Mario Golf (Nintendo 64)

Mario Golf
For alternate box art, see the related gallery.
Developer	Camelot Software Planning
Publisher	Nintendo
Platforms	Nintendo 64, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics
Release dates	Nintendo 64: June 11, 1999 July 26, 1999 September 14, 1999[?] September 24, 1999 September 24, 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 8, 2015 Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classics: April 14, 2022 April 14, 2022 April 15, 2022 April 15, 2022 April 15, 2022 April 15, 2022
Languages	English Japanese
Genre	Golf
Ratings	ESRB: - Everyone[?] CERO: - All ages[?] ELSPA: - Three years and older[?] SELL: - All ages[?] USK: - All ages[?] ACB: - General[?]
Modes	Single player, multiplayer (up to four players)
Format	Nintendo 64: Game Pak Wii: Digital download Wii U: Digital download Nintendo Switch: Digital download
Input	Nintendo 64: Nintendo 64 Controller Wii: Classic Controller Nintendo GameCube Controller Wii U: Wii U GamePad Wii Remote Classic Controller Wii U Pro Controller Nintendo Switch: Joy-Con Joy-Con (horizontal) Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Nintendo 64 Controller (NSO)
Serial code	NUS-NMFJ-JPN

“Tee up with Mario and his friends!”

—Tagline

Mario Golf is the fourth installment of the Mario Golf series and is the first developed by Camelot Software Planning. It was released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999. Though several sports games featured characters of the Super Mario franchise 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.

The game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console in 2008 and the Wii U's Virtual Console in 2015, and it was released on Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Classics in April 2022.

Introduction

Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Plum are making some shots on the golf course. As each of them make their shots, their names appear onscreen. They are each complimented for their amazing shots, as they each try to make a hole in one. Later, as the four are fetching their balls, Mario already spots his ball. Peach then calls Mario over to see if the ball in front of her is hers. Mario checks to see, but the ball actually belongs to Yoshi (or Donkey Kong). Another ball suddenly zooms in, and the ball turns out to be Baby Mario's. Yoshi carries Baby Mario on his back (or Donkey Kong would carry Baby Mario), as their names appear on screen, surprising Mario and Peach, who laugh it off. Luigi then looks for his ball, but soon spots it, while spotting Toad with an O.B flag in the process. Luigi slaps his face, and shrugs, not knowing that Mario, Peach, and Plum are standing around him, laughing. Lakitu then flies by, as the game's logo appears on screen.

Gameplay

Mario Golf is a golf game which combines largely traditional mechanics and gameplay devices with a presentation from the Super Mario universe, featuring the Super Mario franchise roster and hazards.

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. The sun sets when the player gets to the last six holes of the main courses, in any mode.

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.

In this game, the golf 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.

Scores

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. It is most common on Par 5 holes, although it is possible to get on some Par 4 holes.
Birdie		The player has sunk the ball one below par. It is the lowest score in tournament mode that gets the player birdie badges.
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.

Controls

Action	Controls
Aim fast	/
Hit the ball
Change golf club	/
Change hitting mode
Change ball impact spot	/
Move camera ahead
Move camera back
Move camera higher up
Move camera lower down
Move camera to projected landing spot
Return camera back to character
Hide HUD during a live ball	Hold
Select CPU opponents in Multiplayer	Hold + A

Game modes

Mario Golf features 10 game modes:

Tournament

• 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 Super 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 also be earned by finishing a hole with Birdie or better. While selecting a tournament, Boo Classic is misspelled as "Boo Clasic". While continuing a hole on either the Yoshi Championship or the Boo Classic, their tournament names will also be swapped.

Get Character

• 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 player in the lead wins enough points that they would be mathematically ahead even after losing all remaining matches, the game will end early. If the game is tied after 18 holes, Sudden Death starts. If the player wins, they unlock that character.

Ring Shot

• Number of Players: 1

The player must shoot the ball through all rings while finishing at par or better. If the player does not make par, they must restart the hole from the beginning. There are six Ring Shot holes for each of the six courses, making a total of 36 holes. A new course is unlocked in Ring Shot after completing 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 holes. If 30 holes are completed, Donkey Kong is unlocked as a playable character. One Power Shot is allowed for each hole.

