Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

	Mario Golf
Developer(s)	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Platform(s)	Nintendo 64, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U)
Release date	Nintendo 64:; June 11, 1999 ; July 26, 1999 ; September 14, 1999 ; September 14, 1999 ; Virtual Console (Wii):; September 30, 2008 ; October 6, 2008 ; January 23, 2009 ; January 23, 2009 ; Virtual Console (Wii U); September 2, 2015 ; September 3, 2015 ; October 8, 2015 ; October 9, 2015 ;
Genre	Golf
ESRB:	- Everyone
CERO:	- All ages
ACB:	- General
USK:	- All ages
Mode(s)	Single player; 1-4 player multiplayer
Media	Nintendo 64: Cartridge Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download
Input	Nintendo 64: Nintendo 64 Controller Wii: Wii Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote Wii Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller

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This article is about the Nintendo 64 game named Mario Golf. For the Game Boy Color game of the same name, see Mario Golf (Game Boy Color). For the Mario Golf series, see Mario Golf (series).

Mario Golf (マリオゴルフ64 Mario Gorufu Rokujūyon, Mario Golf 64) is the first installment for the Mario Golf series and was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. It was developed by Camelot Software Planning. Though several sports games featured Mario characters in the past, Mario Golf is considered the first game in the modern "Mario Sports" line. It would be followed by several titles encompassing a variety of sports. Its Game Boy Color counterpart was released later that same year.

Gameplay[edit]

Mario Golf is a golf game which combines largely traditional mechanics and gameplay devices with a cartoonish presentation, and a roster of characters and hazards taken from the Mario universe.

The basic gameplay uses the typical "sliding bar" mechanism of most golf video games, with several variables which must be anticipated, such as character attributes, wind strength and direction, rain, ball spin, and course topography. The gameplay modes include speed golf, ring shot, mini golf and skins match.

Players can play most of the multiplayer modes with CPU players by selecting a character and pressing while holding down . However, Club Slots and Mini-Golf do not allow CPU players.

Scores[edit]

Depending on how many strokes the player required to take to hit the ball into the hole, players receive a score and a name for the score. The following is a list of them, from best to worst scores:

Name	Image	Description
Hole-in-One		The player has sunk the ball in the hole with one stroke. It is the easiest to receive in Par 3 holes, though possible in Par 4 or 5 holes as well.
Albatross		The player has sunk the ball three below par. It is possible to receive only in Par 5 holes.
Eagle		The player has sunk the ball two below par.
Birdie		The player has sunk the ball one below par.
Par		The player has sunk the ball without taking any extra strokes or having less strokes.
Bogey or more		The player has sunk the ball above par. When players have scored worse than a Bogey, a number indicating the number of extra strokes taken is shown instead.

Game Modes[edit]

Mario Golf features 10 game modes:

Tournament[edit]

Number of Players: 1

This mode consists of a tournament between the human player and 29 computer players in an 18-hole course (though the computer players aren't seen except in the leaderboards). Despite this, there are only 14 playable characters in this game. The CPU player names range from characters from franchises such as Mario to The Legend of Zelda to Star Fox, as well as the first names of real people, usually localisers and voice actors. The player's objective is to finish the tournament in the top three positions to earn a Trophy.

The player earns the most Course Points when they finish a tournament in 1st place.

Birdie Badges can be earned by finishing a hole with Birdie or better.

Get Character[edit]

Number of Players: 1

The player competes in a Match Game against another computer player. In this game, the player with the fewest strokes gets a point. However, if the losing player cannot catch-up, the game will end. If the 18th hole is finished and the game is tied, Sudden Death starts. If the player wins, they unlock that character.

Ring Shot[edit]

Number of Players: 1

The player must shoot the ball through all rings while finishing at par or better.

Speed Golf[edit]

Wario beginning a round of Speed Golf.

Number of Players: 1

The player must finish all 18 holes as fast as possible.

Stroke Play[edit]

Number of Players: 1-4 (CPU allowed)

A standard game of golf. The winner is the player with the fewest total strokes.

