, and relief of the land. There is a variety of gameplay modes, including speed golf, ring shot, mini golf and skins match. Every character in the game has recorded voice samples which can be used to comment on opponent's shots.

Transfer Pak

This game features Transfer Pak compatibility with the Game Boy Color version of Mario Golf. Players are able to upload characters and data found on the Game Boy version to the Nintendo 64 version. These characters are then playable in full 3D. Additionally, data from the Nintendo 64 version is saved onto the Game Boy Color version of the game. After playing a round with a GBC character, that character will earn experience points. Transfer Pak functionality is not included in the Virtual Console version.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate scores

Aggregator	Score
	GBC	N64	Wii
GameRankings	87.65%	87.32%	N/A
Metacritic	N/A	91/100	N/A

Review scores

Publication	Score
	GBC	N64	Wii
AllGame			N/A
EGM	N/A	8.12/10	N/A
Eurogamer	N/A	N/A	9/10
Famitsu	30/40	30/40	N/A
Game Informer	8.75/10	9/10	N/A
GamePro	N/A		N/A
GameSpot	7.2/10	8.7/10	N/A
IGN	10/10	8.3/10	8/10
Nintendo Life			N/A
Nintendo Power	8.7/10	8.5/10	N/A
ONM	N/A	N/A	89%

The Nintendo 64 version received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator website Metacritic. In Japan, Famitsu gave both console versions of the game a score of 30/40.

Sequel

A sequel to this game, Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour, was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003.

Template:Wikipedia books

External links

• Official Nintendo Japan Mario Golf 64 site
• Official Nintendo Japan Mario Golf Game Boy Color site
• Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) at MobyGames
• Mario Golf (Game Boy Color) at MobyGames