Speed Golf

Wario beginning a round of Speed Golf

• Number of Players: 1

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

Stroke Play

• Number of Players: 1-4 (CPU allowed)

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

Mini-Golf

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

Mario Golf features a Mini-Golf play mode, being the only game in the series with one. It plays similarly to Stroke Play, with identical rules but played on mini-golf courses with putters only. 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

• 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

• Number of Players: 2 (CPU allowed)

Like Get Character, but with two players and there are no characters to be unlocked.

Skins Match

• 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

• 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 for Game Boy Color

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

There are eight courses plus a training range.

Name	Icon	Description	Trophy
Toad Highlands		A standard grasslands course belonging to Toad suitable for beginners. It features only basic hazards such as water and bunkers. It is the host of the Toad Tournament and the only playable golf course by default.
Koopa Park		A more heavily wooded course with significantly more water and bunkers belonging to Koopa Troopa, and the course used in the Koopa Cup. It is unlocked after obtaining 50 Course points.
Shy Guy Desert		A desert belonging to Shy Guy and the course used in the Shy Guy International tournament. It features bunkers, cacti, waste area, and sand, though rain rarely occurs and there are no water hazards. It is unlocked after obtaining 300 Course points.
Yoshi's Island		A greenery island filled with large fruits belonging to Yoshi and is the course played in the Yoshi Championship. Rain and high winds are much more frequent here than the prior courses, and there are many lakes and ponds serving as water hazards. It is unlocked after obtaining 1000 Course points.
Boo Valley		A valley inhabited by Boos and the setting of the Boo Clasic[sic] tournament. Bunkers are rarer in this course and only one hole has a water hazard, though large cliffs prevail that can impede shots and out of bounds shots are common. The likelihood of rain increases on par 5 holes. It is unlocked after obtaining 1500 Course Points.
Mario's Star		The last and most difficult course in the game, owned by Mario, this course is played on in the Mario Open. Each hole is in the shape of various characters in the Mario franchise. It is unlocked after obtaining 2500 Course Points.

Other courses

Name	Description
Luigi's Garden	A Mini-Golf course owned by Luigi. The first nine holes are shaped as the digits 1 through 9, while the last nine holes resemble the letters A through I.
Peach's Castle	A Mini-Golf course owned by Peach and is visually identical to Luigi's Garden. The first 17 holes are shaped as the letters J through Z. The eighteenth hole resembles a question mark (?).
Driving Range	Driving Range is a single training course which holds 5 greens and signs marking yardage.

Characters

Playable

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, with Plum, Charlie, Peach, and Baby Mario being available from the start. Luigi, Yoshi, Sonny, Wario, Harry, and Mario are also available by default in multiplayer, but must be unlocked in singleplayer. Each character has three alternate colors to choose from (similar to the alternate costumes in Super Smash Bros.) (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, Sonny, Harry, and Maple make their first appearances in any game, while Metal Mario is absent from the Japanese version.

Kid, Joe, Sherry, and Azalea can also be unlocked through a Transfer Pak. In the Virtual Console port and Nintendo Switch Online, the Transfer Pak feature to transfer these characters from the Game Boy Color version was removed.

Default

Character	Drive	Shot	Nice Shot Effect	Bio
Plum	208 yards	Low and Straight	Ray	"For a beginner, Plum has a good shot, but she could use a little more power."
Charlie	210 yards	Low Fade	Ray	"Charlie started playing golf just to be cool, but now he's hooked. His ability, however, is the real question..."
Peach	212 yards	High and Straight	Ray	"Peach is an easy-to-play character. She lacks power but shoots straight."
Baby Mario	215 yards	High Draw	Fireball	"Baby Mario has a powerful swing for someone who's shorter than most clubs!"