Mini-Golf[edit]

Number of Players: 1-4 (CPU not allowed)

Like Stroke Play but in mini-golf courses. Despite the rules being the same, CPU characters cannot be played against. The player selects from two courses, and each hole is par 3. It has three settings: Green (green-themed with a normal ball speed), Slow (blue-themed with a low ball speed), and Fast (red-and-yellow-themed with a high ball speed). Luigi's Garden has the first nine holes looking like numbers 1 to 9 and the last nine holes looking like letters A to I. The first 17 holes of Peach's Castle look like the rest of the alphabet letters and Hole 18 resembles a question mark. In Training, Mini-Golf courses do not play the Training BGM and instead play their own.

Training[edit]

Driving Range logo.

Number of Players: 1

The player can play any course and hole, as well as change the weather settings. Driving Range is only available in this mode.

Match Play[edit]

Number of Players: 2 (CPU allowed)

Like Get Character but with two players.

Skins Match[edit]

Number of Players: 2-4 (CPU allowed)

The winner of the hole gets a point. In a tie, the points are carried over. The winner is the one with the most points.

Club Slots[edit]

Number of Players: 2-4 (CPU not allowed)

Like Skins Match, but with randomized clubs (though the player can use the putter at any time). Despite the objective being the same, CPU players cannot participate.

Interactions with Mario Golf GBC[edit]

Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 has the ability to link and exchange data with Game Boy Color version of the same game. With the use of the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak, the player can use the characters: Kid, Azalea, Sherry, and/or Joe from the Game Boy Color version to play through the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf. The unlockable characters from the Game Boy Color version: Putts, Grace, Tiny, and Gene are not transferrable.

Courses[edit]

There are eight courses in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Golf. They are:

1. Toad Highlands
2. Koopa Park
3. Shy Guy Desert
4. Yoshi's Island
5. Boo Valley
6. Mario's Star
A. Luigi's Garden
B. Peach's Castle

Characters[edit]

Playable[edit]

Kid about to be transferred from the Game Boy Color version.

The following is a list of default characters in the order of which they are unlocked. Kid, Joe, Sherry, and Azalea can also be unlocked through a Transfer Pak. In the Virtual Console port, the Transfer Pak feature to transfer these characters from the Game Boy Color version was removed. Each character has three alternate colors to choose from (players can choose the colors by using the , , and , and each character can be chosen multiple times if there is more than one player.

Plum		Charlie		Princess Peach		Baby Mario

Drive	190 m	Drive	192 m	Drive	194 m	Drive	197 m
Shot	Straight	Shot	Fade	Shot	Straight	Shot	Draw
Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Fireball
Luigi		Yoshi		Sonny		Wario

Drive	200 m	Drive	210 m	Drive	220 m	Drive	230 m
Shot	Fade	Shot	Straight	Shot	Draw	Shot	Fade
Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Rainbow	Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Thunder
Unlock	Character Match #1 Default in 2~4P	Unlock	Character Match #2 Default in 2~4P	Unlock	Character Match #3 Default in 2~4P	Unlock	Character Match #4 Default in 2~4P
Harry		Mario		Maple		Donkey Kong

Drive	240 m	Drive	250 m	Drive	225 m	Drive	250 m
Shot	Draw	Shot	Draw	Shot	Straight	Shot	Fade
Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Fireball	Nice Shot Effect	Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Rainbow
Unlock	Character Match #5 Default in 2~4P	Unlock	Character Match #6 Default in 2~4P	Unlock	Collect 50 Birdie Badges.	Unlock	Collect 30 Stars in Ring Shots.
		Bowser		Metal Mario^*

		Drive	260 m	Drive	260 m
		Shot	Draw	Shot	Draw
		Nice Shot Effect	Flame Ray	Nice Shot Effect	Fireball
		Unlock	Character Match #7	Unlock	Collect All 108 Birdie Badges.

^* - Only available in North American and PAL versions of the game; is not present in the Japanese version.

Non Playable[edit]

Toad

Gallery[edit]

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Mario Golf (Nintendo 64).

Media[edit]

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Staff[edit]

Main article: List of Mario Golf (Nintendo 64) staff

Reception[edit]

Mario Golf garnered generally favorable reviews. GameSpot describes the game as easy to play, by having simple features and by "removing the guesswork for gamers who are not familiar with the subtle nuances of golf" that may put off many players. IGN stated "When it comes to the intricacies that make golf the most loved and frustrating game on the planet, Mario Golf has it all. Challenging, but you will be drawn into it because of the nature of golf and your fear that the "little cartoon game" is mocking you".

