didnt know golf was this fun!! (Mario Golf (N64))

Member Name: indysangha

Product:	Mario Golf (N64)
Date:	23/07/01 (56 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fun for all ages, lasts long time

Disadvantages: none

If you have any interest in video golf whatsoever, you need to get this game. Nintendo has succeeded in making a golf game that is fun and challenging for young and grown-up people alike.

There are several different types of play in the game. You can play by yourself in tournament mode, in head-to-head mode against the computer or other golfers, in ring mode, speed mode, or in mini-golf.

Tournament mode is the big one - you start with a variety of Nintendo characters to choose from and one course to play on. Completing rounds earns you experience points, which are used to unlock other courses and characters. You also get trophies for finishing in the top three and Birdie Badges for getting a birdie (or better) on a hole. As with similar games, your goal is to unlock all courses and characters and collect all the badges.

Head-to-head mode provides another method of unlocking characters. Beating a character in match play enables you to use it in the other modes. The game also saves your records with each character against all the others. The best play with this mode, though, is against other players.

You can set handicaps, bet on each hole, the front nine, back nine, closest to pin, longest drive, and you can even play slot-machine golf, where each player gets only a random wood, long iron, and short iron for each hole - if you're lucky and get three stars, you get the full complement, but if you only get one star, you get one fewer club. Try playing a par-5 hole with your longest club being a 4-iron!

The ring-shot mode is challenging as well - you must hit your ball through one or more rings on the course and finish the hole in par or better. Clearing rings will unlock characters as well. If you think the first few tasks are easy, they will get tougher as you advance! Character by-character progress is saved for this as well.

Speed golf is interesting - your fastest times on each course are saved, along
with your corresponding scores - but not quite as much fine. Mini golf is included as well, but without any rewards I noticed.

If you think this is a good game so far, wait till you play the Game Boy version as well. You can use the Transfer Pack (sold separately, for some reason) to move your Game Boy character to the N64 version, where you can use your experience to build your character. This is essential for mastering the harder courses and beating the top golfers - your GBC character can become stronger than Wario and hit the ball straighter as well. You can also pit your characters against your friends' characters or trade them (if you're so inclined). Finally, you can send your N64 status back to your GBC and view it in more detail there - you can see each character's best score on each course. Even without the GBC version, this is a top-flight golf game in its own light. Add the Game Boy Color version and a Transfer Pack and you have a keeper.

This is by far one of the most addictive games that I have ever played on the Nintendo 64. Mario Golf takes the simple game of golf and creates a unique gaming experience that you will suprisingly find yourself coming back for more and more of.

The game starts by giving you one course to play on with a handful of characters to select from. Your goal is to accumulate experience points by playing in tournaments and playing against other characters in match-mode. After attaining a certain number of points, you can unlock a new course. To unlock new characters to control (such as Mario, Wario, and other familiar favorites), you need to beat them in one-on-one play. Other characters can also be unlocked by completing other game modes such as the "Ring Play" here you have to hit the ball through floating rings on the course and make par.

Of course Mario Golf also provides multi-player mode where you can tee it up with your friends on any of the available courses.


The learning curve for this game is minimal, providing an easy-to-use interface which allows you to select clubs, survey your shot, and put spin on the ball with little effort. The hardest part of the game, which it well should be, is judging the length of your shot and accounting for the wind.

There are a lot of hidden "easter eggs" inside this game and I won't spoil it by revealing them. The great thing is that playing the game over and over to open these secrets hasn't gotten boring and I've logged over a hundred hours playing this game!

Summary: