Publisher(s) Nintendo | Composer(s) Motoi Sakuraba | |
Developer(s) Camelot Software Planning Director(s) Haruki Kodera (N64)
Yasuhiro Taguchi (GBC) Producer(s) Shinji Hatano
Hiroyuki Takahashi
Shugo Takahashi
Hidetoshi Endo Designer(s) Hiroyuki Takahashi
Shugo Takahashi | ||
Mario Golf (マリオゴルフ64, Mario Gorufu Rokujūyon, Mario Golf 64) 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. It is the second game in the Mario Golf series (though the first to carry that name). Its tagline was "Tee up with Mario and his friends!"
Contents
A portable version of this game for Game Boy Color (known as Mario Golf GB (マリオゴルフＧＢ) in Japan) was also developed by Camelot Software Planning. Unlike the console version, it includes role-playing video game elements.
Gameplay
Players can play as 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 (save 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 also 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. That way, you can play as these characters in full 3D. Additionally, data from the Nintendo 64 version is saved onto the Game Boy Color version of the game. However, the characters imported onto the Nintendo 64 version are not saved onto the cartridge; you must upload the characters again to play as them on the Nintendo 64. 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
The Nintendo 64 version received "universal acclaim" according to the review aggregation 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.