Reviews
Release	Reviewer, Publication	Score	Comment
N64	Aaron Boulding, IGN	8.3/10	"Mario Golf is fun, plain and simple. It's better than Waialea Country Club hands down, offering a much richer game of golf. While I eventually learned to tune out the cartoon-style characters and focus on the tougher parts of the game, it may be tough to reel-in those 19 year-olds like Nintendo wanted because it just doesn't look like a game they'd enjoy. That's too bad because there's plenty of fun underneath all of those layers. There are better sports games out there to be sure, but right now, Mario Golf should be the golfing game of choice."
N64	Lauren Fielder, GameSpot	7.2/10	"All in all, Mario Golf is an excellent adaptation of the N64 title, and it's a Game Boy experience that stands well on its own. The music is even reflective of the N64's - it varies, depending on how well you're doing, and it's constant without being annoying. The only thing missing, audiowise, are the taunts, and frankly, you'll probably do just fine on your own."
Aggregators
Compiler		Platform / Score
Metacritic		91
GameRankings		87.32%

Sales[edit]

Mario Golf is the 37th best selling game for the Nintendo 64, selling approximately 1.5 million copies worldwide - 650,000 copies each in North America and Japan, and 200,000 elsewhere - and it would later be re-released as a Nintendo 64 "Player's Choice" title.

References to other games[edit]

Donkey Kong - One of Wario's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the blue shirt and red overalls that Mario wore in his first appearance.
Super Mario Bros. - One of Bowser's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the green skin that Bowser had in his first appearance. A cover version of the overworld theme plays in Mario's Star and during part of the credits. A cover version of the underground theme is heard during the player's attempt to score a birdie.
NES Open Tournament Golf - One of Peach's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is her green dress and Daisy's blue dress.
Super Mario World - One of Yoshi's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf are the Red Yoshi, the Blue Yoshi and the Yellow Yoshi.
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - Yoshi's sound effects were taken from this game.
Super Mario 64 - Names of several characters in this game appear on the score Board, and many sound effects from this game such as camera change are used. Also Metal Mario is playable and has the same sound effects. Mario's Hole-in-one animation is the same as his victory animation from this game.
Wario Land II and Wario Land 3 - One of Wario's alternate color schemes in Mario Golf is the monochromatic outfit he wears throughout these games.
Mario Party - Many of the sound effects from Mario Party, such as "menu select", "go back", "your turn", "pause", and "not available", are used. If the character whose taking their turn is out of Power Shots, it will make the "go back" sound in any attempt to press the when far away from the Green. One of Toad's voice clips from this game is reused.
Mario Kart 64 - Some of the sound effects from Mario Kart 64 are also used, such as "item drop" and "1st lap complete".

References in later games[edit]

Luigi's Mansion - Mario's pose is reused for his portrait artwork.
Super Smash Bros. Melee - Plum appears as a trophy.
Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Two of Wario's alternate costumes are his red and blue outfit and his black and white outfit.
Mario Golf: World Tour - In addition to being a sequel to this game, all six main courses in this game are available as downloadable content with updated music and visuals (though Shy Guy Desert, Yoshi's Island, and Boo Valley have been renamed to Layer-Cake Desert, Sparkling Waters, and Rock-Candy Mines, respectively, and the music for Mario's Star has been changed). In addition, Peach's hole-in-one and birdie animations are similar to the animations in this game, with the only difference being that she deliberately has her sport outfit transform into her trademark dress in World Tour.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U - Two of Bowser's alternate costumes are his blue skin and his green skin, two of Donkey Kong's alternate costumes are his blue fur and his yellow fur, and one of Luigi's alternate costumes is his dark green and yellow outfit.

Trivia[edit]

Wario's pink shoes.

Wario's shoes are pink in his models here, which is inconsistent with his artwork for this and other games. In Mario Tennis, however, his shoe colors are corrected.
The European/PAL version of the game has a different intro theme.
Interestingly, if Peach gets an Eagle or better, her sport dress extends to the ground.
While selecting a tournament in Tournament Mode, Boo Classic is misspelled as "Boo Clasic".
The sun sets when the player gets to the last six holes of the main courses, in any mode.
The ball makes a different sound when it bounces on the green than when it bounces on the fairway. In later games, both terrains produce the same sound for the ball.

External links[edit]

Official Mario Golf Japanese website