Unlockable

Character	Drive	Shot	Nice Shot Effect	Unlock method	Bio
Luigi	220 yards	Low Fade	Ray	Character Match #1 (default in multiplayer)	"Always in the shadow of Mario, Luigi's fade ball forms the core of his attack."
Yoshi	230 yards	Standard Straight	Rainbow	Character Match #2 (default in multiplayer)	"Yoshi handles his clubs skillfully for nice, straight shots."
Sonny	240 yards	High Draw	Ray	Character Match #3 (default in multiplayer)	"A bright and happy golfer, Sonny is very talented and sticks to a traditional play style."
Wario	250 yards	Low Fade	Thunder	Character Match #4 (default in multiplayer)	"Wario's distinct club-wiggling play is backed by a smooth and powerful swing."
Harry	260 yards	High Draw	Ray	Character Match #5 (default in multiplayer)	"Totally confident in his play, Harry's philosophy is "If I play my best game, I'll win!"
Mario	270 yards	High Draw	Fireball	Character Match #6 (default in multiplayer)	"Mario is a popular character who boasts a highly-refined technique. He's always anxious to get out on the course!"
Maple	245 yards	High and Straight	Ray	Collect 50 Birdie Badges	"This energetic gal is the best female player on the circuit."
DK	275 yards	Low Fade	Rainbow	Collect 30 Stars in Ring Shots	"With strength on his side, DK only needs one hand to swing his club around like a twig!"
Bowser	280 yards	High Draw	Flame Ray	Character Match #7	"Bowser can boast the most power on the course. Just looking at his massive girth is enough to blow you away!"
Metal Mario	285 yards	High Draw	Fireball	Collect All 108 Birdie Badges	N/A

Transfer Pak

Character	Initial drive	Initial shot	Bio
Kid	202 yards	High Draw	"A vibrant, active young boy. Kid's been playing golf since he could walk, resulting in an impressive golf technique for someone his age."
Joe	205 yards	High and Straight	"King of the dance floor, Joe brings the rhythm and stamina he's gained as a dancer and applies it to his golf game!"
Sherry	200 yards	High Draw	"Sherry's mother got her started playing golf, but her talent makes it clear that she's not just appeasing her mother."
Azalea	204 yards	Low Fade	"A former track star, Azalea's competitive spirit has put her at the top of her class!"

Non-playable

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Name	Description
Boo	Boo points in what direction the wind blows, and marks how fast it goes.
Bubba and Cheep Cheep	One of these two fish may appear if the ball goes into a water hazard.
Goomba	A Goomba appears from out of the hole if the ball is sunk using the long putt.
Fly Guy	Fly Guy is shown being blown around when starting holes with strong winds.
Lakitu	Lakitu holds a camera to use when viewing ahead far distances. He also holds a light at the beginning of Speed Golf.
Monty Mole	Monty Mole pops out of the hole to look around if the ball is sunk from at least 10 metres/30 feet.
Toad	Toad appears waving a flag when the ball is shot out of bounds.
Ukkiki	Ukkiki slides down the pole when a pin shot is made.

Tournament board names

These appear intermixed with playable character names in the leaderboard in Tournament mode. Many are cameos and other references, including to real-life employees and associates of Nintendo at the time.

Andy Andross Armond Baby Bowser Big Bob-Omb Big Mr. I. Big Penguin Bill Bloober Bob-Omb Bonooru Boo Bub Bubba Buzzy Chain Chomp Charles Cheep Cheep Chill Bully Christian Chuckya Colin Dampe Darunia David Deku Scrub Dex

Dorie Ed Erich Falco L. Faran Fire Bros. Fly Guy Fox Gail Goomba Goron Kid Greg Haley Hammer Bros. Henry Ingo Inpa Jen Jessica Kate Ken King Zora Kobe Koopa Lakitu Larry

Lemmy Link Ludwig Malon Maple Mark McCloud Michael Michelle Mido Mike Monty Mole Morton Mr. I. Nabooru Navi Paratroopa Pauline Penn Peppy Phil Pidgit Pierre Pigma Podoboo P. Zelda Rauru

Red Beezo Rex Rutooo Saria Scuttle Bug Sheik Shy-Guy Skull Kid Sledge Bros. Slippy Snifit Spike Spiny Star Wolf Sumo Bros. Talon Terry Tim Toad Tom Ukkiki Unagi Wendy O. Whomp Wiggler Zelda

Gallery

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

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  Mario
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  Luigi
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  Princess Peach